Weighing Out your Workspace Options
Before even thinking about decorating your workspace and spending thousands of dollars fixing an area up, you should consider your options. Locations such as San Francisco offices and New York offices retain a very high renting expense which may not help your cause in creating a great decor within the building. Thus, it may even be smarter to work in a shared environment.
Change Begins when an Employee Sets Foot in their New Workspace
When employees walk into an office that is well designed and attractive, or, one that has warm vibrant furnishings and appointments, most notice the affect on their senses immediately. However, even for those who may not be immediately aware, or cognizant of the changes, it is likely to have a positive influence on their behavior, nonetheless. Subtle chemical changes occur within the brain, at a subconscious level, allow the brain’s receptors to “take in” their new found data. These changes are then analyzed, and interpreted by the brain. The resulting effect is likely to have a positive influence upon how one feels about their new found surroundings, and therefore, how they feel about themselves. But, more importantly to their employers, these changes will have an affect on employee productivity, and how well they perform their jobs.
If Employees Feel Good – Higher Levels of Productivity will Follow
Study after study has shown that our environment can have a positive impact. When we upgrade our offices, we not only increase the value of businesses from an economic standpoint, but our employees are uplifted and happier as well. Increased productivity levels are simply a by product of happier, higher spirited individual. This is true regardless of job, industry or background. Its effects are universal and time tested.
Changing our Workplace and Environment need not be a Costly Affair
Have you ever noticed the affect a new coat of paint on the walls of a given room or office can have upon you? Colors are one of the most basic elements on earth, and as humans, they appeal to our core instinctive nature. It has been proven that different colors can affect us in different ways. However, colors need not necessarily be limited to the paint thrust upon the walls of an office to have an affect upon us. Furnishings, including: desks, tables, partitions and dividers, as well as other office art, can all affect how we perceive our workspace.
For organizations that have higher budgets set aside for their renovation/redesign projects, the cost outlays generally pale in comparison to the long term benefits realized. Organizations often view resources dedicated to such projects as long-term investments. But for those businesses on a more limited budget, inexpensive changes can have a huge impact, just the same.
Management Rule #1 – Change what you are able to Change; Perception & Performance
The workplace is fraught with its own unique set of challenges. From different personalities, to competitive issues, job recognition, and so forth, and so on. Unfortunately, not all workplace concerns are necessarily within the scope or control of management to affect. Therefore when one is identified, it behooves us to take advantage of that opportunity. And, since changing your office decor is a “win win” on all fronts – the option should be strongly considered.
