From the lack of motivation to the high amount of distraction, there are many ways that make someone underperform at work. Underperforming is an issue that’s commonly found among staff members. Whether the worker occupies a junior level or a management level job, anyone at an organization can underperform. With the end of the year approaching fast, how can underperformers boost their performance? Here are several tips on accelerating performance and boosting productivity.

1. Assess the Situation, Find the Root Cause

Sometimes when we underperform, we aren’t aware of the situation or the underlying cause. There are many possible causes of underperformance. High workload, for instance, is among the most dangerous factor that prompts underperformance. Data by Cornerstone shows that work overload inhibits productivity by almost 70%. An article by Forbes also stated that lack of recognition could demotivate an employee. Whatever prompts underperformance at work, it is best that your team find them and commit to tackle the issues.

2. Set Goals and Plan Task Completion

Sometimes underperformance isn’t about doing only a few works. Sometimes it’s about doing works that aren’t related to goal completion. This is why it’s important to set goals and plan task completion. A good long-term goal should be Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic, and Time-Related (also known as S.M.A.R.T. goals). Focusing on these qualities has actually helped people achieve their goals. Additionally, it’s super useful to divide your goals into more specific daily tasks. After all, a thousand steps start with one.

3. Connect, Communicate, Collaborate

How do you finish a project? With skill, motivation, and perseverance. How do you finish a project faster and with better quality? With the help of other people. When your team underperforms, it’s time to improve connection, communication, and collaboration. Ask for help if needed and offer some help whenever possible. If you’re a manager, make sure to pay attention to employee engagement, too. Companies with high engagement rates have 21% productivity increase, and they outperform their rivals by 202%. 

4. Invest on Training

A skill upgrade would allow underperformers to perform better. If there are team members who do not have inadequate skills, team leaders can allocate some budget to train them. According to Go-Gulf, companies which give their employees regular training find 37% increased productivity. Training can help both employers and employees, too. Instead of hiring a new recruit, training is significantly more cost-efficient. It also boosts employee morale by 35%, and better-trained employees get a 21% increase in revenue.

5. Appreciate Every Extra Mile

Giving appreciation can also help employees perform better. If someone on your team underperformed in the past but has tried to do better in the last few weeks, notice their effort and give them some appreciation. On the other hand, some employees might have made great achievement in the past, but has lately been struggling with performance. A good manager can remind them of their past achievements and offer them support, so that they can be the best version of themselves who can perform well and make further great achievements in the future.

With the arrival of Q4 and the end of the year coming fast, many employees would feel the pressure of meeting targets before the due date. This can be overwhelming for some, especially when some targets haven’t been met. If your team is struggling with performance and productivity, it is time to make changes that can allow your team to work better. With reflection, analysis, planning, cooperation, training, and more appreciation, accelerating your team’s performance before the end of the year is achievable.