Boosting productivity is a major concern for many companies, and it's easy to understand why. When every employee is able to work as productively as possible, you'll see a big positive impact on your bottom line. Many companies overlook the fact that their commercial office space can have a big effect on productivity in the workplace. To ensure that your space is working to your benefit and helping to promote a productive working environment, follow these tips:
1. Choose the Right Location
With so much communication now being done online, many companies think that the location of their office space is no longer that important and look for spots in out-of-the-way areas where rent may be lower. While this can make sense from a financial standpoint, it can hurt productivity in the long run. If your location isn't conveniently located near clients and suppliers, personnel that have to visit will waste more time for travel. A central location near basic businesses like dry cleaners, drugstores, grocery stores and medical and dental practices can help employees better balance their work and personal lives to make them more productive.
2. Don't Just Default to an Open Floor Plan
Open floor plans are becoming the norm in modern workplaces, and they do have a lot of benefits for employees. Millennials often prefer the easy-to-collaborate settings, and open floor plans do make it easier for teams to work together. The problem is that open floor plans aren't ideal for every member of your team or for every daily task. There needs to be quiet places where employees can retreat to for jobs that require more concentration and to handle matters that may be private or confidential in nature. Before you simply opt for an open floor plan, take the time to consider how your employees actually work on a day-to-day basis. For most companies, a mix of open space, semi-private areas and some closed-in shared offices is the right solution.
3. Think About Technology
Your employees are likely using desktop computers less and less and doing more work on laptops, tablets and smartphones. As a result, it's important that your office space is able to handle the large number of these devices that are being used on a daily basis. Make sure that conference rooms and semi-private areas are equipped with enough plugs for charging and that all of the desks in your open work areas have access to outlets. You'll also want to ensure that you get a strong wireless signal through every part of your office space. If not, consider investing in a wireless booster that will speed up data transfer and let employees complete work faster.
4. Maximize Natural Light
Studies have found that employees are more productive when they can see natural light, so plan your office space in a way that puts primary work spaces near windows. While a great view in the break room might be nice to look at during lunch, you'd get more benefits by having work areas near that source of natural light.
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