Sometimes the office can be a boring place. You show up at the same time every day, likely do the same work day in and day out, and are out the door like clockwork.
For employees, an unexciting day at the office can decrease productivity and may even impact quality of work.
How can you make your workplace more suitable for productivity? Keep reading for business environment tips and ways to make the day a little better for your workers.
Designing the Perfect Office
As Lifehack reports, “It’s been said that a well-designed office can increase your productivity about 20 percent. However, despite the studies and statistics, nearly half of the employers interviewed don’t consider workplace design a good business investment.”
While you don’t need to do a complete overhaul of your office, try out these simple changes to make your office even better.
- Let It Shine
If possible, reduce fluorescent lighting in exchange for natural sunlight. Sun exposure has been linked to productivity and alertness; just what you want in a workplace.
- Be Comfortable
If your employees’ back, neck and arms get tired or sore when working, that’s likely to cause them to slow down when working. Lifehack recommends this set up for proper ergonomics:
- Eyes 24-36 inches from the computer screen. The top of the monitor should be below or at eye-level.
- Feet should be on a foot rest or resting on the floor.
- A slightly reclined chair posture is best to reduce pressure on your spine and minimize lower back pain.
- Reduce Clutter
This may sound simple, even obvious, but clutter around a workspace can be a distraction. Take the time to have employees personally clean up their desk or area and have someone tidy up the breakroom and shared spaces so everything is neat and organized.
Creating a Productive Office
- Show Appreciation
As Entrepreneur explains, “A study reported in the Harvard Business Review found that workplaces with ‘positive and virtuous practices’ such as mutual care, support and kindness — and workplaces that inspire and emphasize the meaningfulness of work, as well as emphasize respect and gratitude — enjoyed greater productivity, performance and customer satisfaction.”
Taking the time to value and appreciate employees goes a long way. Thank them for the hard work they did on a project, or applaud them for a noteworthy accomplishment.
- More Breaks
While encouraging more breaks may seem like the opposite of a full workday, they actually promote productivity. Entrepreneur also reported that taking short breaks increased “productivity and accuracy, especially in repetitive work.”
- Offer Privacy
Open-layout office plans are popular but they could inhibit focus and productivity. If neighboring co-workers are loud and distracting, work can suffer. If possible, allow for employees to work in solitude as they need.
Increasing productivity is something managers and business owners are always aiming for, and with these simple tips you’re on your way to an efficient team and office space.