How to equip your office to increase productivity
When it comes to productivity, it’s important to pinpoint the factors that affect it the most. While some people are just naturally more productive than others, there are days when the office slacker may perform better than your star employee. However, if consistency is what you’re looking for, you need to start looking for factors that you can actually affect. One of these factors is the layout of your office, its style, equipment and organization. Not many business owners are aware of the fact that even the interior of an office can affect how the employees perform every day. If you are not happy with your current space, however, you can always take a look at the offices.
Now, before we even start discussing this topic, it’s vital that you understand one thing – office preparation can only get you so far. Some people are simply more productive than others. But if you provide your team with low-quality supplies and gear, no amount of remodeling will help. That being said, there are several reliable ways to equip and style your office in order to raise productivity.
Smart thermostat and air conditioning
Your heating and air conditioning systems could be vital for your overall productivity, seeing as how recent studies might have found the answer to the question of optimal office temperature. According to various studies, the temperature of 22 degrees Celsius (71.6 degrees Fahrenheit) is, nowadays, accepted by most as the optimal temperature for productivity.
The problem lies in the fact that different people subjectively feel this temperature in different ways. To some, this may be too hot, while others may find it chilly. The truth is that no matter what temperature you set, someone will find a reason to object. In that case, you can point to these studies as the reason behind your actions and, at least partially, settle this issue. By getting a smart thermostat and air conditioning system, you can automate this process and make sure to avoid this from ever becoming an issue.
High-end equipment helps
Sometimes, the performance of your staff will be slowed down by inadequate equipment. Think about it, a person who is excellent at multitasking can only do so much if their laptop freezes every time they try to switch tabs in their browser or cascade windows. A bad broadband deal can set your office even further behind, which is definitely something you shouldn’t let slip from your mind.
As for tech pieces that aren’t meant for individual use, this is where things get especially tricky. By having a slow, non-responsive or unreliable printer, you can form a line in front of it, which is bad for so many different reasons. First of all, it has all of these people standing idly when they could be working. Secondly, it creates a noisy distraction apart from preventing smooth traffic across the office. In other words, something as simple as the decision to buy OKI Printer instead of looking for a more frugal alternative (renting, buying an old printer on eBay, etc.) can make all the difference in your office productivity.
Additionally, you may want to consider getting a wide format printer, which is specifically made for businesses that require ultra-professional printing. For example, any CAD user such as architects, etc could benefit from it.
Improving your lighting system
In order to provide enough light for your office, you need to focus on both natural and artificial light sources, which is all but simple. For starters, you need to understand that natural light directly affects the mood within the office and, in this way, also the morale of your staff. The problem with natural light is that it doesn’t provide the same level of visibility all the time, which is exactly why even offices with ample natural light have to resort to individual task lights. On the other hand, if your employees prefer to stay late or your company endorses the idea of flexible work hours, you might want to invest a bit more in the artificial lighting system as well.
Dual monitors do help
In the past, there was a belief that dual monitors are only useful for designers and programmers, whereas today, it’s nearly impossible to deny their effectiveness, regardless of the business area. Creatives can use their second monitor to look for sources or examples without having to switch tabs and in this way break their concentration. People working on the same project can use the second screen for their IM software or collaboration tool while using their main screen to work on their primary task. In other words, the advantages are more than numerous.
Efficient noise reduction
Finally, you should be made aware of the fact that noise is the killer of productivity. That being said, you need to find ways to reduce it. First, you need to introduce office rules and policies that will reduce it to the minimum. Second, you need to soundproof your office from the outside noises, especially if you’ve failed to consider these issues when picking an office to lease. Additionally, investing in silent peripheral equipment always helps, even though it might not be the most budget-friendly of your options. In the long-run, it might still give you a positive ROI. Or perhaps, you could just invest in a good pair of wireless headphones (or wired headphones).
Conclusion
Raising productivity within your office should always be your top priority as the manager, yet, pulling this off efficiently without over investing is not an easy thing. On the other hand, you would be surprised just how much can be done by investing in several inexpensive tech pieces.