Inspire Employee Productivity with a Better Workplace Design

Interesting workplace design — **Image Courtesy: indesignlive.sg**

Among all the unicorn content creatives, IT wizards and marketing magicians mingle the simple people, all of us who need our workspaces to be clean, fresh, comfortable and hopefully inspiring enough to push us towards generating fantastic ideas. While the phenomenal experts mentioned in the first line of this paragraph may find their offices somewhere over the rainbow, us regulars are tied to the ones our employers give us, and we have to work with what we’ve got. Often, the offices we’re reduced to range from open space areas with carefully separated cubicles to plain-white-and-glass-walls offices that more resemble labs than they do inspiring, productivity-boosting spaces. Not too stimulating, is it?

Speaking in the name of everyone who’s in the creative sector (or outside of it), here’s what we suggest should change in the workplace in terms of its design to help us all get more involved and let our creative juices flow.

Get a little personal

People love when they feel appreciated at their workplace! When you show your employees you care, they’ll immediately want to pay you back by delivering the best results. So, why not treat them to something simple but thoughtful like a pen, peel-and-stick wallpaper for their desk, a few notepad organizers, and even personalized mugs. They’ll feel special and valued, and you’ll see the results of their productivity almost immediately. Even a small token of appreciation goes a long way!

Add artwork and colors

A plain workspace has its benefits: potentially, your employees won’t be distracted by a noisy interior and they’ll remain chained to their desks for the most part. Unfortunately, the fact they are staring at the screen for hours doesn’t mean they are actually working, right? Right.

Adding personality to a workspace by decorating it with artwork, stimulating colors (check out the psychology of colors chart to find out which color triggers what emotion/action) and other interesting details like greenery, motivational posters, attractive design, etc. sure will boost the interest of your employees and call them to action. Don’t trust us? Ask any employee and they’ll tell you the same.

Update the offices with comfortable furniture

No productivity has ever been born out of uncomfortable chairs and unadjusted desks! On that note, one of the most important things you can do for your employees – not just to boost their productivity but to make them feel like you care – is update their current workspace with high-quality Sit Spot furniture designed to both keep you comfortable and add an extra stylish touch to your space. A small investment like this will skyrocket your people’s productivity – there’s no question there.

Delegate a space for relaxation

What was that quote… ah, right: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! Ha, that one pretty much sums it up. Although every employer wants to get the most out of their employees, the key to making that happen is everything but pushing them to work. In acknowledging that your workforce is the base of your business and giving them some time to chill and relax, you are actually encouraging their recharging process that will later lead to fantastic results. Yes, we speak from our own experience and everyone else’s. So, delegate a space for relaxation that can serve a number of purposes: from an informal meeting room or a game room to a lunch spot – anything will work. If you’ve got a (semi) big company, selecting a space where your people can take a nap or just chill for a moment would be fantastic!

Offer quiet spaces for private work

While being part of a creative team is fantastic, sometimes we need to have some quiet space to do some private work. Depending on the task at hand, a creative may need the time to think, focus, regroup and brainstorm alone in order to deliver great results which is precisely why you want to let them have their time. Set a room that will allow your employees the privacy they may occasionally need and enjoy the fruits of their work.

Even the simplest of advancements can bring a completely different vibe to a workspace, both in terms of your employee productivity and overall office feel. Make it a habit to talk to your employees and see what else they’d like changed around the office and try to make it happen (if within your business plan, your budget, etc.). Great, respectful collaboration produces fantastic results!