Productivity is integral for a thriving business. However, motivating your employees to do their best at work, while ensuring their wellbeing is taken care of, is easier said than done.
An important aspect of employee productivity and wellbeing is ensuring the working environment provided is conducive to productive work. Without this, it becomes challenging to get your employees to work effectively, happily and to their full potential.
In this week’s guest blog post, Raymond Chui, shares ten ways you can improve your office environment to achieve a positive affect on your team’s productivity - from relaxation areas to up-to-date technology.
1. Stay up to date with technology
As a business owner, you have the responsibility to provide the tools they need to get the results you want. That's why any good office environment should ensure that they invest in the latest technology for their office.
That way, employees aren't frustrated because their work quality is limited by the type of technology they can access.
Getting the latest tech for the job is not all about improving your employee's productivity, although that's a solid reason to consider. It will also enhance the work that your company produces, so make sure to budget in the latest tech to help improve your overall output.
2. Consider relaxation areas
Proactively nurturing good mental health in the workplace is simpler than you’d think. If you leave it be, stress can easily overwhelm you and your team.
Since work stress is universal and can affect anyone at anytime throughout their career, consider a dedicated relaxation area in your workplace.
Sometimes, you need a moment to collect yourself and breathe to regain focus and get back on track at work. However, the bathroom is hardly the best place to do that all the time. So, an office with a relaxation area is a great option to provide for those who need a quiet space to centre themselves.
3. Invest in ergonomic office chairs
When your team is comfortable while working, they're likely going to be more productive. Dealing with aches and pains or having to frequently reposition yourself to a comfortable position leads to all sorts of distractions.
Consider ergonomic office chairs for your employees. This effect should make them more productive for a lot longer, and they'll be more comfortable after eight hours of working.
4. Clearing the clutter
At Maid Sailors NYC Office Cleaning, we know how clutter can lead to poor concentration and productivity. Many things in the office can be a source of distraction, and one of them is a cluttered work area.
Even the smallest random non-work-related item on your desk can distract you from what you're trying to do. Small distractions like this can add up and sooner or later, your employees may find themselves an hour in struggling to concentrate and get things done.
Ensure your employees have a suitable workspace with ample storage to avoid the distraction of clutter from taking over.
5. Pay attention to ventilation
If you want to improve your working environment, the last thing that you'd probably think about would be the air quality inside the office. After all, as long as the office has air conditioning and isn't all dusty, it should be okay, right?
Well, it would still be a good idea to pay attention to how ventilated your workplace is.
There's even a study from Harvard and Syracuse Universities that showed how impactful air quality is to productivity. According to their research, a well-ventilated office made workers perform 27% better at cognitive tasks. As such, employees become 61% more productive.
6. Get the lighting right
If an office has poor lighting, it could create a gloomy atmosphere that can dampen the mood of your employees. That's why it's always a good idea to invest in great lighting inside the office.
What’s more, try to find a way to get more natural light into the office - natural light feels warmer and more inviting to employees and clients alike.
7. Add some greenery
Speaking of warm and inviting, adding some greenery around the office is another way to improve the atmosphere at your workplace.
When the office is pleasant to look at, your employees will want to stay in it longer. Plus, it will help get people into a positive and focused mindset when this is the case.
If you plan on adding greeneries, make sure that you properly take care of them and invest in office-friendly plants so that they don't end up neglected in a dark corner.
8. Find an optimum temperature
When adjusting the temperature in the office, you need to be as fair to everyone inside as possible.
If it's too cold, your employees will move slower and stiffer, which can hinder their productivity. If it's too hot, it will frustrate and bother your workforce.
Make sure you have a flexible temperature gauge that will suit both colder and warmer seasons and can be adjusted based on how many people are in the office at one time.
9. Check the air quality
We've mentioned air quality before, but air quality, though, isn't just about ventilation. It's also about cleanliness.
Cleaning your air filters properly will ensure that the indoor air in your building is cleaner than the outdoor air.
It can be tempting to invest in perfumed sprays to improve the ambience in your workspace but it’s important to consider that employees have different tastes and allergies. So, avoid using perfume to help make the office smell better.
10. Be aware of ambient noise
Another unseen factor in the office that can contribute or affect your team's productivity would be noise. Investing in soundproofing reduces the amount of noise produced in an office, which can bother other employees.
However, soundproofing an office with an open floor plan can be tricky. As such, ensure your office layout and interior decorations can help provide an optimal working experience.
Finding the right balance for your workplace
Make sure you are openly communicating with your employees and bear in mind these ten ways to motivate your employees.
While these factors can all positively affect your team's productivity, it’s important to remember that all business teams are different. While it will help to keep these things in mind, it can take time to test and trial these different factors before finding the right environment for your workplace.