When you search for ways to boost employee productivity, you think of automation tools, technology, newer methods of communication, and so on. However, have you ever considered the best office design for productivity?
The average full-time employee works for around 1,800 hours in a year. A majority of this time is spent in an office space. So, shouldn’t this space promote purposeful and productive work? Shouldn’t the office layout give employees a feeling of customization, creativity, and personalization?
You might not consider office design as the first thing to improve productivity. Nonetheless, recent research concludes that the office layout positively impacts employee performance. Your conscious mind doesn’t relate�every time you walk through the door, but your workspace leaves a significant effect on your performance and purpose.
How to Proceed with the Best Office Design for Productivity?
1. Plan & Visualize
Before you start designing the space, know your goals. Are there any challenges that your team is facing? How can the office space meet their requirements?
Think about how people use the current space and what changes you need to upgrade the layout. Conduct a survey to understand what employees like and the activities performed in every space. Review the results of the survey to plan out the next steps.
Make sure you can differentiate between the needs and wants of your employees. You cannot accept every suggestion you receive from the employees, but keeping them involved is crucial.
2. Understand work styles and personalities
Your office layout must reflect the nature of business and the kind of employees working for you. For instance, certain employees require a quiet work area, while others look for areas for collaboration. You must aim at creating a balanced workplace.
When you plan the layout, consider providing a room with natural light and whiteboards for fun meetings. However, keep some nooks and crannies in this room for employees who need to hide. Evaluate the effectiveness of personal workspaces as opposed to open workstations depending on the preferences of your employees.
3. Determine the budget
As you plan the best office design for productivity, know what you want to spend and where you want to spend it. Discuss with your employees and other team members to arrive at a sweet spot.
A pre-defined budget helps you prioritize. You know you need to get the necessities first and then move to the rest.
What to Learn About Office Design from Co-working Spaces?
Coworking spaces have gained immense popularity in the last five years. Coworking refers to membership-based workspaces for all work needs. The concept allows remote workers, freelancers, and other independent professionals from diverse backgrounds to come together under one roof. As a result, there is tremendous scope for organic networking and professional development.
The layout of these spaces, like myHQ, is a mix of both open workstations and shared workspaces. It gives the user the freedom and flexibility to book a seat, choose fixed desks and cabins, or make use of on-demand workspaces anywhere. There are identified meeting rooms for people to have privacy for phone calls or concentrated works. Moreover, there are break out areas for employees to unwind in between.
The shared spaces use the best features of flexible workspaces and encourage the community to be highly productive. To meet the recent safety standards, the coworking spaces have also reduced touchable items and distanced seating arrangements. Generally, coworking spaces are accessible 24/7, giving people more control over their work and when and where they want to do it.
6 Best Office Design Tricks to Increase Your Productivity
1. Lighting
One of the strongest factors contributing to the concentration levels of you and your employees is lighting. Bad lighting can lead to eye strain, irritability, headaches, and fatigue. Additionally, dark spaces create depressing effects.
Investing in lighting doesn’t mean you add bulbs and lamps all over the space. It is vital to understand the right kind of lighting. Natural light is essential for the body’s circadian rhythm. It boosts Vitamin D and is a mood-enhancer. Add windows wherever possible to introduce natural lighting. Cooler lights help to reduce fatigue and promote collaboration. On the other hand, warm lights, like lamps, are more inviting and calming.
2. Tables and Chairs
Sometimes when you sit at a desk, you need to frequently adjust, stretch, and move around to feel comfortable. This repetitive movement breaks your focus. Therefore, a correctly fitted table and chair are important. Some of the pointers to consider include:
- The distance between the eyes and the computer screen should be 24-36 inches. The monitor should be at or below eye-level.
- Your feet should rest on the floor or a footrest.
- A slightly reclinable chair helps to reduce strain on your spine and minimize lower back pain.
3. Clutter
Clutter may help to extract creative juices, but it hampers focus. Being disorganized severely impacts performance and productivity. Ensure that the office is thoroughly cleaned and all items of use are organized. An employee’s work desk and the surrounding environment is their kingdom. Make sure you follow the easy and different ways to declutter your desk, putting away things you don’t need, filing and organizing what is needed frequently, and more.
4. Colours
The colours surrounding us affect our mood and brain function. Natural colours like blue and green improve focus and efficiency. Conversely, warmer colours can incite intensity and innovative thinking. The effect of soft, muted colours is different from that of hard, energetic colours.
Understand the kind of work being performed in your workspace and the kind of atmosphere you wish to create. Choose the right colour and match it with your company brand.
5. Plants
We are biological creatures, and connecting with the natural world deeply affects our physiological and psychological functioning. Plants are a great way to bring in nature. They clean the air, lessen noise levels, and reduce stress.
A majority of offices don’t have plants. You can overcome this common challenge by making your workspace greener. There are several low-maintenance office plants easily available in the market. Place them on various desks, and you are all set to start on the right foot.
6. Noise Level
Noise is, undoubtedly, the most common office complaint, particularly in offices with open workstations. It reduces productivity, increases stress, increases illness, lowers job satisfaction, and attracts a lot of other negative elements.
An advanced yet expensive way to eliminate unwanted sounds is a sound masking system. However, if your budgets don’t permit the same, create quiet spaces for employees to use during calls or other activities that demand focus. You can also provide noise-cancellation headphones.
Final Takeaways
The office layout is a key aspect of the employee experience. The way you design the space will directly influence the productivity and purpose of your team. After all, the office is where these people spend much of their waking hours. So, go ahead and create the best office design for productivity. And, if you’ve successfully designed an office space that has improved productivity, we’d love to know more about it.
