When you run a business, productivity is your number one priority. After all, your employees are there to do a job, and though it may be more fun to shoot the breeze until 5 pm comes around, there’s always work to be done! As a manager or business owner, your job is to foster an environment that stimulates creativity, boosts workplace morale, and promotes productivity. But, could your office space be undermining your efforts?
The idea that office design affects employees has been studied extensively by psychologists in recent years. Their consensus: a great workspace can allow productivity to prosper, while a poor workspace can kill it. How do you know if your place makes the grade? Whether you’re interested in the effects of collaborative workspace furniture on morale and productivity or you’re just looking to liven up your current office, here are a few guidelines to help you create the ideal space that can inspire your team to go further:
The Lighting
According to marketing consultant Andrew Jensen, you can make or break your team’s productivity with a simple flick of the light switch. Office lighting sets the mood for the entire day, and the wrong lighting can be detrimental.
If your lights are too dim, odds are that you’ll experience eyestrain – not to mention a drowsy, groggy feeling that will persist long after your first cup of coffee. By contrast, bright fluorescent lights tend to cause headaches, which are bound to slow down even the most productive employee. Consider a mix of artificial and natural light; open as many windows as you can so you employees get a glimpse of good old-fashioned sunshine and you’ll be surprised how productivity blossoms!
The Layout
Office layouts have changed drastically since the days of typing pools and data storage cabinets. These days, the Internet has made it easier than ever to work, store our data, and even collaborate on projects from just about anywhere.
This shift in how work is done has led many offices to change what an office looks like, too. As Business News Daily explains, at this point we can work from anywhere, so the office should be a place that our employees want to be.
Every office design should seek to accommodate the various work styles that take place within. Extroverted, team-oriented thinkers may benefit from more modern, collaborative furniture, a style that has dominated the office design world as of late. However, introverted, independent workers may find that open office spaces kill their creativity. For every open conference room you have, a few cubicles for the quiet folk can make a world of difference.
The Physical Demands
Let’s cut to the chase: our jobs are killing us, and not just due to stress. As technology continues to change our world, more of us spend our workday sedentary and slouching in front of a computer screen. This is, without question, incredibly unhealthy, and unhealthy workers are far less productive.
So, am I suggesting you build an on-site gym like the folks at Google? Of course not – though if you have the cash flow, I don’t see why not. Simply invest in some contemporary office furniture, like high-quality ergonometric chairs or adjustable sit-to-stand desks. Once your employees get their blood flowing, you’ll be amazed at how productive and creative they can be – and that’s a win for everyone.
Author Bio: Andrew Hoffman is a freelance writer and journalist from Los Angeles, CA, who has written on behalf of a range of clients including the Livestrong Network and Demand Media. In addition to writing about a range of topics, he enjoys playing basketball and cooking in his spare time.
