“First we form habits, then they form us”. And just like everything else, productivity is also a habit - a habit that’s highly contagious.

If you look at the routines of successful people, you can see that the mantra of their success lies in the fact that not only do they give more than hundred percent at their work, but they motivate their teams to do the same as well.

As a manager, a leader, you ought to learn the art of being productive, and spreading the productivity habit in your team as well. How can you do that? Well, here are some tips that might help -

Be on Time

Time is the most precious resource, no matter which industry you are working in. People who don’t waste time are appreciated by everyone. Being a manager, your team will look up to you for inspiration. So, you need to always be on time. Whether it is a team meeting or anything else. After all, how can you expect others to follow the drill and be on time, when you are not following the same yourself?

Never Miss Important Meetups

If things are important for the team, then they are important for you as well. Being a manager is like being the leader of the herd; you are the one who needs to be present at important meetings. If you are not, then the team is never going to take it seriously. So if you have been laying a little low and missing out on team meetings, thinking that things will run smooth on their own, then it is high time for you to change your decision.

Have a Plan for Everything

There is a reason why you have been given the responsibility of a manager - and it is because you have to make sure that the team is always on the right path. To ensure that things are running on track and all the resources are able to make the most of their potential, you need to create a roadmap; plan everything out. Working haphazardly, without having a concrete project plan, is going to lead you nowhere.

“ Plan things out first and then move ahead in the project.”

As soon as the project is assigned, you need to sit together with the team and create a roadmap about how things need to be carried out.

Meet deadlines

Don’t expect the team to be serious about getting things done on time, unless you have strictly defined the consequences of not meeting the deadlines. When the team knows what loss they will suffer when the work is not completed on time, they will automatically be motivated to finish things on time. And, that’s how you can eventually be sure about getting the team to stay motivated and accomplish things on time!

Don’t Procrastinate

Procrastination is an evil that screws up everything. Still I have not met a single person who does not procrastinate.

“We all know the consequences of procrastination - still we all get stuck in the rut while procrastinating at work.”

But as a manager you cannot afford to do that. You need to always be in high spirits and ready to take the work head on. After all, if the team sees that level of dedication in you, they will also be motivated to give more than their hundred percent, and become more productive at work.

Stay Away From Excuses

Blame games, excuses and similar other things can break the team. You cannot afford to be a manager and at the same time make excuses for failure. Being the leader of the pact, you need to set the example. You need to stay away from excuses, and show the team that there is no room for the same when you are working in a professional atmosphere. If someone in the team makes excuse for something and gets away with it, then it signifies a laid back attitude and puts a negative impression on the entire team!

Enjoy the Ride!

Most important of all, you must inculcate habit to enjoy what you do. How can you expect the team to remain motivated when the leader of the pact feels dreaded at work?

“Work does not remain a burden when you enjoy doing it.”

Show the team that you are in this together, and you are not here to just work like machines. Engage in team building activities, celebrate even the smallest of achievements and keep their spirits high! After all, keeping the team motivated throughout journey is what matters in the end!

Just like bad habits start slowly and gradually and before you know you have habit, the habit has you, same is the case with good habits. You know that procrastination is bad, but before you even realize it becomes a habit.

However if you keep setting the right example, the team will remain motivated to give up on all the bad habits that are making them less productive.

And, that’s what matters in the end.

About the Author:

Vartika Kashyap is the Marketing Manager at ProofHub and has been one of the LinkedIn Top Voices in 2017. Her articles are inspired by office situations and work-related events. She likes to write about productivity, team building, work culture, leadership, entrepreneurship among others and contributing to a better workplace is what makes her click. For more interesting posts follow her on Medium.