Archive for category: Managing Your People

There are plenty of ways to creative a positive working environment for yourself and your employees. No matter how large your workforce or the space you have, you can make some simple adjustments to boost the harmony and productivity in your office. If you are just starting out with a new team or are looking to refresh your workplace, here are just a couple of ideas to help you get started in creating a great working environment.

Keep it clean

Making sure your office or workspace is clean is essential for the health and safety of yourself, your employees, and anyone that enters. Using professional cleaning services is a great way to ensure that your space is cleaned to a high level. This can help reduce illness and injury, and therefore staff sick days. It is also important to keep your workspaces clean as this helps give a good first impression to anyone entering the area. Having a clean office can also boost productivity and help prevent things from becoming lost or damaged.

Bring the outside in

When you work in an office, you may miss being around nature. This is where introducing plants into your work environment comes in. This simple action has a multitude of benefits; from boosting productivity and creativity to cleaning the air, plants are a great addition to help improve your work environment. Not all plants will thrive indoors, so make sure you choose the correct plant for the location. Common office plants include snake plants, succulents, aloe, or peace lilies, as they are relatively easy to look after and do not need to be kept outside.

Color psychology

The colors that feature in your office can also have an impact. Color psychology is the study of the way in which different colors and hues affect and impact human behavior. Whether you choose to completely redecorate or invest in some colored accessories or furniture, thinking about what colors you use can have an effect on yourself and your team. For example, red can be a high-energy color to paint your office, and green can help to maintain a sense of balance and increase productivity.

Noise

Another way to create a positive working atmosphere is to manage the noise. It can be very distracting if there is constant loud noise, and this can result in a lot of wasted time. If you cannot give employees their own individual work areas, items such as noise-reducing headphones can be incredibly useful. Quieter areas are also beneficial for taking breaks, so it is a good idea to have a separate area for breaks and rest, allowing employees to be distanced from their workspaces, which also prevents those around them from being distracted by colleagues on their breaks. You could even invest in nap rooms, as there are many benefits to taking a power nap at work. Interestingly, plants can also help reduce noise levels, as they can absorb sound or deflect it.

Every business owner wants their operations to run smoothly. A place where staff get on well, communicate, and are as productive as they possibly can be. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way as personalities can clash, employees can become complacent, and animosities can form.

The good news is that there are many things you can do that can help send your business in that direction. Here are 5 ways to create a productive and happy working environment.

Don’t be too strict

Having policies and procedures is all well and good, but if you micro manage or don’t cut staff a bit of slack once in a while, they will eventually get sick of it. As long as the necessary work is being done, leave them to it.
If you need to intervene from time to time, that’s fine but if your team is self-driven, hardworking, and efficient, let them do their thing. If you don’t, it could backfire tremendously.

Create a welcoming space

An office that looks nice is far more enjoyable to work in, so if yours requires some TLC, you could reap the rewards by giving it a bit of an overhaul. Freshening up the décor, changing furniture, and adding accessories such as high quality custom planters or wall art will make your space feel far more welcoming. This is beneficial not only in terms of client perception but for your employees too.

Socialize once in a while

If your team doesn’t socialize, it’s worth trying to do so once in a while. Whether it be a game of ten-pin bowling, a meal, or a few drinks at the local bar, spending time together outwith the office environment will help you to get to know each other on a different level.

It usually results in better communication when you return to the office, which should, in turn, increase productivity and improve the working environment for everyone.

Reward hard work

If your staff have been working exceptionally hard or have met all their targets, reward them for it. It could be a monetary reward such as an annual bonus, for example. If you prefer to give something a little different, shopping vouchers or a nice bottle of champagne will always be well received.

Rewards make employees feel like their hard work is paying off, and they will be more inclined to continue working hard to make your business a success.

Ask for ideas and feedback

If an employee thinks you are listening to them, they will be more inclined to go that extra mile, so where possible, ask for ideas and feedback. There can be a lot going on in the background you don’t know about, so letting them know your door is always open will benefit everyone.

You are likely to be party to far more information than you would usually be, and they will feel like they can freely offer suggestions or opinions.

Most successful businesses usually have a team of happy and motivated employees lurking in the background, so if that’s something you can replicate, you will reap the rewards in the long run.