Regardless of where you work, productivity is essential to excellent work. Day after day, employees or self-employed business people find themselves in an office. Unbeknown to most people is the reality that office design can either increase or decrease productivity.
For office design to increase productivity a few minor adjustments can be made to revamp and energise your office space.
Lighting
The most important feature of any office is its lighting. Poor lighting can cause irritability, headaches, fatigue, etc. The more natural light an office receives, the more relaxed and productive employees are. Where possible allow natural light to permeate office space. Alternatively, invest in natural light bulbs.
Colour
A good splash of colour brightens up any room. Colour preferences vary per employee as does the saturation of the colour. Either way, increasing colour in office space will improve productivity.
Some suggestions to add colour to an office include pictures, mugs, pens, or other preferred items with the chosen colour.
Nature
Bringing nature into office space by placing a pot plant in an office or on a desk helps with productivity and attention. Plants or flowers also release oxygen which clears the air of unwanted bacteria. A breath of fresh fragrant air is a must to increasing productivity.
Declutter
A clean office space and desk go a long way to increasing productivity. Everything needs to have its own place. Create a filing system that is easy to follow and efficient.
Ergonomics
Since most employees and business people find themselves sitting in front of a computer for most of the day, ergonomics is vital for productivity. The computer monitor needs to be comfortable to the eyes and neck. The chair needs to provide support to the back while the employee’s feet are flat on the floor. There should be ample space for the employee’s body to move comfortably while working at a desk or on a computer.
Move around
Sitting in one location without taking a break is not conducive to employee health or productivity. Office space should provide alternative areas for employees to work. A comfortable chair in an office will help an employee sit somewhere else while pondering a specific topic or scenario.
A change of scenery, body position or a break rests the mind which continues to subconsciously mull over the day’s situations or deadlines.
Balance privacy and spontaneity
The temptation to say goodbye to open plan office and hello to booths may be quite high given that most business people or employees desire their conversations to be private. Don’t get rid of all the openness just yet. Rather create a culture where people can engage in private Skype, conference or phone calls.
In the same breath, provide employees with nooks or small lounges near the coffee bar or other similar conversation starter points. This will encourage employees to engage in spontaneous brainstorming and conversation while providing a place to sit comfortably with a cup of steaming coffee.
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