When working in an office, it is essential to choose a space that enhances your company’s productivity and fits well with not only the needs of your business but the needs of your employees. There are several ways to create the right space to help maximise productivity, even on a tight budget.
Furnishings
Office furnishings are one of the most essential ways to improve productivity. For many people that work in an office, they can get serious pains from the chair they sit in for 7 plus hours a day. Having the wrong kind of support in a chair can cause numerous issues and result in a serious lack of productivity.
Everyone has different problems, so it is important to buy office furniture that can cater to this. For example, giving people a choice of office chairs to suit them individually. It is also important to note that these desk chairs should be adjustable so employees are not only comfortable, but that their chairs match the height of the office desks they sit at.
As well as comfort, it’s important to have a visually pleasing workspace. For many, working in unattractive surroundings can really decrease motivation and mood, and therefore employees aren’t working to their full potential. So, it is important to use any resources that will make the office look attractive, including keeping it light and bright so everyone feels awake. This includes trying to get as much natural light into the building as possible as studies have shown that office lighting can seriously affect productivity. Natural lighting is the most preferable through windows, but for most, this isn’t possible, especially in winter. So, choosing the right kind of lighting that won’t hurt people’s eyes or give them headaches is essential and will have a big effect on productivity.
Although improving the office appearance can seem a challenge, especially in rented workspaces where you’re not allowed to decorate properly, there are many budget-friendly ways to improve. For example, potted plants are a brilliant way of not only adding colour, but it will also increase oxygen flow, thus helping prevent the area from feeling stuffy and enclosed.
Also, did you know that most of us are instinctively aware that being close to greenery makes us feel much more at ease with our surroundings; our stress levels are significantly lowered?? How wonderful! Overall, buildings are quieter and more relaxed, but at the same time, they are more stimulating and intriguing. A substantial body of academic research throughout the years has heavily indicated that interior landscaping has considerable effects on the wellbeing of building occupants.
Office Equipment
Everyone’s been in a situation where a computer shuts down and you lose hours’ worth of work. This is not only extremely stressful for the employee but costly for the business, so, having up-to-date office equipment is essential in improving productivity.
Providing staff with fully working computers and printers means no time will be wasted trying to fix any malfunctioning equipment. This reduces stress levels as employees can solely focus on their work and won’t have to spend hours re-doing it because the computer broke, through no fault of their own. It also means that expanding and improving your business can be done with ease as all staff have the right resources to complete their tasks and can experiment with new software to create better solutions for the company.
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Personalised Business Stationery
Just like having a properly working computer, it is also important to supply staff with enough business stationery, as this is another form of equipment they need. For example, there’s nothing worse than trying to finish your work and running out of paper, so ensure your stationery cupboard always has a good supply flow.
Personalised stationery is a great way to market your brand, not just to clients but also employees as it shows them they are valued. This includes giving all staff their own personalised lanyard and photo ID card that is custom to them. This will help them feel appreciated as an individual and motivated to do their best work. If you are looking for a trusted supplier, we recommend taking a look at Digital ID.
It also doesn’t matter the size of your order, personalisation isn’t as expensive as once thought and is a surefire way to increase staff morale. Even letting employees take these personalised items home to show family and friends, is an easy and cost-effective way to branch out and market that you couldn’t do otherwise.
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Dedicated Areas
Creating specific areas, such as a printing area, stationery area etc. means staff know where everything is. Having a dedicated kitchen area/canteen/chill-out space means staff will know that when they’re in this area, they can relax. When they’re in the main office they will feel more motivated as they’re keeping work and leisure spaces separate.
Also, if feasible, make sure you have dedicated boardrooms so no other staff members outside the meeting are being distracted. Kit it out to include bespoke office furniture, such as a round or oval table, and this will help improve discussions as everyone can be seen. Also, use projectors and whiteboards to visualise ideas so all meeting members can understand what is being shown to them. This will increase productivity as everyone will be on the same page so can tackle the challenges raised in the meeting without any confusion.
Once all these areas in an office have been catered to, employees will be able to fully focus on their work as their work environment won’t be an issue. This will, therefore, ultimately result in increased productivity and an overall happier workplace.
Guest post by: Adam Bennett, Digital Marketing Manager at Digital ID