Comfortable business spaces create a more streamlined workflow, more productive employees, and better overall results. Most business owners, however, leave little thought to their work environment and the inefficiencies and stresses that plague it. Their resources and efforts often go to making their business a leaner money-making machine, with comfort being a lesser priority.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be Marie Kondo or a feng shui expert to create a comfortable work environment nor do you have to spend a lot of time or money to make these adjustments. Here are seven easy ways to do just that:
Purge the Clutter
If your place of business is inundated with stacks of paper, withering plants, large empty filing cabinets, outdated electronics, and other unused items that are simply collecting dust and occupying space, the clutter can disrupt a productive workflow. It creates an unnecessarily stressful work environment. Make it a point to do, at the very least, a yearly company-wide cleanup where all employees of the business are required to purge any items on their desk that can be considered clutter.
Adjust the Lighting
Lighting is a commonly overlooked feature of office spaces. The degree of brightness or illumination that your workforce is exposed to day-in and day-out can actually have an impact on their stress levels, performance, and health. Take the time to ask yourself – is it too bright or too dim? If your space does not have access to natural lighting, you’ll want to add LED desk lamps that are more energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and offer a better lumen range than outdated incandescent and CFL bulbs.
Invest in Modern & Ergonomic Furniture
Quality desk chairs and furniture pieces for the break room or lobby are a smart long-term investment. Not only do they convey a more professional business environment, but quality furniture, including chairs, desks, meeting tables, and even bookcases, also protects your employees from common injuries, like back pain and sprains, which can hinder their individual productivity and disrupt the entire office workflow. It is important to make sure everyone feels comfortable in the workplace and you can achieve this by a number of ways. For instance, if you are looking to create more privacy for each employee without creating an enclosed environment, you can add a call center workstation for your business space.
Consider Hiring a Contractor
Third-party contractors are a good all-in-one solution for designing a new work space or renovating an existing one. You can hire a company to help you make appropriate budget estimates, design smart workstation layouts, and install modern furniture pieces. This way, you can focus on your business’ operations and allocate all of your resources to your goals and projects.
Adjust the Noise
Similar to lighting, a business space that’s too quiet can be as uncomfortable, if not more so, as a business space that’s too noisy. While it’s good to limit noise pollution in the office, introducing the right kind of noise can help boost focus and productivity as well as cultivate a more relaxed atmosphere where your employees can thrive. Jazz or Reggae music, for instance, are genres that have been scientifically proven to induce a positive and relaxed disposition.
Involve Your Employees in the Process
Your employees are the ones who operate within the environment that you are trying to improve. It makes strategic sense to include them in the decision-making process. The break room couch that you think needs replacing might actually be the couch they’ve come to love. As much as it is important to make improvements in your business space, you also want to preserve the items and ways of doing things that your employees have habitually learned over time.
Add Vegetation
Plastic plants won’t cut it and only adds to the problem of plastic waste. Instead, add real plants throughout your business space. These oxygen-generating ornaments will help liven up the color around your work space and improve the quality of air flow, which means healthier employees and less of that stench when someone heats up fish in the communal microwave. When selecting plants to add to your business space, look for species that are low maintenance and non-toxic, especially if you allow employees to bring their dogs or kids to the workplace.
Conclusion
All of these ways are simple enough that you can do them over the weekend, and they don’t cost as much money as a complete overhaul of your office space. By putting a heavier weight or importance in your workforce’s comfort and well-being, your business can get a much-welcomed boost in quality and quantity of results.
