Inspirational ideas for the perfect working environment

A huge number of factors contribute to the feel and the efficiency of a working environment, but it’s important to try your best to get it right. If your employees are demotivated and you have a high staff turnover rate, it could be time to make some drastic changes.

Here are some inspirational ideas to help you make some positive improvements…

Turn the layout upside down

Been stuck with the same desk layout for years? Don’t be afraid to rethink things, or to make a more radical change. Call in a smart space thinking expert like Penkeths to look at how your organisation works currently, and how it could work more efficiently and productively in the future. Do you want to have more breakout spaces for employees to relax, or encourage them to collaborate more? Do employees have enough privacy? Are meeting spaces too formal? The answers to these questions could inform a new layout plan for the office that could revolutionise its productivity and the happiness of your team.

Break down boundaries

Unless there’s a very real need to have completely private offices for executive staff, consider doing away with them altogether. Your workplace could be more transparent and open if all staff work together in the same space, breaking down the boundaries of hierarchy you find in a typical office space. It can improve morale, team bonding and dramatically improve communication between colleagues and departments at all levels. Crucially, it also shows employees that they are valued, making them feel just as important as members of the company’s executive team. Of course, it may be necessary to have some private working or meeting spaces within the office, but you could make these available to all on an ad-hoc basis. If someone needs to hold a meeting or work privately, make it easy for them to move into the space.

Embrace colourful, stylish decor

Some businesses think that a plain white office with a plain brown carpet is the right environment to keep employees focused on the job. However, an attractive, stylish and perhaps even colourful environment could be much more stimulating. It’s pleasing to work in, and can really boost motivation and morale. Ensuring that the space is clean, well-maintained and redecorated on occasion also shows workers that the business cares about their working environment and takes pride in the appearance of the office. Quite simply, you’re creating a workspace that employees are happy to come to each morning. A stylish office is also one that will impress visitors and potential clients, helping you stand out from your competition.

Fresh air, greenery and refreshment – it all makes for a healthy workspace

So many offices are starved of natural light and fresh air, which all makes for a very unhealthy and unhappy place to work. Consider how you can improve air and light quality to make your employees feel fresher and more alert. Greenery and plants make the office a pleasant environment, while refreshments such as water coolers and coffee machines ensure that your team are hydrated, alert and comfortable.

Involve your team in any changes

If you’re planning to upgrade the working environment, why not ask your team for their suggestions? Making them a part of the process makes change easier and also helps you to implement better improvements to suit your employees and their needs. Don’t be afraid to ask them what they think, encourage discussion and engagement and to take all feedback on board.

Work towards a positive workplace culture

Culture drives absolutely everything that happens in the workplace, from the way employees treat each other to their levels of productivity. It also affects staff turnover, the quality of customer service and of course – the company’s bottom line. You can’t implement or drastically change to a positive working culture overnight, and it definitely won’t come from the installation of a table tennis table in the break room. You need to make it a priority and a long-term strategy, looking at issues like transparency between management and staff, employee happiness and interaction, benefits and opportunities available to staff, and many more issues besides. It’s a big job, but it could change your company for the better in the years ahead.