How Your Office Design Can Boost Productivity
Business leaders are always looking for incentives and initiatives that will boost employee productivity and engagement. One thing that more and more businesses are realising is the importance of the physical work space. The design of a space creates its atmosphere and can greatly change the energy of the people who work there day in and day out. If you are not sure how your office design can boost productivity, keep reading!
Don’t make the people fit furniture layout!
Start with the people and then move the furniture accordingly. It’s surprising how few business owners and leaders actually consult their employees before designing a new space or moving the furniture around. A little bit of time spent talking and listening with employees will be invaluable to the success of your workspace changes. Remember they are the ones who have to spend around two thirds of their day in that environment and if you want them to be productive, it pays to make it comfortable for them.
Create open spaces
If you don’t enjoy being cooped up all day in a single isolated cubicle, or tied to one desk all day, it’s most likely your employees don’t either. Make sure you have as much space as your building and facilities permit. Resist trying to fill all spaces with furniture or ‘stuff’. This will end up being counter-productive. Remember office design boost productivity!
Keep the space clean and clutter free
Regularly clear out your work space and don’t let bits of old or broken furniture or stacks of documents build up in sight. Throw things away or find a home for them. Clutter and mess create stress and we always have that little voice reminding us that at some point we must get round to sorting it. Make sure passage ways and the space surrounding desks and shared areas is clean, uncluttered, and tidy. This also goes for desks. It’s a good habit to tidy it at the end of each day so you can start afresh each morning.
Personalise work spaces
Allowing employees to personalise their space can increase emotional connection to work and foster inspiration. However, you may need to set some guidelines and expectations around this. When these personal items turn into clutter and take up too much desk space, it becomes counter-productive.
Go green
Plants in an office are one way that office design can boost productivity. They can make a huge difference to the atmosphere and to people’s moods. As well as looking great and helping to clean stuffy air, plants have been shown to reduce stress and increase productivity and creativity.
Create shared working spaces
It is important to provide specific areas for collaboration. Employees can chat at their desks, but it has been found that it is best to create separate physical spaces for different types of work. The place they use to concentrate on their own work (an individual working desk) should be different from the place in which they can collaborate and innovate (a larger creative and inspiring space).
Make sure you have private and quiet spaces
If you have an open plan office, it’s crucial to have some spaces employees can go to work where they won’t be interrupted. They may need to make a phone call or just get their heads down without noise and visual distractions. You might want to install special sound-proof booth/cubicles, adapt a few smaller meeting rooms for the purpose, or simply set up some cornered-off areas.
Leave room for flexibility and movement
By now we all know that humans are not machines and we are not productive for 100% of each working day. We have peaks and troughs. When we hit a productivity wall, it’s important to have somewhere to go. Productivity can be boosted and new perspective gained just by getting up and changing space and environment. Think about sit-to-stand desks, hot desks, or perhaps a few working booths in your canteen. Rather than placing photocopiers, watercoolers, and coffee machines close to desks, move them further away to a central location to encourage movement and perhaps provide opportunities for conversation.
It is also becoming more common to allow employees to work at home for part of their working week and have flexible schedules. Rather than fearing lower productivity, most leaders are realising this actually boosts performance.
Ensure lots of light
It goes without saying that people need natural light! If you don’t have natural light in your workspace, it’s even more important to make sure your artificial lighting is effective. Some companies are moving away from the bright white tube lights of the past (which have been linked to headaches), and are installing softer lighting. It is especially important to consider softer lighting in spaces set up for quiet time and creativity.
Use outdoor space
If you are lucky enough to have some outdoor space of any kind on your property, use it! Set up a nice area with some tables and chairs or even some comfortable couches and beanbags. If employees can get fresh air during the day or even work and collaborate in an outdoor space, this will have an impact on their energy levels and therefore productivity. This area can also be used for Friday night drinks, BBQs, or other team gatherings.
All employees are different and each of us gets in flow in different ways so no one approach to office design or layout suits everyone. However, talking and listening to your employees, giving them some flexibility during their working day, letting them have personal touches, spaces to concentrate, and spaces to be creative, will greatly increase their productivity and fulfillment.
If this all sounds good in theory, but you’re not sure where to start, check out our Commercial Renovation/Fit Out Service to see how we can help you transform your work space.