Increase Productivity by Improving Office Design
Whether you're starting from scratch or refurbishing your current office, creating a professional, functional and comfortable space will project the right image to your clients and increase overall productivity.
Studies show that comfort and productivity are interrelated, and most experts agree that almost every office can benefit from a few changes in layout and organization. Consider some of the following ways you can improve the comfort level of your office to increase the productivity of the people who work in it.
Create a comfy environment. Strive to make your office a healthy and comfortable workplace. Use ergonomic furniture and accessories, proper lighting, and a functional design to minimize discomfort and distraction and help you and your employees work more productively.
Encourage employees to customize their workstations with accessories that help them work comfortably — keyboard trays, anti-glare screens, task lighting and footrests — and to adjust their chairs to the proper height and angle. Thompson Rivers University offers helpful tips for adjusting chairs, monitors, and other computer-workstation components. You can even hire an ergonomic expert to consult with each worker individually. A quick evaluation will determine what each employee needs to do to avoid repetitive-stress injuries.
Improve your layout. Take a look at where employees sit and the location of office equipment, and consider ways to improve the overall flow of your office. Put printers, fax machines and other shared equipment in areas that are easy to access, and seat work teams or departments together in shared areas or cubicles. Try to open spaces and align desks so it's easy to move around the office.
Use mobile furniture. Adjustable and mobile furniture is a good option for growing businesses with limited space; you can easily reconfigure cubicles and workstations and rearrange your office to accommodate growth, partition departments, or separate equipment areas and other noisy parts of the office.
Control noise levels. To reduce auditory distractions, put fax machines, copiers and other noisy office equipment in a separate area surrounded by cubicle walls. Try to keep noisier employees, such as customer service representatives or salespeople who spend a lot of time on the phone, away from those who require quiet work spaces. Consider using panel systems, carpeting and ceiling tiles to absorb sound and provide privacy.
If you need help with any aspect of office design or layout, consult a professional. They can help you select furniture and assist you with space planning, lighting, interior construction, fire and building codes, and other office design issues. To locate architects, designers and consultants in your area, visit the American Institute of Architects' Web site.
