Running a business is filled with a wide array of variables. One must juggle them all in order to become successful and build a reputable brand. In this day and age, we often think of directing all of our business efforts into marketing and simply forget some of the details that are just as important. One thing that business owners often neglect is the way their workspace works. How do staff move around the space? Is it efficient? Does it promote maximum productivity?
Maximising Satisfaction and Productivity in the Workplace
Multiple psychological and time and labour studies conclude that the way office interiors and working spaces are physically laid out has a big impact on the efficiency and productivity of staff. For businesses that are growing, having their existing workspace redesigned to accommodate new staff and further growth is an essential part of moving forward. Interestingly, studies have concluded the following:
- Light: The amount of natural light that enters a working environment is directly correlated with the contentment of staff and their level of productivity. By redesigning a workspace or building a new one to include elements such as skylights and additional windows, business owners stand to improve both productivity and satisfaction.
- Layout: The way an office is laid out physically determines how staff move through it, how efficiently they can access certain common areas, and how they interact with one another on a daily basis. In order to fulfil the needs of both staff and business owners, a modern office should be open and efficiently designed so that common spaces are easy to access without disrupting the workflow of other staff. Cramped and poorly-designed workspaces are not likely to result in extra productivity or contentment, so it is incumbent on the business owners and the office interior designers to work together to come up with a viable plan to redesign the space to maximise productivity with the least amount of disruption. Many modern offices actually include social spaces so that employees have a space in which to meet and greet. Encouraging this type of social behaviour contributes to the happiness of employees and improves productivity. An experienced office design team will be able to balance the social needs of employees with the productivity needs of the business owners.
How to Design a New Workspace the Smart Way
Many businesses take on the task of redesigning an existing office space themselves in order to save time and money. The problem is that most business owners are not design experts. This is where it is helpful to involve an experienced and professional third party to oversee the design. A professional design and fit-out company offers the following benefits:
- Experience: A skilled design team will work with a business to formulate the best possible redesign and office fit-out. This takes into account the practical needs of the business and balances it against the best way to maximise productivity.
- Build: Once the design company and the business have finalised plans together, the build process begins. This is done by an experienced team and the business owners are kept abreast of progress at every step along the way.
Businesses can always be further streamlined, and by hiring an experienced team of office and workplace designers a business owner stands to benefit greatly from their experience.