Improving the Workspace Increases Smiles, Quality and Performance.

Are you a business owner who strives for the optimal outcome when running your office and achieving goals? Are you an employee struggling to keep positive thoughts regarding your workspace? According to various research studies, happiness in the office is undeniably the road to success for all parties: employers, employees, and clients too. It’s no new tale that common sounds in offices consist of super-fast typing of keyboards, and the sighs of overworked employees. Although there are employers out there who take pride in their efforts for improving the work environment, there are also many who are not aware of the impact that this could have on the overall quality of work, as well as the employees’ performance and level of contentment with their job.

Okay, so let’s get down to business…the first thing to be clarified is that no job is stress-free. If there is work to be done, then there is some form of stress level present. However, just because you have a job does not mean that you have to detest every moment leading up to completing your duties. Research presented by the Harvard Business Review states that:

“High levels of stress carry a number of costs to employers and employees alike. Stress brings high health care and turnover costs.”

Costs of high stress include but are not limited to: health problems, negatively impacting performance and productivity, decreasing motivation, and not to mention adding to a push for employees to separate ways with companies.

There are various ways to improve the work environment, of which both employers and employees can assist in impacting the office vibe and performance flow. The following are some tips and tricks to improving the workspace of which can potentially enhance the quality of work, the performance of employees, and not-to-mention add some more smiles while tackling tasks.

Personalize your place of work

People enjoy personalizing their workspace for many different reasons. Some do it to make the office feel cozy like their casa, while others just like being reminded that although the actual products are owned by the company the space is freely theirs. Irrespective, there are many ways you, or your employees, can make that desk uniquely yours. Here are some simple ways to spruce up your space:

• Funky office materials (pens, mouse pads, sticky notes, staplers, paperclips, and key drives, are just a few products you can find in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and styles)
• Plants (the plant you pick says a lot about you, so are you more of a cacti or flower plant person?)
• Bring your own mug! (mugs can be major statement pieces… so, don’t underestimate the power your cup of joe can add to your meeting-mode mood…)
• Have a favorite color? Color code your computer settings to match your fabulously purple notebook

Motivation in the eyes, motivation on the mind…

Ever heard of a vision board or a dream board? If you have not, then let me fill you in. It is a board, or a specific area designated for a display, that you create with things that you desire to become reality. Already asking yourself what you can put on a vision board? According to one HuffingtonPost blogger the answer is simple:

“Anything that inspires and motivates you. The purpose of your vision board is to bring everything on it to life.”

A vision board is supposed to trigger your thoughts to work in your favor, and thus inspire you to keep working in real life towards attaining your set goals. So, think about what you want, or what you tend to struggle the most with, and what the solution for that could be. It could be materialistic things such as products you’d like to buy in the future, or it can be more inspiring for the mind, for example like posting up some motivational quotes to remind you to keep on going!

Declutter the desk before the day is done

Clearing out your desk at the end of the day can be compared to the relaxing and accomplishing feelings of making one’s bed in the morning before leaving the house. According to an article on CNBC’s Money section regarding the studies of socio-economist Randall Bell, Ph.D., who has been doing research on success and correlations of habits that could make you more successful:

“Those who do their chores and keep their living space tidier tend to make more money,”

Prepping your desk the day before by tidying up could be your next step closer towards success.

Remember to re-energize

We must not forget that we are in fact human beings, and as humans we do not have an infinite supply of energy. It is highly important that we take time to regenerate energy to be our most optimal selves. Besides taking your lunch break, and actually taking a break from your work, it is advisable to make use of your vacation days. Specifically speaking to the workaholics, if you want to get the most out of yourself when it comes to your performance at the office, take those days off to recoup your energy!

“ In 2006, the accounting firm Ernst & Young did an internal study of its employees and found that for each additional 10 hours of vacation employees took, their year-end performance ratings from supervisors (on a scale of one to five) improved by 8 percent. Frequent vacationers were also significantly less likely to leave the firm.”

Now that you’ve got the UPDATE on getting those optimal outcomes you desire, get to it! Don’t hold back on your progress, you’ve got the power to achieve and succeed…!

Keep up with the CaribMedia Blog for more business tips!

Published on October 12th 2017.