“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”
– Paul J. Meyer

The economic news has been so bad for so long, it’s hard to believe that any business is doing well these days. And yet, there are companies that have not only survived the recession, but thrived in it.

Profiles International recently studied America’s Most Productive Companies to determine what sets them apart from other organizations. They identified five “people attributes” that help this elite group of companies succeed. If your organization isn’t doing as well as you’d like, you’re probably falling down in one or more of these areas:

1) Performance-driven culture

At America’s Most Productive Companies, the entire organization is focused on achieving key results. In other words, the employees aren’t just busy, they’re working hard on tasks that ensure success. They’re strong performers, both individually and in teams. They’re energized and engaged in their work.

As you look around your own organization, what do you see? Are your employees engaged in the right tasks, or are they merely busy? Do you get the feeling they can’t wait to come to work in the morning and they’re committed to staying at their desks until the job is done right?

If not, it’s time to lead by example. Demonstrate the performance you want to see in your employees. Talk with your top managers about your vision and turn them into role models. Cascade your commitment to performance down through the entire organization.

2) Effective managers

Top-notch managers aren’t babysitters. They’re strong leaders, superb communicators and excellent motivators. They’re role models for efficiency, adaptability and exceptional teamwork. Most of them weren’t born that way, but their employer recognized their raw talent and invested in developing their management skills.

How good are your managers? Do they have the talent and commitment to become effective managers? If they do, make sure you’re providing the necessary coaching, mentoring and development tools to help them strengthen their skills. If not, cut your losses and recruit new people with talent and a passion to succeed.

3) Employee utilization

America’s Most Productive Companies run lean. They assess priorities to determine what must be done and what can be streamlined. Every job description is specific and focused on producing results that build success. They hire the right people for the right jobs and bring them up to full productivity quickly through effective new employee training programs. They cross-train employees to cover for one another during special projects or peak demand periods. If necessary, they use contract or temporary labor to cover the gaps.

Is everyone in your organization working at top capacity? If employees are hanging around the water cooler or spending your time reading the newspaper, it’s time to reassess critical tasks and staffing needs.

4) Employee effectiveness

America’s Most Productive Companies understand the type of employee they need to achieve their strategic goals. They hire people who not only have the right skills, but will fit in with the rest of the team. These companies give employees goals and objectives that are directly tied to the organization’s overall strategic goals. They provide necessary training and development tools to help employees achieve those goals and objects. And they set clear performance measures that are aligned with key results.

Do your employees understand how their jobs are connected to the company’s strategic goals? Do they know exactly how they will be evaluated at their next performance appraisal? If not, it’s time to reassess your needs and determine which employees you really need to accomplish critical tasks.

5) Innovation

America’s Most Productive Companies understand that seemingly small improvements to everyday tasks can result in huge productivity increases. They encourage their employees to suggest new and better ways of doing things, to share information with each other and to take risks.

Many companies pay lip service to encouraging innovation. However, when an employee sticks his neck out and the result isn’t stellar, the boss comes down hard and effectively squashes future efforts to innovate. Does your company nurture innovation or do you stifle creative thinking among your employees? If you’re not sure, it’s time to talk with your workforce and find out what they think.

And, for any CEO of an organization of $3,000,000 in annual revenues or greater we are offering a free CEO assessment of their organization. It is free, confidential , quick and very powerful. Just ask. How does your organization measure up against America’s Most Productive Companies? If you’d like to learn more email us at info@grenell.com and I’ll send you the study results.