Productivity is the heartbeat of any successful small business. If you want your employees to increase their productivity, look at the structure and setting of their office. Not only does the physical environment impact how productive your workers feel, but so can the layout of office furniture, the flow between employee spaces, and the general feel of an office. Fortunately, your small business can benefit from many resources that increase productivity and turn your office into a location where your staff like working. This article outlines how to make your small business workspace more productive under existing state laws.
Use High-Quality Workspace Furniture
The quality of the furniture in your workspace directly impacts productivity. A good piece of furniture can create a comfortable and productive workplace for your employees. That doesn’t mean paying thousands of dollars on expensive desks and chairs. Quality furniture and supplies will help you stay organized and keep things neat. If you have a small business, chances are you won’t have much money to spare, but you can find great deals online.
Also, you can hire professionals to do the job instead of having a messy desk or cluttered shelves. Interior designers are experts who know precisely how to maximize space. That’s because they have extensive knowledge about different styles and designs that can suit any room. Besides, they can determine whether certain items would fit your office space. They can also advise you on ways to improve your décor without changing the existing layout.
Cabinet designers assist with creating a cabinet design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. They can create custom cabinetry based on your specific needs. Also, a wood flooring company can install beautiful hardwood floors in your office. These types of floors are durable and resistant to damage and scratches. Lastly, you can choose to replace your current window treatments with different shades, blinds, curtains, or shutters. Blinds are great for letting sunlight into your office while still providing privacy. Curtains and shutters offer additional security and protection.
Cleanliness
Cleanliness is among the first step toward productivity in your workspace. If your workspace is messy, it’ll be hard to focus on anything else. While keeping your workspace clean might seem like a hassle, it’s pretty simple. Always have a trashcan near your desk. As soon as you finish working on something, throw it into the trashcan. Don’t leave it lying around where others could find it. Also, store your office cleaning supplies in their appropriate places. You can do this on your own or hire an office cleaning company or a janitorial office cleaning service to clean the office.
Once you’ve cleared your workspace, it’s time to organize your stuff. Start by putting everything back in its proper place. If you need to store something temporarily, use a filing cabinet or drawer instead of leaving it on your desk. This way, you won’t forget where you put it later. Once you have everything organized, take a few moments to review what’s on your desk and determine whether anything can be thrown out or moved elsewhere. You can stay organized by using home office organization systems that make your work easier. Scanning documents, printing reports, and archiving them in binders can eliminate clutter while saving you time.
Get Rid Of All Your Gadgets
To make your workspace more productive for your business, create an area where you can focus without distractions. While gadgets such as phones, tablets, and laptops can increase productivity, they can also distract you, especially if you’re trying to do something urgent and valuable. If you’re constantly checking your email, social media accounts, or playing games, you won’t be able to concentrate on the task at hand. You can keep your phone in another room or even in a drawer.
In addition, technology can be a great tool when used wisely and responsibly. When you have access to the internet, Facebook, and Twitter, it’s easy to spend hours scrolling through messages and pictures. Instead, consider limiting your time online, especially if you fall behind on projects. Set aside specific times daily to check these sites and turn off notifications.
Ensure Workspace Has Proper Lighting
Lighting is one of the most critical factors for many small businesses. It helps determine how productive your employees will be at work. If you work in a dark environment, you will spend too much time searching for things. Many people who don’t have enough natural sunlight turn to artificial lighting because they cannot afford to spend their entire day outside. When choosing lights, make sure you buy ones that are energy efficient. You can also consider using desk lamps to supplement your overhead lighting, especially if you spend a lot of time working at night.
Ventilation is another excellent way to keep your workspace clean and hence increase productivity. When you have poor ventilation, you can end up with unpleasant odors that affect productivity. If you have a window in a small space, open it up and let air flow inside. If you don’t have a window, try opening a door or a vent somewhere else in your building.
Ensure Your Workspace Layout Is Efficient
When you have a small business, you must ensure you have enough room for everything you need to run your business efficiently. Having a clear work space means having more room to move around without tripping. You can achieve this by using only practical office accessories. An excellent example of a helpful office accessory is a document folder attached to the backside of a computer monitor. Slide the document folder behind the monitor when you have documents that need to be filed away. This way, you won’t have to search for a file cabinet. You can even keep a copy of the documents in the document folder before filing them. Besides, you might think having stuff around your desk would make you feel comfortable. However, not everything you have at home should be kept in your office. If you don’t use it frequently, get rid of it. Also, if something isn’t functional for your work, it’s time to let it go.
Create a Relaxation Station
A relaxation station is a good idea for those stressed out at work. Having a spot where you can relax can relieve some of the tension and stress that comes with working. A relaxation station does not need to be a sofa or recliner, although a comfortable seating area would make things easier. You might add a few candles, soft music, fresh air, and a small aquarium. This way, you can keep calm and relaxed while doing whatever you do in the office.
Additionally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, try taking a break and going elsewhere. You may not realize how much time you spend at work, but if you take a few minutes to step outside and clear your head, you’ll be able to return to your desk refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.
Bring Nature in the Workspace With Plants
Plants are known to improve our moods. We would feel happier if we had some green plants around us. We get more productive and creative when we have plants in our workspace. People who work at home sometimes complain about not having any place where they can interact with nature. Adding some potted plants gives a sense of life to your workplace. Ensure to choose plants that are easy to care for and add colour to your environment. There are many plants to choose from, and they offer different benefits. Try adding succulents or cacti to your workspace. Succulent plants thrive in warm climates and are ideal for sunny spaces. Cactus plants require lower temperatures and provide a nice contrast to dark-colored surfaces.
If you live in an apartment, you probably realize how bad air quality can be. You spend hours inside your room breathing in harmful particles. Plants, however, filter the air. In addition, they give off oxygen. As a result, your lungs will stay fresh and clean. If you have allergies, use plants to improve air quality. They can help you breathe better. Besides, potted plants help reduce stress. People with plants around them are less stressed than those without them.
Buy Office Supplies in Bulk
There are several reasons why buying office supplies in bulk has proven to boost productivity for small businesses. Buying office supplies in large quantities saves time and money, thus improving your overall performance. That means you’ll always have enough supplies for your day-to-day office requirements when buying bulk. This way, you won’t have to worry about running out of anything or missing important deadlines. Besides, you’ll save money since you can purchase much more office supplies at a discounted rate.
Avoid Using Your Workspace as a Storage Area
To improve small office workspace productivity, organize your desk space appropriately. A workplace with a lot of clutter on the desk will probably distract you and make it harder to focus on your task. Get rid of unnecessary items, including paperwork, magazines, and books you rarely use, and keep only the essentials near your desk.
Noise Levels
The surrounding noise can significantly affect the workspace. The office noise levels vary depending on the size and design of the space, the type of people working together, and the company culture. The sound around you affects your ability to stay focused. Not only can it distract you, but it can also increase stress levels making your ability to sustain productivity much harder. If you work from home, consider bringing in noise-canceling headphones or earplugs to block distractions. Alternatively, find out if your office provides quiet spaces where you can concentrate without interruption.
Change the Room Colors
Colors affect our minds and emotions. They evoke both physical and emotional reactions. Choosing the right colors for your workspace can influence how productive you feel. For example, blue has been said to enhance productivity. If you work from an office, bring in items with a particular color that inspires and keeps you focused. Try using postcards and magazine cutouts, and blocks of color. But if you work from home, you have much greater control over your surroundings. In that case, consider repainting the walls, adding color to the worktable, or hanging pictures with a dominant color.
Add Some Refreshments
To improve workspace productivity, take breaks and unwind. While working hard to achieve your objectives and accomplish many things each day, losing sight of what you want from life can be easy. That means you need to take time and enjoy some of the little pleasures in life, whether they’re small moments like sipping a cup of coffee or watching the sunset. When the body is relaxed and well-rested, it leads to a creative and productive mind which is more attentive and effective at work. Taking a break can give you a chance to think about what you’ve accomplished and how you can improve your productivity.
Organize Your Team
Most organizations divide their workforce into distinct divisions or according to job functions. Most people are more productive and effective when seated next to peers working on the same project or customer. They find answers and come up with solutions more quickly, and since they are directly responsible for others around them, they are also more likely to stay focused and productive.
Divide Up Areas
To increase job efficiency and productivity, set apart discrete work zones. These could be dedicated areas where employees can work and not spend their free time. Pick a peaceful spot in your workspace where they can work in silence. Being able to block out distractions may do wonders to their concentration and productivity.
Our environment and habits often limit productivity. Setting up your workspace to allow you to focus can significantly influence how much time you spend working and how much profit you earn.