Wonolo
As the economy continues to be marred by what some are terming the ‘productivity crisis,’ it seems that getting more out of employees is more important than ever. But, rather than waiting for the economy to pick up, there are other ways business owners and managers can contribute to improved productivity levels by actively motivating and energizing their workforce.
In today’s article, our friends at Action Storage are looking at five changes you can make to your office setup to encourage staff to be more focused and energized. From phasing out open-plan office designs in favor of zonal spaces to adding changing facilities so workers can exercise during lunch breaks or cycle to the office, making a few tweaks to daily schedules and office design themes has the potential to drive a number of positive outcomes.
Revise the layout
While open-plan spaces have become a mainstay of modern office design (bringing with them a more collaborative and cohesive working environment), they do have their disadvantages. With increased noise levels and other distractions, it’s easy for staff to lose focus on their work – putting a strain on productivity levels.
For this reason, rethinking your layout and introducing zonal spaces throughout your office environment could be greatly beneficial. From comfy, breakout areas for impromptu meetings to quiet rooms for when full concentration is required, providing a variety of work zones for staff will ensure they always have the perfect space to maximize their time in the office.
Let the light in
When it comes to office design and the desire to keep employees energized and motivated, it pays to emphasize on lighting – and natural daylight in particular. With reports suggesting that natural light is linked to improved productivity and wellbeing, allowing this natural feature to take center-stage could have a profound effect on the energy of your workforce.
From stripping back heavy curtains in favor of open windows or adjustable blinds to repositioning workstations, so they see more daylight, allowing as much natural light in as possible will go a long way towards boosting everyone’s mood. Of course, in most office environments, there will be a need for artificial lighting – but consider switching up overhead fluorescent lights that can be overbearing for more focused task lights or LED bulbs that have a less harsh glow.
Encourage a healthy lifestyle
With everyone leading busy lives, it can be challenging to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle – but as an employer, you can help to encourage this by offering the right facilities within the workplace that allow staff to exercise before or during office hours. From cycling or walking to work to embarking on a lunchtime gym session, this physical activity can be a great way to increase staff morale. Not only does exercise release feel-good endorphins to make you feel more energetic and positive, but staying active can also help to relieve stress and anxiety.
From secure bike lock-up areas for those who want to cycle to work to storage lockers and changing facilities for workers who need to freshen up after a gym session, these small updates will offer workers the motivation to get active and stay energized.
Introduce a natural vibe
Adding greenery to your office space comes with a host of benefits. Most obviously, it brings an attractive, natural aesthetic to the table – but more importantly, these air-purifying additions have been scientifically linked to a number of health-related benefits, including increased productivity, reduced stress levels and lower sickness rates.
Whether you opt for eye-catching flora like dracaenas or subtle succulents and shrubs on desks and windowsills, even a small amount of greenery can positively impact on members of staff.
Embrace the power of color psychology
Whether we realize it or not, the effect of color plays a huge role in how we feel, so embracing a new color scheme could be just what your office needs to brighten the place up and revitalize staff.
From attention-grabbing reds thought to stimulate productivity to vibrant yellows that fuel creativity and even soothing blues and greens that create a sense of calm, your choice of color in your office can work to re-energize your team. How and where you use these colors is key – for example, an all-red office may be too intense, but used as a pop of color for a feature wall or in specific zones, it can be highly effective.
With ever-increasing workloads and time-poor employees, it’s easy to see how offices can become disengaged and unmotivated, but we hope these ideas will give you plenty of inspiration to make positive changes that lead to a more energized and productive workforce.
This is a guest post from our friends at Action Storage.
