In the working office, keeping work productivity high translates to more work being done and leads to an increase in revenue. Many companies struggle with this aspect, which can impact job satisfaction for employees and income for the business.
Whether it’s in relation to your office fitout, workload, or employees, there are many areas that have the potential for increasing productivity. In this article, we will look at 10 ways you can improve productivity in the workplace.
1. Clear and Open Communication Channels
Effective communication is the backbone of a productive workplace. When team members can share ideas, express concerns, and receive feedback openly, it helps prevent misunderstandings and delays. Establishing clear communication channels, whether through regular meetings, open-door policies, or digital communication platforms, ensures everyone is on the same page.
This transparency builds trust among team members and allows for faster decision-making and problem-solving, which can significantly enhance productivity. Encourage employees to speak up and contribute, as this openness fosters a collaborative, supportive work environment.
2. Make Team Members Feel Valued
When employees feel valued, they’re more likely to be engaged, motivated, and productive. Recognising contributions, whether through simple acknowledgments or more formal rewards, goes a long way in boosting morale.
Offering professional development opportunities, encouraging participation in decision-making, and giving credit where it’s due are effective ways to show appreciation.
Creating a culture where everyone’s contributions are recognised helps to improve job satisfaction, which in turn drives employees to perform at their best.
3. Create an Attractive, Inspiring Work Environment
An appealing work environment does more than just look good; it inspires creativity and productivity. A well-designed workspace with comfortable furniture, ample lighting, and organised layouts can significantly impact how employees feel about their workspace.
An inspiring environment encourages employees to be more engaged and take pride in their surroundings, which can lead to improved focus and efficiency. Consider adding elements like art, comfortable seating, and collaborative spaces to create a dynamic atmosphere that fuels productivity and innovation.
4. Increase Natural Light
The office employees work in matters more than many people think when it comes to employee productivity. Studies have shown that increased natural light in an office is directly correlated to increased productivity and increased employee satisfaction.
Introducing natural light into your office space can be done in a number of ways, such as windows, skylights, and mirrors. If you’re looking to add some natural light, consider where you want to have it, as you don’t want to put too much light into your workers’ eyes and have the opposite effect.
5. Add Some Plants Around the Office
Just like natural light, putting plant life around your office space will provide a more welcoming environment for staff. Little touches of nature throughout an indoor space – from larger leafy plants to smaller cacti – make employees feel more comfortable performing their work, letting them complete tasks more effectively.
Plants can also clean the air in an office by removing pollutants, and it has been shown that this can provide reduced tension and anxiety amongst workers.
6. Build Relationships with Your Staff
Being in a managerial position – as with any position in a business – comes with its pros and cons. One aspect of being a manager is that you will find that staff may be intimidated by – or even afraid of – you since their job relies on performing tasks you assign. A great way to increase workplace productivity is to build relationships with your team to rid those fears.
If you show interest in and care for your team, employee productivity is sure to rise. This means not just in the work they’re performing, but in other aspects of their life that they’re willing to discuss. While you do need to be a boss, be sure to also be a friend where you can.
7. Maintain Your Equipment
One of the most frustrating things that can occur in the workplace is when employees can’t perform their work due to faulty equipment. Whether it’s office equipment such as computers and printers, or agricultural equipment and machinery, when things don’t work tasks can’t be done – and employees won’t be happy.
Make sure to have a set frequency where you check up on office equipment to make sure it’s operating efficiently. Also, be sure to take note when a staff member comes to you with a problem regarding any business supplies. Good office equipment makes for increasing productivity.
8. Provide Ergonomic Workstations
For office employees that work at a desk for the majority – if not all – of their day, having a comfortable workstation will make a world of difference for workers. If your office chairs are of poor quality, they can cause your team to suffer from arm aches, neck aches, and backaches.
Introducing ergonomic work chairs into your workspace will help employees feel much more comfortable for longer periods of time, making them more likely to complete more tasks quicker.
9. Offer Personal Incentives to Boost Motivation
When it comes to keeping employees motivated, appealing to the interests of your team is paramount – and offering personal incentives is an excellent way to do so. Incentives don’t have to be anything highly expensive or lucrative, but just something simple and nice that can be a nice reward for hard work.
You do have to be careful with such rewards, as promoting these too often can create a work crunch culture. However, if you keep incentives to a reasonable level, it can be just the right motivation boost that your team members can benefit from, driving them to be more productive.
10. Track Time for Tasks and Set Clear Objectives & Goals
When work tasks are disorganised or not in any sort of cohesive format, it becomes a lot harder to focus as the end result is hard to picture. Complex and simple tasks alike can be a lot easier to work on effectively when they’re put on a to-do list – this allows you to see how many tasks you have in the pipeline and you can set clear goals for yourself.
When you then also keep track of the time spent on your task, you can better determine the amount of time it takes for you to complete said task. This will allow you and your team to determine what work requires either more or less time, further boosting productivity.
Get Your Productive Office Fitout from LKD
If you want to boost productivity in your office with some new fittings – or you’re just looking to get your dream office idea off the ground – contact our team of office fitout professionals in Perth today!
Give us a call or fill out the contact form and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible.
