Are you a business owner? Then you’re probably searching for new ways to boost employee productivity and increase your bottom line. The business world is highly competitive, so it’s no wonder that you’re constantly looking for new methods to make your team more productive.
Because if you fail to do that, you are about to lose a lot of money. While the core of productivity comes from the activities of the employees themselves, there are a few things you can do to help.
The way you organize your workspace is crucial to the productivity of your employees. Once you understand how your employees work, you will be able to create an office layout and environment that will boost their productivity. Remember that in terms of productive environment there is no one-size-fits-all solution here.
What factors impact employee performance?
According to the American Society of Interior Designers, the physical workplace design is among the top three factors that influence employee performance and job satisfaction.
The Journal of Public Affairs, Administration and Management discovered lighting as the primary factor that affects a professional’s productivity. The Journal also found out that male employees are more affected by office furniture, and that the temperature has a greater influence on female employees.
Here are 8 tips to help you understand how your office environment can increase employee productivity.
#1. The quality of air
Air quality is more important than you expect. Your employees’ general sense of well-being will be affected by poor air quality. And we’re talking reduction in energy level, distraction and problems with concentration.
Make sure to regularly check your air conditioning systems and ensure they’re working properly. The more oxygen goes to the brain of your employees, the more effectively they will work.
#2. Temperature
Temperature is a critical factor that affects employee productivity. That’s why you need to make sure that your office temperature is regulated at a constant optimum temperature. That typically falls between 18 and 21 centigrade.
If you set your temperature in this way, you can be sure that it will stay at the specified level even if the weather outside changes. That kind of constancy will be appreciated by our employees.
#3. Music
Depending on your workplace style, you might consider sound as well. Naturally, music won’t be suitable for all workplaces. But it does have the capacity to energize and motivate staff.
Research shows that 65% of small and medium-sized businesses owners claim that music in their workplace makes employees more productive. 40% of them said they believed that it can also increase sales and the general results for the business.
So if you’re running a young and creative business, you can try experimenting with background music and see what kind of results and feedback you get from your employees.
#4. Lighting
The most important factor that influences the productivity of your employees is lightning. In winter, most of us experience low levels of daylight. That essentially means that our bodies aren’t able to produce enough vitamin D.
And that in turn might makes your employees feel depressed and weakens their immune systems. How could you expect them to be productive in an environment that doesn’t give them enough light?
Office employees who are inside all day need access to natural light. Make sure that the property you choose for your office includes plenty of natural light sources such as large windows. If you’re stuck with a dark office, you can use SAD lamps to compensate for the reduced exposure employees are getting to sunlight.
But be careful here and pick the right artificial lights. Dim lighting brings about a range of consequences, from eye strain and headaches to drowsiness and lack of focus – not to mention lack of motivation! Harsh lighting, on the other hand, causes eye strain and might be a trigger for migraine headaches. Fluorescent lighting is the worst of all because it’s bound to affect employees on the physical level, making it more difficult for their eyes to focus and deliver quality work.
#5. Paint your walls
If you close your employees in an office where the walls are gray and uninspiring, don’t expect to boost their motivation and productivity. Depending on your industry, you’ll want to invest in paint color that either energizes or relaxes employees.
- Pick blue if you’d like to instill a sense of trust and loyalty among employees, calm them down and improve their productivity.
- Green is perfect because it helps workers to relax and makes them more creative. Surround your employees with shades of green if you need them to brainstorm and come up with new ideas.
- Red helps to increase brain activity, stimulating employees and helping them to focus or pay attention to detail. Yellow has a similarly energizing effect, boosting the motivation of those who feel bored or dissatisfied.
#6. Plants
Your office is located in the middle of the city and your employees don’t see anything else out of their windows than identical buildings, you need to invest in plants. Plants will allow you to create a more natural environment and add a comfortable feel to your space. Also, they can be used for the decorative purposes, making your space feel much more welcoming.
#7. Equip your employees with the right tech gadgets
You need tools to boost the productivity of your employees. And by the right tools, I mean the right technology. Companies that ignore the most recent technological trends and never upgrade their gear won’t stand a chance on the market today.
One study conducted by Intel found out that once the company employees were upgraded to wireless notebooks, they put in more than two hours of work a week. Workers were able to control their time, and boost their productivity. All in all, it was a win-win for both parties involved.
#8. Furniture
Most companies decide to furnish their offices themselves. Once you set a budget and specifications, you can hire someone to furnish the office for you. Some interior designers specialize in office environments and they can help you build one that boosts the productivity of your employees. High-quality furniture ensures that your professional space feels comfortable and energizes employees.
Take a good look at your office environment. It’s critical to make the first changes and introduce new solutions that give your employees a boost in productivity. Most online furniture stores also have a dedicated page for Office Furniture you can browse through.
Since there exists no universal solution for interior design and productivity, you should experiment with different options and regularly ask your employees for feedback. Only then you will know that you’re doing the right job.
These 8 tips should help you get started in creating an office environment that only helps your employees to work better.
