Many people try to
equate productivity with the efforts invested, but these two are simply not the
same. No matter how hard you try, how well rested and how motivated you are,
sometimes you are able to do more, while sometimes, things are just not working
out. While the aforementioned factors do play a role in one’s productivity,
they are not the only ones. In fact, one’s work environment is also a huge
factor in their work performance. Here are a few reasons why.
Psychology of Colors
It is a well-known fact that different color
hues and nuances have different effects on our productivity. For example, warm
intense colors like red and orange tend to make us aggressive and more alert,
while baby blue and bright yellow have a calming effect. Now, the connection
between this and productivity is a situational one. While salesmen and
negotiators benefit from the aggressive hues, those who need to focus may
require a more relaxed ambience.
Numerous Distractions
Another thing that could affect one’s
productivity in the workplace is various distractions. Even in the strictest of
companies, the more people spend time in the same office, the noisier it is
going to be. Unfortunately, in some cases, the layout of the office is not
helping either. For example, the breakroom may be too close to the work area
which means that people on their break might distract those still working.
Furthermore, placing office appliances in an another room or across the floor
will cause people to constantly move around and through the office, which can
be a distraction.
Counterproductive Mess
A recent research on the effects of the
tidy/messy environment on human accuracy shows that people have a hard time
focusing in a messy environment and are prone to making more mistakes in such
working conditions. Unfortunately, mess is mostly unavoidable in an office
space, but there are some ways to manage it. When negotiating with a cleaning
company, insist on high cleanliness and tidiness standards. Make a set of rules
for behavior in your office. Try to declutter a cable mess behind the desks.
All of these, when done right, might boost the productivity in your workplace.
Adequate Lighting
Furthermore, it is also well-known that
adequate lighting has a great effect on one’s productivity. A room with dim
light is bound to make people feel chronically tired and, in this way, also
make them underperform.
On the other hand,
brighter lights can also be counterproductive since it can reduce one’s ability
to think clearly and even affect one’s internal timing and hormonal release.
Needless to say, keeping any room over-illuminated costs substantially more on
both the monthly and the annual level. Using LED
downlights can be the most
efficient solution to this problem.
The Right Temperature
Finally, even the right temperature may
affect one’s productivity. Sure, different people have different metabolism and
someone’s always complaining about the temperature. However, according to research from 2004,
and ideal office temperature is between 68 and 77 degrees. It was noticed that
the output of typing soared by an impressive 150 percent, while the percentage
of errors was reduced by almost 45 percent, when the room temperature is
maintained in this range.
As you can see, managing a successful office
is about more than just organising workstations. If you want your staff to do
their best, you must do something for them first. Create an ideal work
environment that will allow them to focus, stay alert and always be at the
height of the task in front of them.
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