Providing your employees with a good workspace can
significantly increase employee productivity. This doesn’t mean, however, that
you need to patter your office to that of Apple’s or Google’s. Believe it or
not, a few minor design tweaks will do.
Below are some very simple design fixes you can apply in
your office environment that will improve your workers’ levels of happiness,
health and productivity.
1. Mind ergonomics.
You really cannot expect your staff to be productive if
their backs are killing them because of the wrongly designed desk chairs and
computer screens they are using. If it is possible to adjust the height and
position of the desks and chairs being used in the office, then have everyone
do it. The heights of the desk chairs, desks and even computer monitors should
allow for the things to be parallel to the floor. The upper arms have to be
perpendicular to the floor, and the wrist should be as straight as possible.
2. Get rid of the clutter.
Encourage your staff to keep their desks or workstations
clutter-free. As a manager, you need to be good role model in this, so make
sure your desk is well organized and neat also. There are a number of ways you
can keep your desk organized, such as using post-its, filing cabinets, and
organized folders.
3. Reconsider the color of the office.
According to several studies, color has a significant effect
on people’s productivity at work. According to color psychologist Angela
Wright, blue is the color that stimulates the mind; red affects the body;
yellow stimulates creativity; and green keeps a calming balance. If it would
cost you a lot to have the entire office repainted, then go for accents
instead. This way, the different departments or teams in the organization will
be surrounded by colors that fit their work.
4. Put a touch of nature.
Adding some small potted plants around the office is another
way to promote productivity at work. A couple of studies have concluded that
having a plant on an office desk boosts cognitive attention and improves
productivity. In addition, it also helps filter the air by removing bacteria
and mold. Indeed, this simple change in the office can do a lot in keeping
workers healthy, relaxed and productive.
5. Sufficient lighting.
Another way of increasing productivity in the workplace is
to let in a lot of natural light. If there aren’t that many windows in your
office, you can just rearrange the office so that as many desks will be
positioned closer to the windows. Indirect light is another option if there is
limited natural light in the area.
These design fixes are minor, if you come to think of it,
but they do a lot in boosting the mood and level of productivity among
employees. If you want to learn other ways of improving efficiency and
productivity in the workplace, working with a business consultant is ideal.
