It not only feels satisfying, but is also financially rewarding to be able to look around your office, seeing the smiling faces of your employees. Their happiness lets you know that you’re doing something right and that they’re glad to be under your employment. Odds are, if your employees are happy, they are engaged in their work and more productive, which usually means your company will be more successful. If you’re not experiencing this in your office, it’s time to make some changes, starting with the office decor. Here are three office space design ideas that are sure to increase the happiness and productivity of your staff.
1. Impromptu Meeting Spaces
In the not-so-distant past, if an employee was away from their desk, they simply weren’t getting any work done. Conversations held around the office water cooler were discouraged because employers were sure that their staff was wasting time. These days, however, the impromptu meeting is highly encouraged by some of the biggest companies in the world. It’s a matter of allowing the free flow of ideas and information, not micro-managing every minute of the day. Create areas within your office that are conducive to these types of interactions and you’ll see a dramatic change. Your employees will spend more time brainstorming solutions to problems and coming up with new innovations.
2. Group Work and Quiet Space
In many offices, employees work in large, open spaces so that they are able to collaborate on projects and encourage each other. If you haven’t transitioned to this type of office space design, you should seriously consider it. Some of the biggest, most successful companies on the planet have gone to open office work spaces with great success. Taking down partitions opens up dialogue and creates a stronger, more connected community feeling among employees. It can also create a noisy, disruptive environment at times. Therefore, it’s also important to create quiet spaces so that individuals can have confidential conversations, or work on projects that require a higher level of focus.
3. Foster Company Culture
The culture of a company is an intangible asset that is worth more than you may realize and is directly linked to your office space design. It’s the glue that holds everyone together and the fuel that propels you all forward. One of the best ways to highlight your company culture is to create spaces of recognition. This can be a wall full of shelves where the product innovations and kudos received for them are displayed in the main entry area. Don’t stop there, carry the theme throughout the office space for an even bigger impact. They’ll act as encouragement for employees and make an impression on clients too. Likewise, allow your employees to decorate their own area with personal accomplishments to help bolster their confidence.
Your old office space may not be able to accommodate the office space design ideas we’ve listed above and a new space is in order. If you’re ready to change things up and create a space that keeps your employees happy and productive, contact us. We’ve helped countless businesses, like yours, and we welcome the opportunity to help you as well.