Is Your Office Reducing Productivity Levels?

Why should this be the case? To some extent, it can be suggested that we are all programmed to think of the office space as being somewhere that allows staff members to work in a single location. Although this may be its most basic function, it doesn't begin to describe the many opportunities that can be created in such circumstances.

Equally, it's clearly true that many small business owners, in particular, are failing to take advantage of these opportunities. When was the last time that you asked your employees for their thoughts on the office environment? Rather than doing so, you may have made certain assumptions.

For instance, it may always have been your own feeling that you are happy with the office. Given that this is the case, you may also have assumed that others should feel the same way. As ever, the reality may differ considerably from these assumptions. In part, this can be explained by the fact that we all react slightly differently to the same surroundings. But things are actually even more complicated than this.

You also need to acknowledge that different staff members will have different roles, involving a range of tasks. This may well mean that the office environment is well suited to some tasks, but less so to others. As a result, it's easy to see how reactions will differ. In some circumstances, problems with the working environment may be limiting productivity levels and the progress that your business is able to make.

The problem here is that you may not even be aware that such limitations exist. Although some individuals may be quite vocal, it's likely that many are hiding their feelings. It's quite natural, for instance, to think that some will not be keen on mentioning concerns to those in positions of authority. There may be a certain level of fear associated with making feelings clear.

What this means is that you, as an employer, are faced with a set of challenges. You need to create an open dialogue with staff members, in order to find out what they really think. This should be a creative exercise and one that is aimed at making things better for all. It's also important that you should have a strategy in place to act on your findings.

Some changes may be relatively easy to make, although it may be true that you'll need to hire specialists to make improvements. Don't forget that investing in your premises can pay dividends over time. Don't make the mistake of forgetting about the importance of your office environment.