You don’t always have to invest millions to increase productivity and employee satisfaction. Many times it’s the little things that can make the biggest difference in productivity, stress levels, and overall well-being. In the workplace, these small irritants can add up over time, leading to frustration, burnout, and even decreased retention. To identify these irritants – just ask the employees. They’re the ones who are on the front lines, experiencing these problems firsthand.

Think I’m talking about cutting down those never-ending meetings?  Not this time.

There are already plenty of articles and books emphasizing the challenge of managing workplace meetings, and while they contribute to the narrative, there’s more to the story.

Every organization has its own unique “pinch points”. Yesterday at a Boston Chief event, Anne Morriss, a leadership coach and the co-author of “Move Fast and Fix Things” gave an eye-opening example.

Anne consulted for a major healthcare system during COVID-19. What was one of the major complaints of the nurses? Broken copier machines. The nurses had to do large amounts of copying of patients’ records. Looking for a working copier became a major time waster. As trivial as it may sound, ensuring these machines were regularly serviced and operational was a game-changer. By merely introducing a consistent maintenance plan, the healthcare system could alleviate the stress of these frontline workers.

So, as you think about ways to transform your organization, consider this: What are your organization’s “copier machine problems”? Identifying and addressing them could unlock enhanced productivity and satisfaction at a minimum investment.