In the ongoing quest for efficiency, managers often fail to see a solution that is right around the corner -- or in the office next door.

Employees are powerful assets in creating and sustaining an efficient work environment. From the janitor to the secretary to the sales associate, each employee is an expert on a specific aspect of your organization. Each day they work "in the trenches," all too familiar with those glitches that compromise effective performance. Who better then, to consult on productivity matters?

1. Suggestion box programs. Encourage employees to submit ideas via suggestion box or email on ways the company could increase efficiency and/or reduce costs. This program can be implemented short- or long-term, depending on its success. Reward any ideas that are implemented in the company.

2. Focus groups. Periodically gather random sets of employees for focus group discussions on how the business could operate more efficiently. Compile these ideas for review at the next management meeting.

3. Questionnaires. Circulate a quarterly questionnaire or survey for employee suggestions. The questionnaire should be brief, easy to complete, and require a deadline for submission. You may wish to allow employees to submit the surveys anonymously for maximum participation.

4. Special programs. Consider offering some creative programs designed to boost employee participation. Ron Harper, chairman of Harper Companies International, offered a $500 bonus to any employee who wrote a technical article and had it published in a trade magazine.* To encourage maximum participation, Harper even arranged for a freelance writer to consult apprehensive employees on how to write effective articles. Harper received an estimated $40,000 worth of promotion in exchange for $5000 in bonuses. By leveraging employee knowledge within his company, Harper created a cost-effective marketing technique, while rewarding employees at the same time.

5. Employee/media interviews. Dedicate some PR time to solicit media interviews with qualified employees. The Seattle Space Needle effectively utilized this technique with an employee whose job was to change the light bulbs around the top of the Space Needle. The employee's witty demeanor and rather unique job resulted in national publicity for the Seattle landmark, with minimal costs involved.

* As reported by Inc. Online