Earle Brown Heritage Center is a beautiful space to meet, collaborate, and relax with your employees and co-workers. Taking a day out of the mundane office schedule to meet and enjoy each other’s company is a surefire way to boost productivity. But when you get back to the office, there may still be lingering factors that work against otherwise productive employees. Let’s take a look at some of those factors.
Balancing Collaboration and Concentration
One of the biggest trends in offices today is to create a space for collaboration. Brainstorming and working with sometimes unconventional combinations of employees is a great way to get new creative juices flowing. Sometimes, however, companies can take this too far. The added noise from collaborative efforts sometimes distracts other employees from completing their own work. It’s important to find a good balance between quiet working environments and an open space to work together.
Working from Home
Working from home is another trend many companies are trying out these days. Nothing should give an employee more time for concentration than working in the comfort of their own home, right? Actually, home offices can sometimes create a big distraction. According to a survey by Forbes.com, 63% of their responders would rather have their own personal workspace than to work at home. If you choose to offer work from home days in your office, give your employees the option to choose.
Group Projects
Many people cringe at the thought of a group project. These processes often fall victim to a feeling of having “too many cooks in the kitchen”. The same Forbes survey said that 86% of people prefer to work alone. There are some ways to help combat this seemingly necessary evil to make group projects not only possible but fun and productive. It is important to set expectations, goals, and give each team member the opportunity to make a valuable input. Check out this article from the Harvard Business Review to learn more.
Smart Phones and Social Media
Former Purdue University Professor Al Crispo says, “Facebook and electronic devices are productivity killers in the workplace.” While some studies call Facebook an “Effective tool for work-stress management”, most companies frown on the use of electronic devices and social media during working hours. In a time when nearly everyone is on social media and/or owns a smartphone, how do you regulate time spent online at work? The results may be different from company to company, but it is most important to set ground rules and establish trust. Which brings us to the last topic: Workplace wellbeing.
Establishing Workplace Wellbeing
The biggest productivity-killing factors in the workplace have to do with more than just social media and the layout of the office. An article from Business News Daily cites various ways that employees feel valued and trusted in the workplace as the biggest productivity killers.
An office with a distinctive hierarchy and excess of red tape will not see the best performances from their employees. Employees must feel that their work is valued and that their ideas are being heard to reach their full potential. An office regulated on control, strict rules, and negative reinforcement will never perform as well as one in which employees are given more freedom.
To see the best productivity from your employees and co-workers, reinforce teamwork and collaboration, listen to new ideas, create a positive environment, and make sure all team members feel valued. An employee who is excited about their work and sees the value in what they are producing will have the best productivity levels.