One of the biggest problems many business owners may face, regardless of whether they're large corporations or small enterprises, is maintaining a satisfactory degree of employee engagement and a high level of productivity. Keeping employees actively engaged with the wellbeing of the business is the key to successfully helping them reach their potential and gaining the most benefit out of their skills towards turning a profit. For example, understanding that each employee has their own individual work methods, productive periods of the day and overall system of getting things done is one way to help them achieve their best work. Take the time to discuss your expectations with each individual employee and work with them to help them achieve these goals in the way that best suits their methods, rather than simply delivering overarching, general orders to your workforce. This doesn't mean allowing slackness or other outlandish methods, but understanding that people may work at different times of the day. Therefore you may wish to delegate tasks in relation to this information. Furthermore, another common hindrance of productivity is expecting employees to work with outdated or obsolete systems. Things like the type of small business software used in your business can have a major effect on an employee's willingness to give 100 per cent effort. By ignoring their plight, you could send an uncaring message, which will be reciprocated in their overall contributions to the business. For example, administrative tasks such as accounting and record keeping can be facilitated by investing in new, streamlined software like the CashManager range from Accomplish. Nothing sets the tone of a workplace more than the attitude of those in charge. Take into account the attitude of yourself and others in management positions, and try to ensure that the overall demeanour of the office is one of high morale and fair expectations.