Encomium
Productivity is a key index of the growth of a business. In this week’s series, we asked entrepreneurs what they do to improve it…
KECH SIMON
Of course, I am more than satisfied with the present level of productivity of my staff. High productivity is a product of so many factors like good skills and high motivation.
I make sure my staff are highly motivated by taking care of their welfare and getting them well-remunerated. And I put them on their toes by offering them incentives on extra work they do. Above all, I ensure they belong, and nothing else has impacted so positively on their output than such feeling.
CHINOR EMEKA, Claires Agency
You can’t really be satisfied because if you do, you stifle growth. But by and large, we are doing fine.
We improve productivity by first improving the welfare of our workers. Once this is done, we tell you what we want. And this works for us.
MARYAM ELISHA, Rikaoto
Yes, our productivity is high because we see the result in profit. What we do is to set target for our managers who in turn encourage those they work with to perform.
JOHN NJAMAH, Colobar Media
I am not satisfied with the level of productivity because we defended more proposals and held countless meetings than the actual work itself. We had to fall back on a few commissioned projects. For some reasons, a few of the firms we have dealings with are weary of the political tension in the country and so places up north were no go areas for us.
It is not as bad as it seems, it can be better with hard work.
OLANREWAJU VON, Levon Couture
Yes, I am satisfied even though it’s not 100 percent. I still thank God. My staff are really dedicated to their job and they give their best. That alone makes me happy. All we need to do is to work hard and trust in God.
JIDE ONAKOYA, Kleenrite
I am satisfied with the level of productivity. However, we’re not satisfied enough. I am looking into more strategic ways of improving productivity which will enable marketing uniqueness, growth and stability.
Improve on the tempo through consultation, market research, yearly statistics, motivation, evaluation and risk taking.
UGAFOR TOCHUKWU, Asandrea Collection
Real businessmen are Oliver Twist. We always want more. Order is coming from all parts of the world and we are delivering. I am grateful to God.
I am satisfied with the level of productivity I have achieved, but I want more favour from God. I will continue to improve by making great designs for my clients.
WOLE OPATOLA
Of course, I am not satisfied with the level of productivity in my company at the moment. As long as we are yet to satisfy the maximum output level, where in lies the satisfaction? An optimum productivity level is what guarantees profit, and profit itself is what keeps us on the job.
Our retainership keeps our families going as we are able to meet our financial obligations. Then on improvement on the productivity tempo of my company, the staff are the key ingredients in the productivity chain. Welfare package of the staff is given priority as a happy staff is a serious staff.
The staff is physically and psychologically focused on the job when they know that they are being carried along by the company. Bonuses and extra allowances serve as incentives to work extra hard even by weekends when need be.
SAIDI BALOGUN
I can’t say I am satisfied with the productivity level in my company at the moment because I believe a lot has to be done to ensure better performances in all aspects. As an entrepreneur, you can’t count on one person’s performance in measuring the desired productivity but collective efforts of all and sundry. Right now, I’m embarking on motivation for my staffers. I also create an avenue for healthy competition.
That will in turn jack-up productivity in the long run.
LARRY OWOJORI
I thank God for everything, I have recorded tremendous improvement in my business. Productivity has improved a lot, but that does not mean it can’t be further improved upon. I encourage my workers always to enable them give me the best of their services. With the minimum input, I realize maximum profit. But things can still be better.
WILLIAMS OLAKUNLE
Yes, as the Chief Executive Officer, I have encouraged an ‘open door’ system in the workplace. Employees can bare their mind on any issue without any let or hindrance, without the fear of anyone sacking them arbitrarily or shouting them down, thus demeaning their person.
The immediate and recurrent results of that is that people continually feel free to come forward to tell us what’s not working for them in the system and also share with us vibrant ideas at moving the company forward. As we speak, we are putting in place personal and professional development programmes for them through which they will effectively develop.
We are consistently organizing training for our staffers in relation to their duties. We bring in motivational speakers to talk to our staffers on how to be better persons.
Talks are centred around personal finance management, investment opportunities, etc. Needless to tell you that the salaries we pay our staffers are in sync with what we earn as a company. I can proudly tell you that our staffers earn not just a living wage but a very decent one at that. Salaries and other emoluments are reviewed in line with our earnings as a company and everyone feels proud of that.
