Building a Workspace That Supports Productivity and Creativity
For employees to work happily, they need a workspace that supports them. From the office layout to the accessories to the technology that fills the space, your office should inspire your employees to be as productive, creative, and motivated as possible.
Keep in mind that employers and employees both must contribute to building such a workspace for it to be successful. Let’s explore what each can do to create an office space that fosters productivity and creativity, starting with employers.
Create a strong company culture
When designing a more productive workspace, most employers focus on material things, like furniture or technology. But the ideas and values that make up the company culture are just as critical.
If the workers don’t have a supportive, positive atmosphere to work in, the layout, technology, and accessories in the office don’t matter. They won’t ever be as productive and creative as they can be in a negative company culture.
So, start with company culture. Establish core values. Share the company vision. Let employees know how important productivity, innovation, and efficiency are. Employers can also specify behaviors employees should adopt to be at their best daily.
Focus on collaboration and flexibility
A workspace that supports productivity and creativity focuses on collaboration and flexibility. Teams must be cohesive and communicative to perform well. In addition, they must be able to adapt and move fluidly through the office to be most productive.
Employers should ensure their office layouts promote collaboration and flexibility. The best option is a layout that strikes a balance between an open floor plan and a traditional office layout. This could look like:
- Open pathways
- Various tech tools spread throughout
- Individual offices, as well as team meeting rooms
- Community spaces like a lounge and kitchen
- Large windows that offer lots of natural light
It’s important to note that completing a layout design will take some time, especially if it’s customized. So, employers will want to ensure their teams stay productive during the renovation.
For example, inform employees of the renovation plans early on and let them know how their work will change. Use noise reduction strategies to keep construction sounds from being a distraction. Additionally, maintain safety standards.
Introduce modern tech tools
It’s nearly impossible to create a productive workspace without technology. Modern tech tools can streamline processes and leave room for employees to spend most of their time on meaningful tasks rather than menial ones.
For example, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are helping businesses adapt to an increasingly digital world. These tools are especially helpful in collecting, processing, and analyzing data. They collect massive datasets and comb through them for meaningful insights that can enhance internal operations and external customer relationships.
These modern tech tools are also worth considering introducing into the workplace:
- Remote work tools
- Cloud-based storage
- Interactive whiteboards
- Employee experience apps
- Employee monitoring software
- Augmented reality (AR) and Virtual reality (VR) devices
Modern tech tools can enhance employee productivity by taking specific tasks off their hands and allowing them to focus on those requiring creativity and deep thinking.
How employees can contribute to building a productive, creative workspace
As mentioned above, employees play a significant part in creating a workspace that facilitates creativity and productivity. Here’s how they can contribute to building an office space that inspires their best work.
Personalize your space
Unfortunately, most employers don’t give their employees a say in how a workspace is constructed, particularly regarding layout, accessories, furniture, and technology choices.
The problem with this is that what inspires one employee to be productive may differ from another. But even if the employer makes the more important design choices, employees can still personalize their workspaces.
Think about the desk accessories that inspire productivity and innovation. These could be:
- Vases
- Candles
- A desk lamp
- A desk organizer
- Desktop sculptures
- Small indoor plants
- Decorative paperweights
- Embroidered boxes
- Pictures of loved ones
- Customized pen and pencil holders
If you have an entire office to personalize, consider the following:
- A mirror
- Unique window coverings
- Bigger indoor plants
- Inspirational artwork
- Shelving and a bookcase
- An ergonomic chair of your choosing
- Throws and pillows for an office couch
Employees who personalize their workspaces or offices are more likely to feel productive and inspired in them.
Stay organized
A survey done by Brother at Your Side. revealed that “41% of respondents believe that a tidy and organized workspace is key to enhancing productivity.” Bottom line, employees must keep their workspaces organized if they want to be more productive.
This is because you can’t get much done when constantly sifting through mounds of paperwork or millions of folders to find what you need to complete tasks. It takes up way too much time and leaves little to none for real productivity.
Conversely, an organized, neat workspace makes it easy for employees to find what they need and be efficient and accurate. So, prioritizing organization is a must.
Use desk organizers to keep desks free of clutter. Alphabetize confidential physical documents and put them in a locked filing cabinet. Use storage containers for things you don’t work with every day. And finally, keep your workspace clean and void of dust, spills, and dirt.
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The ideal working environment is one that inspires, supports productivity, and fosters creativity. The tips above will ensure you build a workspace that sustains all these things.
Originally published at https://facilethings.com.
