Offices can be dull, daunting and uninspiring in some cases, so here are some ideas to help improve your working environment and in doing so, boost motivation and stimulate innovation.
1. Get the correct chair
Ensure that you have a chair that you are comfortable in. You are likely to spend the majority of your eight hour day in this chair so you need to make sure you are comfortable.
Most offices choose to implement swivel chairs, as they have the ability to adjust the height, backrest and even the height of the arms. It is also good for if you have a big desk as you can manoeuvre between stations very easily.
2. Plants
Plants add a great deal of colour to an office environment, and they can enhance the beauty of your surroundings. They also have health benefits as many will clean any pollutants out of the air as they add oxygen and humidity to your office, which can help fight against illness and disease (so hopefully your employees wont be taking too many sick days!). In addition, recent psychology studies have shown that the presence of plants tends to make people more creative!
Your employees will become incredibly annoyed and frustrated if they have to work on slow or outdated software
3. Lighting
Many studies have researched how employee productivity can be increased, and many have drawn the conclusion that light plays a big factor in productivity, as it reduces anxiety, fatigue and stress. One of the reasons office partitioning is becoming increasingly popular, is because it helps to emit natural light into your workspace.
4. Update technology
Your employees will become incredibly annoyed and frustrated if they have to work on slow or outdated software. It restricts their productivity and efficiency, so it really doesn’t help anyone. It is also beneficial if files can be accessed from anywhere as it creates a sense of flexibility and freedom, and will leave your employees all the more happier.
5. Colours
Scientific studies recognise that colours bring about emotional reactions in all individuals. Our reactions and attitudes to colours differ from person to person, and it is important to ensure that you change your colour scheme from time to time to help keep all the individuals refreshed.
6. Music
A little bit of background music will have a soothing effect on your workforce and it can also help motivate them with their daily tasks. Music can affect emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills. Generally, people adopted soft, uplifting music to keep the office happy.
7. Breaks
Ensure that employees take regular breaks, especially if they are feeling tired or tense. If not their stress levels will only build which can lead to unfavourable emotions being displayed. Things such as grabbing a drink or taking a ten minute walk are all you need to quickly recharge your batteries and get on with your work.
8. Get organised
File any documents, shred any irrelevant ones, throw away any rubbish, clean your computer, clean your desk. These are just some of the things you can do to help make your work station a creative one.
Also make sure you have enough space to work in. Office partitioning is normally an effective way to allocate each individual enough working space. Nobody likes to work in a mess, it will just lead to irritation and stress. So ensure that everything is clean and presentable so that you can work comfortably.
