In any company, no matter how large or small, time is money. Mastering the art of getting things done (a.k.a., productivity) is very important to creating and maintaining success. The areas below offer a few research-backed ways to make a positive impact on your workplace’s productivity.
Introduce greenery
Adding a touch of nature to an indoor office space offers some benefits
- Plants encourage more psychological engagement
- Live plants also promote healthier indoor air
- NASA researchers found that plants like Gerbera daisies, mums, and Mass Canes removed significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air
Let the sun shine in
Harsh fluorescent office lighting is no friend to eyes
- Switching to softer, more-natural-toned bulbs instead of halogens is one idea
- LED lighting also may be more ideal for alertness and performance compared to fluorescent bulbs
- Taking breaks outdoors when possible also provides sunshine boosts during the day
Keep temperatures moderate
Temperatures play a biological role in circadian rhythms, which affect alertness and tiredness
- Getting it right is important, as science shows that office environments that are either too warm or too cold environments impact people’s productivity and accuracy
- The optimal conditions are in the 70-to-77 F range
- Try chatting with your staff to get an idea of what makes them comfortable
Show appreciation
Create motivation and make your team feel appreciated
- Encourage your team to keep gratitude journals
- Write down a couple of sentences about what you are grateful for a couple times a week
- This can improve productivity by increasing happiness, but it’s even been linked with better health
Take strategic breaks:
More short breaks ultimately result in greater productivity and accuracy, especially with repetitive work.
- During your breaks, try listening to music, mediate, stretch, go for a walk outside, socialize, catch up on the news, etc. to clear out any mental distractions and to feel happy.
Create some privacy
Open, collaborative office spaces have been trending for some time
- Recent studies indicate they might not be best for productivity overall
- How do you make communication fluid while still enabling private focus?
- When floor plans allow, offering people private workspaces or rooms so they can concentrate encourages balance
