7 Tips for Creating a More Pleasant Office Environment

The productivity of any workplace depends on the culture and harmonious interaction of coworkers. Below are seven great ways on how to create a more pleasant office environment and maximize the productivity of everyone.

1.    Recognize and Reward Good Work

Everyone wants their good work to be recognized and appreciated. By recognizing and awarding outstanding employees, this will make them feel a part of the organization and that their job isn’t merely just a job. This will, in turn, boost the morale of the whole organization and create a healthy competition among the employees for recognition. People will set personal career goals and will be motivated to achieve them since it means they will be recognized, a win-win situation for them and the organization. People tend to put their best effort and increase productivity when they know they are valued.

2.    Build Effective Communication Channels

Everyone has their unique ideas and opinions. Ineffective communication channels in an organization will make employees focus on only what they are supposed to do and keep to themselves any ideas they may have on how to improve the organization. Effective communication will ensure that people can express their opinions and ideas freely, regardless of their position in the company. This will develop a sense of trust and respect among the employees as everyone’s ideas are listened to and respected. Effective communication will also ensure that any small problem arising is taken care of early in advance, as it will be communicated through the proper channels..

3.    Staff Meetings.

Staff meetings with all your employees will help them feel part of the team. In these meetings, employees can be told about the new ventures the business is planning to undertake. This will give everyone a sense of the company goals that everyone will work towards achieving. Employees can also be given a chance to ask questions and offer suggestions on how to better improve the business moving forward. Meetings like these can be used to bring all the employees up to date with the company’s performance in different departments. Departments that are doing well can be recognized; this will launch interdepartmental competition, which will further boost the morale of the whole task force and, in turn, increase the overall productivity of the company.

4.    Make the Office Comfortable

Making the office more comfortable will ensure employees are able to concentrate on their work better and have a better output. There are several ways of making the office more comfortable. Improve the lighting. Studies show that natural light significantly improves concentration focus and productivity. If it not possible to have natural light in your offices, you can use blue light bulbs, which are known for increasing alertness and hence work performance. Employees can be allowed to personalize their workspace. Having comfortable chairs will also increase productivity as employees will not suffer from fatigue. Painting the offices with bright light colors will bring a cheerful atmosphere in the workplace, you can also add artwork and murals if possible.

Having a refrigerator, coffee maker, and microwave in the office kitchen will enable employees to warm up their packed lunch, hence saving time they would have gone out to buy lunch. Have an eating area that can double up as a leisure zone. Having a watercooler will keep your employees hydrated all day long.

5.    Maintain cleanliness

Cleanliness is next to godliness. By keeping your offices clean, you will ensure there no spread of common colds brought by dust. Having a well-ventilated office will ensure the circulation of fresh air in the office. Make sure your offices and the kitchen office is also clean.

6.    Retreat and Fun

All work and no play makes jack a dull boy. There are tons of ways in which employees can engage in fun activities, from an afternoon movie, visiting an amusement park, going bowling, or even getting a massage for everyone. Setting aside a company fun day where employees from different departments get to know each other better and interact in fun activities will help create a positive, pleasant, harmonious atmosphere and environment in the office. Occasional activities out of the workplace, such as birthday celebrations or team luncheons, will help create camaraderie.

7.    Giving back to the community.

There are different ways in which a business can give back to the community. The company can introduce mentorship programs to local schools, ensuring that bright students from needy families will further their education. Young students from the schools can also visit the company to see and learn how a company is run. You can give out time to your employees to participate in volunteer work.