During the pandemic, the term ‘productivity’ has gained considerable traction, particularly with the rise of hybrid work models. According to a Forbes article, as of 2023, 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% work in a hybrid model. The rapid normalization of remote and hybrid work has led to the widespread adoption of modern workplace tools that contribute to company productivity.
However, despite the availability of new tools and software, employees still encounter new obstacles that they must overcome to maintain productivity. Here are the top 5 obstacles to productivity, according to Microsoft’s Work Trend Index.
1. Inefficient Meetings
Have you ever left a meeting wondering what it was really about?
Meetings without clear goals or structure often waste time. Long discussions, unclear agendas, and tech issues—especially in remote setups—can make things worse. This not only affects productivity but also lowers team morale.
To fix this, set clear agendas, assign roles, and keep meetings short and focused. Use collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams or Zoom to stay organized and efficient.
2. No Clear Goals
Do you sometimes feel unsure about what you’re working toward?
Without clear goals, it’s easy to lose focus. Teams may work hard but not make real progress. This can lead to confusion, missed deadlines, and frustration.
Setting simple, clear goals helps everyone stay on track. Regular check-ins and progress updates also help keep the team aligned and motivated.
3. Too Many Meetings
Is your day full of meetings, leaving no time to get work done?
Too many meetings can lead to burnout and low productivity. When employees are constantly switching between meetings, it’s hard to focus on deep work.
Try to only schedule meetings when needed. Use email, chat, or project management tools for quick updates. Also, consider setting “no-meeting” hours to give your team time to focus.
4. Feeling Uninspired
When people don’t feel motivated, even small tasks can feel hard. This can happen when there’s no recognition, unclear goals, or a lack of connection to the work.
To boost inspiration, leaders should recognize achievements, offer learning opportunities, and connect daily work to the company’s mission. A positive work culture can make a big difference.
5. Hard to Find Information
Have you spent too much time looking for a file?
Messy folders, unclear file names, and scattered storage systems slow everyone down. This not only wastes time but can also lead to mistakes or missed deadlines.
Using tools like SharePoint Online helps organize files better. Features like search filters, tags, and version history make it easier to find what you need quickly and accurately.
Solve the Problem with SharePoint Online
SharePoint Online is a powerful solution to many of these productivity challenges. It helps employees access the right information at the right time and work more efficiently.
- Customized Libraries: Organize documents by project, department, or relevance to make them easier to find.
- Metadata Tagging: Add tags like author, project name, or keywords to improve searchability and reduce time spent looking for files.
- Version Control: Track document changes, access previous versions, and maintain transparency and accountability.
- Permission Management: Control who can view or edit files with role-based access, keeping sensitive data secure.
- Real-Time Collaboration: Multiple users can work on the same document at once, reducing delays and improving teamwork.
- Integration with Microsoft 365: Seamlessly connect with tools like Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive for a unified workflow.
- Mobile Access: Access documents and collaborate from anywhere using mobile devices, perfect for remote or hybrid teams.
Stronger Data Protection with Role-Based Access
Additionally, SharePoint helps keep your company’s data safe by using role-based access controls. This means you can decide who is allowed to view, edit, or share certain files based on their job or department. For example, sensitive documents like financial reports or HR records can be restricted to only the people who need them. This reduces the risk of data leaks and ensures that important information stays in the right hands.
Customer Success Story with SharePoint Online
We recently completed a successful SharePoint Online migration project for a leading Australian manufacturing firm. The project involved the seamless transfer of over 18TB of data from legacy systems to a modern, cloud-based SharePoint environment.
By moving to SharePoint Online, the company significantly improved how their teams access, manage, and collaborate on documents. As a result, they achieved a 60% reduction in total cost of ownership and saw a noticeable boost in employee productivity. The new system also enhanced data security, streamlined workflows, and provided better support for their hybrid work model.
This transformation not only modernized their IT infrastructure but also empowered their workforce with faster, more reliable access to the information they need—anytime, anywhere.
