Not everyone is blessed with a huge office space. In some cases, a small office just has to do.
However, does having a small office mean that you’re not as productive as a group of people who have a huge office with plenty of space to roam? Not necessarily.
Size really isn’t an indicator as to how productive a business can be, but there are some downsides to an office which is too small.
You see, there’s a difference between small and too small. An office that is simply small is perfectly workable. As long as everyone has plenty of personal space and nothing is too cramped, there’s no reason why there can’t be a high level of productivity. In addition, you can use light colours and keep the window spaces clear, to create the illusion of more space with your décor.
However, if your office space is just too small, it’s going to cause problems.
When people are too close together at their office desks, they’re likely to feel ‘penned in’. There is also the increased risk of health and safety problems, and all of this adds up to a higher incidence of conflict within the office too. A small office is also likely to be quite cluttered and it’s true that a cluttered office makes you less productive because you don’t have mental clarity in the same was if you were working in a clear space.
We shouldn’t assume that large offices are instantly more productive anyway. There are a lot of distractions in large spaces, especially when more people work within them. That means that taking breaks becomes even more important than ever before, whilst also ensuring that the office is designed in a way which allows people to get their work done, without becoming stressed or overwhelmed.
So, to sum up, it’s not the size of the office that’s the problem, it’s how it’s laid out. That means you can make any office productive as long as you work hard to do so and think carefully about what office furniture you place where. It’s also about the décor too. A small office can be productive if you place your furniture carefully and you work to maximise how open the office feels, with bright and light colours.
If you have a small office, it’s simply a case of being placement savvy. By doing that, you should be able to achieve maximum productivity.