When people are exposed to the right environment and are free from constrains, they are able to do better at work. A positive work environment provides the motivation to sustain employees everyday.
Everything from physical changes (like lighting, air conditioning and the general office design) to relationship with co-workers and managers, organisational culture and shifts in the company culture can turn your company from a place to merely turn up and put in hours and get a paycheck into a place employees love spending time even as they work on their daily tasks.
These are a few of the different and better ways you can alter your work environment and culture to create a productive workspace.
1. Keep an eye on your office temperature for better productivity.
Heat decreases your productivity. On average, worker productivity decreased once the office temperature hit 73 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Finnish researchers, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy. Their research completed a review of 24 different studies that dealt with temperature and productivity.
A hot office takes its toll on the human body; both heat and humidity can have a significant impact on concentration levels. The same is true of environments which are excessively cold. If your employees spend all of their time shivering and trying to maintain a normal body temperature, they are unlikely to be able to focus on their respective tasks.
“From a small shop to an industrial unit or office, a better air conditioning system can enhance workspace productivity ” says the air conditioning experts at Cool Rite.
2. Encourage and foster collaboration.
Collaboration is becoming increasingly important in the modern world, as we become more connected to colleagues, team members and friends. Whether your office has cabins, cubicles or has an open concept, make sure it encourages collaboration among employees.
Collaborating with others in different departments, or even offices, skills can significantly improve creativity, communication and the overall productivity at work. Your employees will be a lot more happier and effective when they get the opportunity to interact and share ideas and skills. A successful project depends on a positive working relationship among employees.
3. Support work-Life balance
Employers may not be responsible for providing work balance for their employees, but they can assist them to seek and maintain a balanced life.
Your business should commit to providing working conditions which enable employees to achieve a work-life balance whilst fulfilling the business needs. A heathy workforce are more likely to perform better and complete assignments on time.
Work policies that support wellness can motivate your employees to focus on balancing work and life. Initiatives including flexible working hours, paternity and maternity leave agreements, wellness days, paid time off, job sharing where necessary can help employees make better choices about how they work. You can also reward employees who maintain good work-life balance habits (e.g. leave work on time) and can still perform well.
Related: How Successful People Find a Better Work-Life Balance
4. Allow employees to personalise their workspace.
Provide resources that encourage employees to be comfortable at their workspace. Allow workers to choose simple moveable objects that make their immediate environment conducive to mental ease. Give them the space and freedom to customize their area to their personal work preferences. You could even provide minimal budge for people to customize their own setup.
5. Invest in employee career development.
Don’t just hire skilled workers and hope they do their job. Invest in them. Show them you care about their careers. Give them the best resources or tools and they’ll succeed or better still, deliver.
In a rapidly changing business world, one of your most important duties as an employer is to train your workforce to be abrupt with the latest technology. Adapting to change is more crucial than ever in any industry. Every positive work environment has routine trainings to improve business efficiency and instill positive attitudes among employees.
6. Be open to feedback and suggestions.
Employees feel valued when they know employers are open to their ideas about how projects can be done better. Appreciate their work. Make time to offer employees specific feedback on how their work is feeding into the broader business objectives and goals.
Don’t be afraid to ask employees for their opinion on new projects and initiatives. Get them involved and they will own projects and commit to making them success.
1 comment
One of the many reasons why people are not satisfied with their work or just aren’t inspired to do their work is the look of the office space. I learned (from my environmental psychology class) that a better looking workspace has been found to be very effective in helping people be dedicated at finishing their daily tasks. Mix that with good people who you’d like to work with and that will hit the spot towards total success – whether that’s for personal career development or for business. It’s a win- win situation! :)
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