From staff retention levels to the effective use of company time, ensuring that each member of your team is happy, healthy and has everything they need to work to the best of their ability is fundamental in any office. High levels of workplace productivity go hand-in-hand with fulfilling the emotional and physical needs of employees, which is why employers in every industry are adapting their office design to suit the members of their team.
A productive workforce is what drives a business towards continued success, and that’s why today, we’ll be taking a look at 5 science-backed ways that employers can improve productivity in their office spaces. From colour psychology to other intrinsic elements of office design and layout, we’ll be providing you with a deep-digging guide to ramping up productivity – so that you can rest assured that your team is working in the most effective way.
1. Be versatile with workspaces for employees
Open-plan offices have fast become commonplace in the modern day, and that’s largely due to the increased ease of communicating with other members of the team in these formats. It’s important to remember, however, that some staff could see an open-plan office as a barrier in terms of privacy – which is why also offering employees the option of distraction-free booths is highly recommended.
Experts suggest that a positive company culture is one of the most important aspects to consider when planning the design of your office, which is why demonstrating versatility in the types of workspaces that you offer can be so impactful. By showing that the company values each individual by providing employees with the option of choosing the style of setup in which they work, offices can inspire collaboration and limit any distractions in the workplace – meaning your team can work together in the most productive way.
2. Encourage natural light into the space
A good night’s sleep will, unsurprisingly, leave employees feeling refreshed, motivated and prepared for the following day – and with plenty of articles suggesting that there’s a distinct correlation between the exposure of natural light during the working day and productivity, there’s every reason to reflect natural light into and around the office.
From exposing real wood flooring to painting the walls with neutral colours and stripping back heavy curtains from windows, allowing your office to breathe means that you can encourage increased productivity in the workplace – as well as improving the overall well-being of employees.
3. Incorporate principles of colour psychology
Studies have shown that different colours will evoke different emotional responses, and that means that when it comes to choosing the design for your office, it’s crucial that you set the right tone. Bright reds, for instance, can often be associated with danger and rage – meaning this bold colour scheme will often be less suitable for an open-plan office space. On the other hand, vibrant yellow tones can appear motivating and inspire a team to produce new and innovative ideas – making it an excellent choice of colour for the most creative sections of an office.
4. Adorn the office with accessories
Minimalism may be a running theme in many office spaces, but while a stripped back, functional approach will reduce the number of distractions, it’s spaces that have been adorned with artwork that can have a significant effect on staff productivity levels. With studies showing that accessorising workspaces with art can reduce stress, improve well-being and boost productivity, investing in corporate artwork can mean that your team will be able to achieve more during the working day.
Similarly, research suggests that adorning desk spaces with indoor plants could improve air quality, lower stress and enhance memory retention – which means that these eco-friendly accessories could boost the motivation and productivity of each member of your team.
5. Be flexible about office working hours
As more and more millennials enter the world of employment, their prioritisation of flexibility means that companies across the globe are adapting their working hours policy. And with science suggesting that flextime employees have improved health and well-being – as well as the ability to achieve more throughout the working day – there’s every reason to ensure that your office’s working hours suit each individual member of the team.
From offering flexibility across the board, in both time and work spaces, to inviting in as much natural light as possible, making a dedicated effort to improve the happiness and well-being of team members means that you could significantly improve the productivity of employees – so the company can work more effectively in its pursuit of increased success.
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