Tips
for Making Your Workplace More Conducive for Productivity
There
are many things that affect a person’s productivity in the
workplace, including their skill level and the resources they have
access to. Another big contributor to productivity is the
conduciveness of the space, both in the actual physical environment
and the company’s culture. If employees are uncomfortable or
unmotivated, then they won’t be as effective in performing their
tasks.
Luckily,
there are a lot of simple ways to boost productivity in the office.
Here are a few that you can implement right away.
Create
a Culture of Gratitude
Motivation
is an important component of productivity, and one way of motivating
your people is to make them feel appreciated. This not only
contributes to their better performance, but also to their sense of
loyalty to the company and their overall happiness with their work.
Encourage
your team to practice a culture of gratitude. One of the simplest,
cheapest, and most effective ways to do this? Thank your team
personally and sincerely. Of course, tokens of gratitude like small
gifts or even a treat to lunch also don’t hurt.
Bring
the Outside In
Studies
have shown that workplaces with plants have higher productivity rates
than those that don’t. Employees who work in spaces with plants and
other mementos like photographs have also been found to have better
focus, cognitive functioning, and psychological engagement. Another
benefit of live plants in the office is that they can help improve
indoor air quality.
Indoor
water fixtures like fountains
can also contribute to office productivity. Like plants, fountains
can also help promote cleaner, healthier, indoor air; the sounds they
produce can also create a more relaxing ambiance. If your office is
located in a rather busy environment, the sound of flowing water can
help drown out background noises, allowing people to concentrate
better on their tasks.
Clean Up
Keeping the office clean and tidy is another surefire way to improve office productivity. A clean workspace not only helps employees to focus on the work at hand, but it also minimizes delays - after all, when everything is organised, there'll be no hunting for papers or scrambling for a pen. The cleaning of the workplace can be split amongst staff members or, instead, a company offering professional carpet cleaning in Dallas, TX (or wherever else) can be hired to complete the work. The latter option can be particularly beneficial if the workplace requires regular deep cleaning or sanitation, as choosing to outsource will free up employees to focus on the essential work that they have been hired to do, while those well-versed in cleaning will keep the office looking spick and span.
Get
Rid of Harsh Lighting
Sunlight
is the best option when it comes to lighting in the office because of
its scientifically proven health benefits and positive effects to
alertness and motivation, and therefore productivity. However, not
every office space have ideal locations and structural features to
let in the most amount of natural light -- so how do you get around
this obstacle? One way is to use bulbs with yellow or orange tones,
instead of harsh, white fluorescents. Instead of traditional downward
lighting, you can also try installing recessed light fixtures to
provide more of a glow rather than a glare.
Give
Some Sense of Privacy
A
few years ago, an open-plan workspace is all the rage, with
multi-billion dollar companies like Facebook and Google designing
their offices this way. And while this layout does have some
benefits, such as encouraging and facilitating better communication,
recent studies have shown that it is not that conducive for
productivity. This is because of, among other things, noise levels
and the lack of privacy.
Provide
a balance between collaborative and solo work. Allocate a couple of
rooms where people can accomplish their work alone; this is
especially valuable for knowledge workers like accountants and
lawyers. You can also impose a “quiet hour” in the office and
other simple rules that will allow people work in relative privacy
even with an open layout.
Encourage
Breaks
Vacations
are important, obviously, as a way to de-stress and simply forget
about work for a while. However, taking breaks within the work day is
also crucial in ensuring daily productivity. In fact, research says
that those who take short breaks -- 10 to 15 minutes after every 45
to 50 minutes of work -- are ultimately more productive than their
counterparts who work for longer stretches.
Do
whatever you need to do to “reset” during these breaks -- listen
to music, take a walk outside, or simply check your social media
newsfeed. The important thing is that you come back from your break
mentally refreshed. A power nap of about 15 to 20 minutes may also be
a good option especially in the afternoons.
With
these minimal changes and investments on your part, you can transform
your office into a place where people are happy, focused, and
motivated, ready to achieve business goals.
*Collaborative content
