10 Ways To Increase Business Productivity

Workplace productivity is vital for business success. Improving employee productivity is the first step you should take to grow your business and increase profitability. Yet, despite how important productivity is to business survival, UK productivity is 21% lower than the rest of the G7 and continues to struggle year on year. In the face of a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, it is time to reverse this statistic and prioritise workplace productivity to ensure the survival of both the UK economy and its businesses.

Business owners can no longer afford to overlook the importance of business productivity and its profound benefits. High levels of workplace productivity not only boost business growth, improve profit margins, and create happier workers but are also integral to the success of the country. Productive and profitable companies contribute more to the UK economy. As the country becomes richer, the standard of living rises and generates more money to be spent on health, education and welfare.

How to Use Conversation Intelligence to Boost Business Productivity and Engagement

When we think of business productivity, it's often seen as a high-level strategy reserved for CEOs. However, the reality is that productivity gains (or losses) happen on the ground, in everyday interactions – especially over the phone.

Despite the rise of digital channels, phone calls remain vital for industries like real estate, car dealerships, and service-based businesses. For many, the phone is the direct line to their customers, influencing both sales and service outcomes.

The Hidden Productivity Gap

Many businesses still assume polite phone manners are enough. But in today’s customer-driven landscape, this approach falls short. Phone interactions are key moments to improve productivity, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.

Enter conversation intelligence – a technology that analyses call data to uncover actionable insights. When used as part of a Business Impact Assessment (BIA), it can highlight performance bottlenecks and identify growth opportunities.

What is Conversation Intelligence?

Conversation intelligence refers to tools that measure call engagement efficiency and effectiveness.

More advanced tools assess the content of calls, revealing communication gaps and training needs. This holistic view allows businesses to refine processes, ensuring teams are performing at their best.

Why Conversation Intelligence Matters for Productivity

Without data-driven insights, phone-based productivity issues often go unnoticed.

Through call analysis, businesses can address:

• Call answering quality

• Customer experience gaps

• Conversion opportunities

Let’s dive deeper into how conversation intelligence can drive improvements.

1. Improve Call Answering

Call agents are the first point of contact for many businesses. Their ability to engage, respond, and problem-solve directly impacts productivity. Conversation intelligence reveals areas where agents excel and where additional training is needed. Key focus areas include:

• Being welcoming and proactive

• Demonstrating technical knowledge

• Handling calls efficiently and positively

Addressing these gaps can elevate customer service levels, boosting retention and brand trust.

2. Enhance Customer Experience

The phone is a critical touchpoint in the customer journey. Repeated calls for simple queries, like appointment confirmations, can drain productivity. Conversation intelligence pinpoints these inefficiencies, allowing businesses to automate processes or update FAQs.

For instance:

• Problem: High call volume for appointment reminders

• Solution: Automate SMS/email reminders

Proactively improving these areas not only reduces unnecessary calls but enhances the overall customer experience.

3. Increase Conversions

By refining call processes and improving engagement, conversation intelligence directly contributes to higher conversion rates. Employees spend more time on meaningful calls, and customers experience smoother interactions.

Detailed call reports highlight opportunities, guiding teams to focus on high-impact areas.

Over time, these optimisations lead to:

• Increased sales conversions

• Enhanced customer loyalty

• Higher employee satisfaction

Conversation intelligence isn’t just about tracking calls – it’s about creating smarter workflows that drive sustainable growth. By integrating it into your business impact analysis, you can unlock hidden productivity and stay ahead in competitive markets.

Follow these steps to improve workplace productivity, grow your business and get a better night’s sleep.

10 Ways to improve business productivity

Good leadership improves business productivity

The role of the 21st century leader is to motivate and inspire their staff to work towards a shared goal. Start by ensuring all staff are aware of how their roles fit into the organisation and the importance of their contribution to the business. Engaged staff who feel valued in the workplace will reward you with increased levels of productivity.

It is also vital to address your employees’ needs, encourage wellbeing, eliminate stress and show understanding during difficult periods in their lives. In return, your team members will feel appreciated and supported which increases loyalty, engagement and ultimately, productivity.

Positive work cultures are more productive

A healthy work culture inspires innovation, collaboration, happiness, wellbeing, engagement and job satisfaction. When an organisation is struggling with their employee productivity, it is essential to examine the current company culture.

A toxic company culture can cause animosity between staff which hinders collaboration; employees lack direction which results in wasted time and undervalued employees simply lack the motivation to perform productively.

Happy workers show up consistently, are more engaged with the business, seek to solve problems and, as a result, contribute more valuable and productive work.

Employee wellbeing boosts workplace productivity

Improving employee wellbeing reduces absenteeism and employee burnout. Workers with improved wellbeing have increased energy and are in a better headspace to devote more of their time and attention to the task at hand.

There is much more emphasis placed on a good work/life balance today than there was 50 years ago. Millennials value health, wellbeing and job satisfaction more than their predecessors.

Implementing an employee wellness programme can be a great way to improve happiness and boost productivity. A survey by Deloitte in 2018 found that 61% of employers said their wellbeing programme improved employee productivity and bottom-line business results.

Improve employee performance through training and development

Ongoing employee training and development is vital to business success. When employees learn new skills or enhance their existing ones it raises their confidence, inspires innovation, brings new skills to the workplace and boosts employee satisfaction. On the other hand, when an employee lacks the skills needed to perform their job efficiently, time will be wasted and mistakes made.

Confident, happy and innovative employees will increase business productivity. Research has shown that employees could be up to 28% more productive with better training.

Goal-setting improves business productivity

Setting Stretch Goals can be a great way to boost business productivity. A stretch goal is a target goal that is incredibly challenging and ambitious. It can even be deemed the ‘impossible’ dream. Managed in the right way stretch goals encourage employees to think outside the box, push themselves to come up with new solutions and require a renewed commitment to the project.

Both personal and business growth occurs when we are push ourselves outside of our comfort zone and take risks. As we uncover new strategies in our attempt to reach these goals, we are able to improve processes and find more productive solutions.

It is key to encourage experimentation but not to reprimand failure. Confidence will begin to waver and no one will want to take on future challenges, knowing they might receive negative feedback if they fail. Even when stretch goals aren’t met, positive progress and new ideas will have been made along the way.

Offer incentives to boost worker productivity

Everyone responds well to praise and we crave appreciation for hard work. A simple thank you or a small token of appreciation in the workplace improves productivity, boosts happiness and creates loyalty.

Putting a reward and recognition scheme in place improves productivity, increases job satisfaction, boosts happiness and creates loyalty.

A survey by Workhuman found that 79% of people work harder when recognised for their efforts and a considerable 78% cited increased productivity as a result.

Employee empowerment increases organisational productivity

Empower your staff by involving them in the decision making and giving them control over their own work. You need to listen to their ideas, challenge them to think outside the box and allow them to make relevant decisions. It shows trust and loyalty and, as a result, employees will become more engaged with the business goals.

Being ordered to do something tends to negatively impact on our motivation. However, when we’re included in the decision-making we feel part of the bigger picture and our productivity improves as a result. Empowered employees are more likely to go the extra mile for you.

A study found that those with a high level of empowerment came in at the 79th percentile of engagement, compared with just 24% from less empowered employee. Engaged staff exhibit better workplace productivity levels.

Flexible working can improve productivity

Flexible working allows for a better work/life balance with increased childcare opportunities, less time wasted travelling and helps prevent employee burnout. Employees who are tired, stressed and resent the rigidity of the workplace are less likely to be engaged and productivity will suffer as a result.

A recent survey by Locatee found that just 7% of respondents wanted to go back to working from the office full time after the pandemic. This is a stark indicator that full-time office working is not in the best interests of employees. Allowing a blended approach to office and home working could help increase workplace productivity and improve employee wellbeing.

Effective communication is vital to increase workplace productivity

Effective internal communication is central to all business goals. It avoids confusion, encourages teamwork, allows for collaboration, provides purpose and creates a positive company culture.

Employees need to be given effective and clear briefs for each task. Employees who are informed and clear about their goals are more likely to perform tasks with increased confidence and direction, improving their productivity.

Additionally, management should be available for staff at all times and foster a culture of open, honest and transparent communication. When staff feel they can ask questions, it provides quick clarification and avoids costly mistakes