smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Moving offices is one of the most important decisions a company can make. If planned, budgeted and managed correctly, it could improve operational efficiency, enhance corporate image and competitive advantage and improve your ability to retain employees.

Increasing evidence suggests that the working environment has a direct effect on the effectiveness of employees. This means that proactively managing the design, physical layout and technology in your workspace is vital for stimulating employee productivity.

This isn’t about feng shui offices or harnessing the chi of the watercooler, it’s much more practical than that. It’s about tailoring your working environment most effectively for your business. Philip Dodson is Managing Director of Office Planet and offers some useful advice on office planning:

Inspire creativity
Promoting interaction between employees is vital to sparking ideas, but it has to be done in the right way. Sharing information is productive; chit-chat and debates about last night’s TV can be harmful.

Tailor your environment
A workspace needs flexibility to support different people and the right tools available to develop ideas. For example, you may require a private office for client meetings, but open environments are also important for teamwork and sharing ideas.

However you chose to structure your working environment, it should be conductive to the business that you are running - it’s not a case of any office will do. Think about you individual needs and those of your clients, and tailor your environment accordingly.

Chose the right lighting
Equally important to the working environment is lighting. By using a combination of natural light and illumination, you can create an atmosphere that is conducive to work in, and which spurs productivity.

Don’t mask precious natural light - no one likes to be left in the dark. Ceiling mounted lights will achieve general illumination without glare or reflection, thus reducing employee eyestrain. Whatever you do, avoid extreme light intensities.

Manage your office for increased productivity

Enforce a clear desk policy - a clear desk means improved presentation, organisation and productivity. It’s also important for company security. Try to encourage employees to throw away unnecessary papers and clutter and don’t leave sensitive documents lying around.

Phone Policy – employees should be encouraged to turn down the volume on their desk phones and to try and answer it within three rings. If away from their desk for long periods, calls should be diverted and mobile phones should be switched to silent.

Empower Your Employees
Shared spaces such as libraries, meeting rooms, kitchens and even a designated lunchroom can all be provided within an organisation, for employees to escape the stress of a working day.

Research reveals that 9 out of 10 employees have no say in his or her working environment, so why not address this issue with your next office move?

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