If you are doing some DIY work at home, say building a new cupboard, you might perform badly when compared to a professional joiner building the same cupboard. He is likely to build a higher quality cupboard and to build it faster.   His productivity is obviously greater.

Why does he outperform you?

Probably for two main reasons. He is likely to have a better set of tools and equipment in his professional toolbag than you do in your home toolbox.

Secondly, he will have been better trained and will have honed his skills through his experience as s professional joiner.  

This is a general lesson.

In companies, employees will perform better if they have the right tools and equipment, and the right skills.

So, regularly review your technology deployment to make sure it is appropriate and ‘up to the job’, and that it is part of an effective processing system.

Then review your processes for skills diagnosis and development.  Do you have the skills you need to operate that technology effectively?  How are those skills likely to change over the next few years?  What must you do to ensure your employees acquire/develop those new or changed skills?

Skills empower employees to deliver better work and to take greater pride in their work.

So, this is a truly win-win situation. You get higher productivity; your employees get greater job satisfaction.