It’s the main thing to focus on when you’re trying to create the ultimate workspace within your business. If you don’t try to design this space with productivity in mind, you’re going to fall at the first hurdle!
However, you also need to understand what makes a working space ‘productive’. After all, it’s just a word that means you’re producing, and everyone produces in their own way.
So let’s go through a few of the key components involved in creating a productive working space.
Functional Design
An office should always be functional. It should be the kind of space that’s easy to keep tidy and organised, and where people can feel comfortable enough to stay on task until they clock out.
That’s why you need to think about the actual layout and function of the space, and not just the aesthetic of what you’re trying to achieve. Looking good is fine, but looking good AND making work easier is best!
It’s why the water cooler shouldn’t be right next to desks (just in case people do want to chat when they’re using it), but it also shouldn’t remove people from the work zone entirely.
This is the kind of decision to take seriously when you’re drawing up your floorplan. Even if you’ve already set up your space, you can still make some function-boosting changes. And if it takes a full office fit out to achieve this, so be it!
A Good Team
When we say good, we’re touching on their ability to actually work as a team. Not just on group tasks or as a whole unit, but whether or not each member understands what the other members need. A.k.a., when two coworkers sit together, does one disturb the other? Or do they both know each person’s working style and make an effort to rub along with it?
That’s the crucial thing; even if someone is a ‘chatterbox’, they need to take everyone’s working dynamic into account.
And that’s what makes this the hardest thing to achieve, and will take a lot of team building efforts on your part.
The Chance to Set Your Own Space
People need their creature comforts, even in the workplace! So try to make sure your employees can set their own spaces, and be flexible about what ‘modifications’ you allow. For example, if someone wants to use headphones or needs to have a mini whiteboard on their desk, what’s the harm?
Even in offices where hot-desking is very much embraced, employees can still make their own little spaces wherever they need to.
Being in the same spot day after day doesn’t necessarily make you productive, but being able to set up that space in the way you need definitely will! Many factors go into productivity. But the more you know these now, the easier it’ll be to create an office that supports everyone’s needs.
