People don’t always get to leave their workplace with a satisfied sigh, knowing that they have been very effective and productive that day.
Being able to accomplish everything you set your mind to that day means that not only will you be happy, but that your company will profit as well.
Sadly, we can’t always be happy with our own productivity or the productivity of our employees. Which is why we have to put in extra effort to ensure that everyone is able to give their maximum to increase productivity.
7 Ways to Help Your Employees Increase Productivity at Work
Here are some easy ways that will help you increase productivity at work:
1. Provide quality equipment
Everyone who has ever had to sit at a desk for long hours knows how difficult it is to find the right position. You spend a lot of time stretching, moving, and adjusting, and it can have a negative impact on your concentration.
It’s difficult to stay focused if you’re constantly thinking about how uncomfortable you are. A properly fitted chair and a good work desk are a must, and employers shouldn’t try to save money on such important things.
You shouldn’t go home with a pain in your back and neck, and this can happen if you sit in the wrong position or on bad furniture.
Just like you wouldn’t let your employees use bad computers, you should pay as much attention to their health and get them quality office equipment.
2. Proper lighting
Proper lighting is crucial not just for your productivity, but for your health as well.
Bad lighting can cause headaches and even migraines, while the right one will help you stay focused on the task at hand and even help you find inspiration which will increase productivity at work.
In order to prevent eyestrain, fatigue, and overall irritability, we suggest you invest in good lighting.
If possible, let as much natural light inside as you can because this will help lift everyone’s mood, as dark spaces are known to cause depression.
You can also encourage your employees to bring their own lamps and keep them on their desks if it will help them work.
3. Lower noise levels
Depending on the way your office is designed and decorated, as well on the size of your team, noise levels in your office can vary from barely noticeable to downright distracting and unpleasant.
While some people don’t mind noise and don’t even notice it, others find it difficult to focus on the task at hand if everyone around them is talking loudly, phones keep ringing, and footsteps echo.
If you know some of your employees have problems staying focused because of the noise, allow them to use noise cancellation headphones and listen to music.
You could also buy quality floor rugs as these will “soak in” the footsteps and lower noise levels drastically.
Also, make sure there are several quiet workspaces for people who need peace and quiet to finish an important task. This will definitely increase productivity.
4. Pleasant smells
Our sense of smell has a powerful effect on our overall mood, and it can make a huge difference when it comes to increasing productivity at work.
You can add scents to your office because it might help your employees stay “grounded” and improve their focus.
The most commonly used scents for offices include pine (it increases alertness), cinnamon (helps us focus), lavender (helps us relax during stressful times), and peppermint and citrus for waking us up.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should add scents to your workspace without discussing it with your employees and coworkers first, as some of them might not like the idea.
5. Create a relaxing environment
If possible, allow your employees to work from more than one place. This doesn’t mean that they should all work from home if that’s not your company’s policy, but a change in scenery might help jog their productivity.
When you have different things to look at than you usually do, it will keep your mind sharp.
Allow your employees to move around from their personal space and work from your lobby, conference room (if nobody else is using it), and break rooms.
When you change your habits and work environment, it will help you stay sharp, not to mention the fact that leaving your boring desk behind at least for a while might actually cheer you up.
6. Declutter
We all know how important it is to clean our rooms and homes, but we tend to forget that the same goes for our workspaces too.
While creative people swear by their creative mess and love their clutter, we have to point out that it’s not very good for your focus and productivity.
While you can’t possibly make your employees clean their offices and cubicles thoroughly every day, you can set an example by keeping your space clean.
Spend at least five minutes of your day making sure that all of your things are put away, properly filed and organized. This will show your employees that you value a clean work environment.
Also, make sure you hire a professional cleaning service in order to keep all rooms clean.
7. Have fun outside of work
If you want your team to be productive, effective, and efficient, they should have a certain level of interpersonal intimacy.
Unfortunately, this is something that a work environment simply can’t provide. Which is why you should take it upon yourself to organize teambuilding events to help them connect and get to know each other better.
These events can take place every week or every month and don’t have to be too elaborate or expensive.
While organizing them might be a bit tedious, you should understand that this is a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other.
This way, people will develop cohesive working relationships which will result in a more pleasant work environment.
The key to success that every employer and entrepreneur should know is the fact that productivity isn’t something you can force onto employees.
When you try to do so, you will soon see everyone succumb to pressure and stress, and it will only make things worse in the long run.
As a result, not only will the people not be more productive than before, but their productivity levels may drop significantly too.
You should be mindful of people’s needs and never forget that bad days and bad streaks happen. But patience and hard work will help you overcome all obstacles and increase productivity as long as your employees are content.
Carolin Petterson is a businesswoman and content marketer with years of experience under her belt. She has had the opportunity to contribute to a number of popular business and marketing websites.