The modern office is all about creating a space for productivity to flourish. At the same time, creating a productive work environment is no longer just about setting targets and maximising efficiency. Instead, employers are faced with the challenge of driving business success while safeguarding the health and wellbeing of their employees.
At first glance, achieving that goal may seem like a near-impossible feat – but it doesn’t have to be. There are a myriad of options available for those wanting to drive productivity in the workplace, most of which are relatively simple and straightforward. Here’s our rundown of 6 ways to make your office a more productive space.
1. Foster a Team Spirit
Very few businesses have enjoyed significant success as a one-man show. The commercial challenges of today are often complex, requiring the completion of multiple stages before even getting close to approaching the finish line. In practice, this will almost always mean that tasks and responsibilities are shared between multiple team members.
Well-functioning teams are the backbone of a productive department. As such, fostering a strong team spirit can go a long way in strengthening the productivity of your organisation as a whole. Effective ways of doing so include encouraging communication between team members, addressing any potential conflicts and setting clear expectations regarding both accountability and results.
Developing positive relationships on a more personal level can also help to foster team spirit, so don’t forget to leave some room for social activities outside of the workplace.
2. Utilise the Tools That Make Life Easier
As the world of business has become more and more fast-paced, the range of professional tools available has grown alongside it. From the essential tools that help keep things organised to software packages dealing with everything from digital marketing to finance, businesses enjoy unprecedented access to the solutions they need to stay on top.
Making use of these tools will often help to save valuable time you’d rather spend elsewhere. In turn, they will also enable you to prioritise tasks more effectively, driving productivity upwards.
Having said that, many tools offer more than mere convenience. Whether they provide capabilities for in-depth analytics, 3D modeling or anything else, the right tools can also offer you that much sought-after competitive edge – so make sure you’re taking full advantage of them.
3. Develop the Right People
A common saying goes that great teams are made up of great individuals, so it’s important for team members to challenge themselves both individually and as part of a team. Training and development are absolutely crucial to turning that idea into a reality.
Offering employees a training and development programme tailored to them will help give them the tools they need to perform to the best of their ability. Given that every employee will be looking to carve a clear path forward, helping them achieve their professional goals is also central to ensuring job satisfaction. The more satisfied your team becomes, the more likely they are to go the extra mile.
4. Rethink Your Office Space
The work environment provided directly impacts both the success of the business and the happiness of employees. In line with that idea, the way in which businesses approach their office space has been undergoing significant change in recent years.
Research by Jones Lang Lasalle and reported on by the BBC suggests that flexible office space is set to enjoy a yearly growth of as much as 30% over the next five years – and there are many reasons for this development.
As the modern answer to the traditional one-size-fits-all philosophy, flexible office space is much more adaptable to specific business needs and the current working climate as a whole. Adding to that, they are also more cost-effective and collaborative, offering significant benefits for employers and employees alike.
As such, rethinking your current office space can be a good way of ensuring a more productive environment for all. If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to shake things up, considering a serviced office space might be the right option for you.
5. Keep Morale High No Matter What
Maintaining high morale is instrumental to achieving business growth, and it’s all the more important when things go wrong. No matter the specific role, department or project, everybody likes to feel that professional goals can be achieved in a positive environment.
Productivity is likely to take a nosedive when things don’t go to plan, but you can help improve morale by continuing to focus on achieving the end goal no matter what fate throws your way. Developing positive attitudes, offering a healthy work-life balance, maintaining communication and celebrating small wins can all play a role in achieving just that.
6. Balance Efficiency and Autonomy
No business can deliver productivity without doing everything in its power to stimulate efficiency. While there are many ways of doing so, taking steps to increase efficiency almost always implies control of some kind.
From improving time management to collaborating more effectively, both employers and employees have a role to play in making their workplace more efficient. With this in mind, it may be tempting to begin micromanaging each of the tasks at hand – but that approach may, in fact, be counterproductive.
According to a study by the University of Birmingham, workers who enjoy more autonomy in the workplace may see positive effects in their job satisfaction and wellbeing as a whole. The real challenge lies in striking a balance between efficiency and autonomy, and businesses who successfully do so are sure to reap the benefits.