5 Ways To Create A Productive Office Culture
We have previously discussed how your office interior design can have a profound effect on productivity. But how else can you create a productive environment for your employees? Take a look at how nurturing your office culture can improve performance and create a positive community for all to enjoy.
1. Don’t be afraid to try something new
One of the most obvious ways to create a productive workplace is to ensure that employees have access to the tools and resources they need. However, it’s just as important to think outside of the box. Every office has standard industry equipment and systems that they tend to stick to, so why not try something new?
Listening to the requirements and having open conversations about whether or not certain pieces of equipment could be better is a great way to spark new ideas and try out new technologies.
Not only will employees be happy that they can work effectively, but keeping up with trends and new gadgets can help keep you ahead of the competition. A company culture that encourages trying new things and is unafraid to admit when new ideas fail, is a company that is never in danger of being boring.
You’ll never know if there’s a better way to work if you don’t try it first!
2. Prioritise Wellbeing
If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that good health and wellbeing is priceless. This feeling should be clear in your company culture if you want your employees to truly feel appreciated.
Whether it’s shown through a well-stocked break-out room to let their hair down, company trips or offering mental health days, there are plenty of ways to show that you care that will only strengthen your company culture.
Time and time again, research has shown that taking breaks and having an adequate space to work in has a huge impact on the quality of work produced. Even simple changes to the office such as lighting and office plants can improve performance and comfort.
3. Spend Quality Time Together
A large part of office culture is overhearing conversations and picking up on what the people around you are working on. Being exposed to other parts of the company and having the ability to learn from the people around you is a huge benefit of being in a workplace.
Why not solidify this by encouraging employees to spend time together to learn new things and build relationships? In the office or outside of it, having fresh perspectives and discovering new solutions is one of the many advantages of spending time with colleagues.
Not only does this reinforce a sense of belonging in the workplace, but it also inspires employees to try out new skills and gain an understanding of other job roles; bridging the gap between different departments and disciplines.
In fact, employees that feel disengaged from their company are 60% more likely to make errors at work, so engaging with each other is better for everyone.
If you or any of your employees are working remotely you might think building a company culture is impossible, but it’s not! We’ve got plenty of advice on how to stay connected and productive even while you’re apart.
4. Celebrate Achievements
One of the most effective ways to grow your company culture is to celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and teams.
Acknowledging good work and attitudes, not just sales and numbers, can foster a mutual feeling of respect among employees and eradicate negative feelings of self-doubt such as imposter syndrome.
Not only is feeling appreciated at work a real boost of motivation, but it can also help build confidence and a positive outlook.
After all, research shows that the happier we are at work, the more productive we are!
5. Encourage Transparency and Realistic Expectations
We’ve all been there. You’ve had a terrible night’s sleep only to get to work and you realise you have a long to-do list and a deadline that you’re just not going to be able to hit.
Allowing employees to be honest about struggles or worries about job loads without fear is at the heart of a strong company culture. Offering empathy and understanding is the key to building respect. Having employees that want to produce good work creates much higher quality work than those that feel like they’re there because they have to be.
Did you know stress in the workplace can lead to costly 50% higher turnover? Productivity is not a quota, and we are all human after all. Stress is natural, but having a good community at work can combat the negative feelings that kill productivity. Having realistic expectations about productivity is (ironically) the best secret to achieving it.
In conclusion, a strong sense of company culture creates happier employees which in turn leads to higher levels of productivity. It’s a win-win situation! So, how do you maintain your company culture? Does it support productivity?
We can work with you to create an office fit out and design that helps you reach your business goals and inspires your employees. Whether you’re relocating to new offices or would like to refresh your current working space with an commercial fit out, we have the expert design knowledge you need!
You can get in touch to book a consultation or take a look at our previous work.