Get More Done: Fostering an Organized, Productive Workplace

Editor's Note: Take a look at our featured best practice, 5S for the Office (190-slide PowerPoint presentation). The office, by any name, is a paperwork factory. To become a Lean enterprise, office activities must fully support shop-floor manufacturing operations to eliminate waste. The adoption of 5S throughout all office functions is the first step to increase efficiency. 5S principles are dedicated to [read more]

* * * *

Shockingly, 25 percent of startups will fail in their first year. That’s according to data from Harvard Business School. Harvard research also shows that of those startups remaining after one year, 36 percent will fail. So what makes a startup successful? Is it the location? The industry? The money? Some might say it comes down to the employees and the resources that are provided to them. Here’s what you can do to improve your odds and get more done in a startup environment.

Unlimited Time Off

Sure, at first it might sound like this approach is doomed to fail. But surprisingly, a number of big businesses like HubSpot, Virgin and even LinkedIn, are offering unlimited vacation time to their employees and their productivity levels are actually increasing. The businesses even cite that unlimited time off fosters loyalty among employees and increases happiness in the workplace. So if you want to help your employees get more done at work, the secret might be sending them on more vacations.

Project Management Software

When it comes to all the details of a project (who’s doing what, when is the deadline, etc.) it’s easy for communication lines to become tangled. Unlike traditional project management tools that provide employees with a view of tasks assigned exclusively to them, DaPulse creates a picture of the entire process of a project for the team to see. The unified and transparent view can help employees work together and work faster on projects.

Consumer Insight

The customer communication platform Intercom allows for employees to see who is using your startup’s products in real-time. Employees can send customized messages to consumers based on their behavior as well as chat with important leads. Companies including Buffer, Moz, Gusto, Yahoo! and Namely have all used Intercom to bridge communication gaps between employees and customers. Intercom is easy to use since the customer communication platform works across iOS devices, Android apps and via the web.

Versatile Tech

The world is adapting mobile trends faster than ever. And today’s workplace technology is lagging far behind. Stationary monitors and outdated tech fill startup offices, but employees are looking for tech tools that are more versatile than ever. Not everyone is most productive at a desk behind a monitor. For some, they may be able to get more done lounging on a bean bag, at a standing desk or sitting outside in the fresh air. The personal technology company Lenovo has won more than 100 international awards for its forward-thinking and design. And it’s easy to see why. Lenovo Yoga laptops are the thinnest and lightest laptops on the market today. And they are versatile. There are several ways to use the sleek device: as a tablet, laptop with a tent or with a stand. By providing your team with versatile technology you can help them get more done.

Virtual Meetings

Most startups will not have the budget to fly employees across the country or around the globe for meetings. That’s why GoToMeeting is an essential tool your startup should be using. The simple video conferencing tool is mobile-friendly and it offers a recording tool, so that employees can record their meetings, never missing an important note again. GoToMeeting is a great way to always stay in contact with remote employees, too.

Do You Want to Implement Business Best Practices?

You can download in-depth presentations on Visual Workplace and 100s of management topics from the FlevyPro Library. FlevyPro is trusted and utilized by 1000s of management consultants and corporate executives.

For even more best practices available on Flevy, have a look at our top 100 lists:

• Top 100 in Strategy & Transformation
• Top 100 in Digital Transformation
• Top 100 in Operational Excellence
• Top 100 in Organization & Change
• Top 100 Management Consulting Frameworks

These best practices are of the same as those leveraged by top-tier management consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and Accenture. Improve the growth and efficiency of your organization by utilizing these best practice frameworks, templates, and tools. Most were developed by seasoned executives and consultants with over 20+ years of experience.