Productivity is a combination of all of these factors: efficiency and happiness.
What does it mean to be productive in the office environment? Is it about getting the most work done, getting it done the fastest, or is accuracy the biggest deal? Where does pleasure and workplace contentment come in? Productivity is a combination of all of these factors: efficiency and happiness. And the office design can play a huge role in the productivity of the people who work in that office.
Clean Everyday
A clean workspace improves productivity, so it is important to take some time every day to tidy up. This could be as simple as throwing away anything that’s disposable and rearranging the odds and ends. A tidy workspace means that you’re less likely to lose things, a time sink that kills productivity. As part of your office organization system, you should give your electronics a home on each desk that tucks them safely out of the way. Phones and tablets are a huge source of distraction and wasted time in any office environment.
Have Space to Move
Few things kill productivity like a mental block, and sitting and struggling to push through it rarely helps. What does help in most cases is actually getting up and moving around? Studies show that workers who break up their days with small movement breaks have greater productivity than if they sit at the desk all day. You can include space for intentional movement, like a long hallway, or you can build routine movement into the workday through design, by putting the copier or the coffee machine on the other side of the office, for instance.
Incorporate Nature
Studies have shown that having plants in the office increases workplace productivity by up to 15% while also increasing employee satisfaction. Plants can help people feel more connected to nature, which is especially helpful when they’re stuck inside all day. If you can’t devote space to a large green addition like a living wall, consider adding potted plants to desks in the office.
Limit Personalization
Personalization of workspace is very important to workplace happiness. Being able to bring a little of your home life or of your personal side to the work zone helps you feel more connected to the business at hand. But too much personalization can often take on the form of clutter, which we’ve mentioned is a productivity killer. Limit the number of personal items that find a home on your desk and try to make them items that increase your productivity. For instance, a picture of your kids if they motivate you or a picture of your last vacation if you’re saving for the next one.
Office Furniture from Glover Furniture Group
Glover Furniture and Design Group is a woman-owned and operated business that serves the Delmarva region with educational, institutional, and commercial furniture and design services. For information on how we can optimize your classroom or office design, give us a call at 1-800-966-9016 or contact us online. To see examples of our work and stay in touch, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.