A lot has been written about what types of supplies and materials you should have in your office, but these usually concentrate on the tried-and-true items, such as chairs, desks, tables, etc. A good office will help you stand out to potential investors and employees, but, more importantly, a good office environment can help retain employees and allow them to reach their fullest potential. Here we will look at a few office upgrades that go above and beyond what you would expect and can make a real difference to your bottom line in the long run.
Encourage and inspire teamwork: It does not matter how good your employees are individually, if they cannot work well as a team, your productivity will suffer. A great way to encourage teamwork is to create collaborative spaces. This can mean anything from getting sleek and comfortable couches and coffee tables to installing a modern sliding whiteboard on a prominent wall. Anything that will bring people together will encourage people to get to know each other better. The possibilities are endless; just remember to make whatever improvements you choose truly inclusive.
Help your employees be their best selves: Unless they have superhuman willpower, most employees will (like almost anybody) gravitate towards snacks and beverages that are not exactly brain food. Too much sugar, fat, and salt makes people sluggish and can actually even inhibit their ability to engage in critical thinking. Put out an array of healthy snacks. These could be something as simple as apples and bananas, but the more tempting the healthy food is, the more likely it is to be eaten. The same thing goes for beverages. Make sure you have free coffee so that employees are not tempted to buy sugary energy drinks and make sure that you have attractive filtered water available so that employees are less likely to drink sodas. Helping everyone on the team eat better is a win-win for everyone.
Similar to helping employees eat right, it is a good idea to help them stay fit as well. Obviously, an on-site gym is beyond most people’s budgets, but having a small exercise corner with easy-to-use light equipment like bands, balance boards, and the like is usually quite doable. Similarly, an increasing number of offices have begun to incorporate walking desks. If employees are interested in these, they can make a significant improvement in health and happiness.
Provide your employees with a pleasant environment: Nobody wants to work in a cramped dark office, and if your office is not a good place to be, productivity and morale will pay the price. All the usual advice applies here: let in sunlight, use an open floor plan, hang-up artwork, etc. Two aspects of creating a welcoming environment that most people neglect are aromas and plants. Go into any large retail outlet and you will be greeted with a very subtle but familiar scent – that is no accident. Humans have strong emotional reactions to scents, and retailers often create their own scents and diffuse them into their stores. You can do the same thing with your office. The scent should be so faint it is barely noticeable (you do not want it to be distracting), but despite its subtlety, it will have a noticeable impact on morale. Humans also evolved to be near nature, and an office without plant life feels cold and dead. Of course, any plants will do, but why not spice up the office with some exotic plants that will really create something positive for everyone to be interested in. A favorite of mine is a pink banana tree you can grow indoors, but any type of new and unusual plant will have the same effect.
Given the exigencies you must face every day to run your business, it can be all too easy to forget how much of an impact the business environment can have on you and your employees. A welcoming and interesting office will attract employees and investors, while a small and stale office will tend to drive them away. It just makes fiscal sense to keep your office as lively and engaging as possible. It might be time to revisit your office layout, furnishings, and accessories. Adding a few unique and up-to-date accoutrements in your office space are a fast and easy way to increase morale and productivity.
