Breaking The Daily Routine In The Workplace

A focus on productivity is a rewarding collective trait in a company. Everyone works faster, everything gets done fast. Sales are in top shape; reaching the quota is a guarantee rather than a possibility. When people are enjoying their work, when they see value, and are determined to reach certain goals professionally, the company succeeds. But like Newton’s famous line, what comes up must come down, productivity will eventually deteriorate as people get tired. This happens when they are overworked, undervalued, or simply tired of doing the same exact job they do for the past couple of months. The real problems start when they get bored.

Even highly spirited employees are eventually reduced into miserable representatives of your now unfruitful company. Boredom leads to less productivity. This is why a lot of the younger workforce are leaving, and why some in the older work force are irritable with their customers. It’s human nature, and it’s completely logical. No one wants to do the same thing for the rest of their lives. Even you as a boss, you may constantly think of being elsewhere than in the office in the middle of a monotonous day. It is the same for everyone.

However, for an entrepreneur who wants his business to thrive for the next few years, this is not a matter to be taken lightly. When the dullness of the office routine reaches to the point where the only thing keeping it from collapsing is everyone’s need for money alone, your company is bound for failure.

Here are some tips to combat employees’ boredom in the workplace:

1. Put on some music. Perhaps you can play some bossa nova and simulate the light, soothing feeling you get when you are in a coffee shop. Maybe you can also play some modern songs if your employees like singing along with them. Noise is not entirely bad for a company. Sometimes, it even indicates a good working environment. If your productivity will not be affected by the sound, why not allow them to make noise. Just make sure that it does not become a distraction for everyone. Choose music that will help them liven up their spirits throughout the day.

2. Encourage communication. People also get bored when the only thing they interact with is their computer the whole day. Let your people see each other and occasionally chat lightly.

Some companies even use long tables instead of partitions and cubicles, so their employees can mingle while they work. By encouraging communication among your employees, not only are you promoting good relationship and teamwork from them, but also allowing them to lighten their loads and not notice the monotony in their work. Control measures can easily be implemented if you see that they are affected negatively by them.

3. Motivate. A job well done is a job well deserving of recognition. Boredom can also arise when your people feel as if their collective efforts are just a means to gain money for the company. They do not feel valued. Motivate your people and show them that their work is very much appreciated. Show them that they are part of your success. Motivation does not necessarily entail incurring costs. Simple appreciative gestures will do, especially if you know that you are not one to usually give them out easily.

4. Shuffle. In cases where work assignments are not too dependent on highly technical skills, you may consider having a job rotation to keep everyone on their toes. This gives your people the opportunity to try something other than their usual work. This also gives you a general idea on who are best suited for each position. Job rotation might be taxing at first in training and the inevitable cost of inefficiencies and errors, but eventually, it may become an asset to help your people combat boredom. This will also help you train your people to cover for absences of their colleagues.

5. Reward. Getting a reward goes a long way in beating the working blues. Company outings, sports festivals, and dining out are small events that your people will surely look forward to. You can even go beyond the norm and have your people take turns in planning the next event. Rewards are great to get your people excited and motivated.

Motivating people day in and day out for years is far more challenging than boosting their morale for just a short period. There is no magic formula and what will work for some may not be suitable for others. Experimenting with various types of motivators and the manner of their implementation is probably the best approach.
*Originally published by the Manila Bulletin. C-6, Sunday, June 5, 2016. Written by Ruben Anlacan, Jr. (President, BusinessCoach, Inc.) All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the copyright holders.