When it comes to running a profitable business, what do you think of? Most people will answer with productive employees, smart business models, and competitive pricing. While all of these answers are correct, they forget one major area that impacts success. This is your workplace design. While it might sound strange, studies have shown that a good workplace can greatly increase the profitability of your business. In what ways can it do this? Here is how your workplace design can impact your business and make it more successful.
Open Layout Boosts Morale
The first thing to look at when it comes to workplace design is the overall shape of the office. Are you having your workers work in cubicles? Are they segregated off from everyone else? While you might think this is a great way to minimize distractions and increase productivity, statistics have shown the exact opposite. Offices that are more open concept allow employees to feel more free to get their work done. Instead of feeling imprisoned, they can move around and work. Having the ability to speak with one another will greatly boost morale, which will keep your workforce happy.
However, accomplishing these goals might be difficult as there is plenty of furniture in the office along with desks and files that will have to be taken care of. In certain situations, a lot of this stuff might even be destined for the garbage. If you are unsure what to keep and what to get rid of, you can get some experts to assist you in the matter. Replacing this furniture and equipment is a great start, according to the experts at Vestra Workspace fitouts, who continue to add that clearing everything up is the first step to achieving the design that you are looking for. The best part about bringing on a team is that they can help fulfill the vision that you have. They will consult you every step of the way and work with you, so the space that you are creating is one that you will truly be happy with. An open concept will be great and will increase the morale of your staff.
Better Productivity
The next best thing about improving your workplace design is that you can expect better productivity as a result. As morale gets boosted, so does your employees’ drive to work. They will complete their tasks that much faster, and the quality will be higher as well. A properly designed workplace will also have a breakroom, which will help with this.
How does a breakroom help with workplace productivity? Employees are not mindless workers who have the ability to slave away all day. They will burn themselves out if they work too hard, and their productivity will greatly decrease. Having a breakroom will give them the chance to step away from their desk and refresh themselves mentally. It will also give them the opportunity to catch up with their coworkers and have a conversation. After their break is done, they will return to work and jump right into things. The break will do wonders for their brain, and they will once again operate at high efficiency for the rest of the day.
Improved Communication
When it comes to running a business, you have to make sure that all departments are in constant communication with each other. If there are any setbacks, people have to know early so they can react accordingly. A well-designed workplace allows people to communicate easily with each other, allowing for important information to be delivered quickly and effectively. The faster information can be conveyed, the better it will be for your business.
A Safer Environment
Worldwide, there are hundreds of thousands of work-related injuries each year. A lot of these are caused by the workplace being designed improperly. Taking the time to come up with a design to make things safe will allow your employees to feel much safer when they are working around the office. You’d be surprised at how much more success a safer business can bring.
What are the repercussions if you do not do this? If your employees are nervous about their work environment, they will not output work at an acceptable rate. An even worse situation would be if an employee were to get injured at work. You will be held responsible for the injury and will have to pay a large sum of money to the employee, putting your business in a financially dangerous situation. Safer workplace design is a better workplace design for both you and your employees.
Better Mental Health
An office that is full of clutter takes a mental toll on those around it. A mess creates stress, and as it continues to build up, it will affect your employees more and more. By taking the time to clean your office, you can keep all of your employees relaxed and feeling good. What are the other benefits of this? Employees who feel healthy and fit are much less likely to take sick days. This means that you will be operating at 100% each and every day instead of having to worry about who is going to call in sick. Proper workplace design will enrich your employees’ mental health and keep them in the office.
Drive Sales
If you deal with customers who come to your business, you want to ensure that it is presented in a way that is conducive to the business that you are doing. If your customers are unhappy with your layout, they might end up taking their business elsewhere. Everything matters when it comes to closing a sale. Find a design that is welcoming towards your customers so that they are more willing to speak with you and purchase from you.
All of these are great reasons as to why you should improve the design of your workplace. By taking the time to implement some of these tips, you will notice that the productivity and morale of your employees will improve greatly. A final recommendation is to speak to your employees about what changes you can make around the workplace. As they are the ones working in it every day, they will know what is best for it. What changes do you plan on making to the workplace?