How to Improve Productivity at Work

Team cohesion. Focused employees. Fewer sick days. Sound like a dream come true? The studies are in, and the evidence is undeniable: Ballroom dance is an effective tool for businesses to improve productivity among their workers.

According to Forbes, over two-thirds of U.S. business have started their own wellness programs to reduce the strain on their health care plans. But ballroom dancing offers a lot more to improve productivity than simply reducing the days a sick employee is away from their desk.

• Team-building. In business, you work together to complete common objectives. In dance, you are only as good as the weaker partner. Learning to work together to create a better experience is an essential skill that carries far beyond the dance floor.
• Better delegation skills. A common trap many employees fall into is the “I’ll do it myself, so I know it’s done” syndrome. By literally connecting you and your work partner at the hip, your employees are forced to let go of the 50% of the dance that doesn’t belong to them.
• Healthier employees. According to a RAND Corporation study, every dollar invested in combating diseases like obesity in employees has a ROI of $3.80. That’s too good a deal for any employer to pass up.
• Handling feedback. Dancer and businesswoman Valeh Nazemoff notes that constructive criticism is constant during dance class – and employees need to learn to absorb it if they want to improve productivity in the boardroom as well.
• Understanding learning styles. How do employees retain information? Are they visual learners, or auditory, or does it have to be explained to them? Understanding the best way to guide your workers results in improved productivity for all.
• Better body language. The poise and grace of ballroom dancing radiates confidence and control – just what your sales reps need to close those deals.
• Confidence. Learning any new skill results in higher confidence in your employees, which improves productivity through more decisive decisions and greater focus.
• Creativity. The changing dance floor requires dancers to respond uniquely to work together and avoid collisions. This constant brain training readies your workers to handle other emergencies as work.
• It’s fun! While this may not be top-priority for an employer, remember that employees gain more benefits from any activity they want to do, simply because they will be more relaxed and ready to learn.

Dance may not improve productivity for a business the traditional way, but new and established companies alike are increasingly reaping the benefits of happy and focused employees.

About the Author
Ian Crewe has been dancing ballroom for over 18 years, and has a Licentiate in American smooth and rhythm. His passion for dance eventually led him to blogging and the World Wide Web. Ian currently teaches at the Joy of Dance Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.