One of your most important goals should be to inspire and motivate your employees. When you’ve already found some of the best people for the job, the only thing left to do is to create the ideal atmosphere to facilitate their success.
In today’s dynamic and competitive work environment, employees often feel like they’re under a lot of pressure. Between the long work hours and demanding projects, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and feel less motivated to do the work you’re supposed to. It’s the job of the employer to act as a leader and help their employees feel like they’re doing something meaningful. Creating a healthy environment that inspires employees is crucial. It’s not as difficult as it might sound, either. There are a couple of things that you should focus on first and foremost.
Think meritocracy, not aristocracy
Modern work environments are extremely competitive and dynamic, and yet there’s always a sense of appreciation for hard work. The effort is the most important aspect of someone’s work, and it ranks above all else. Even actual ranks are becoming a moot point in many of these work environments.
Many Australian workplaces are abandoning strict hierarchies, as they provide too rigid of a framework for productivity. Management doesn’t always have the last say on a project. Traditional management methods are going out of style fast. This is perfectly reasonable when you consider all the facts. You don’t hire people for their ability to listen to strict orders, you hire them for their talents. When it’s their turn to show their skills and talents in action, you should let them do their thing.
A manager’s main job is to guide the work being done towards a higher purpose. While employees are hard at work, managers need to act as leaders who will provide them with guidance. When someone proves themselves to be competent enough to come up with useful ideas, they should be heard without prejudice. No matter their rank, they have the same goals as the managers do – seeing the company succeed.
Encourage interaction and communication
The days of the cubicle are long gone, and it’s proving to be the best decision businesses have made. Having an isolated worker do their part for a project that needs the input of dozens of different individuals sounds and is absurd. You can’t expect people to work like hamsters in a cage and produce any meaningful results.
Today’s work environments are open and very dynamic. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for office spaces to have an open floor plan with a “communal” atmosphere. When you want to see teamwork and cooperation, it helps to put people closer to one another. When they can freely communicate and share ideas, productivity skyrockets. Team members can make up for each other’s shortcomings and come up with ideas that will further their work and the progress of their current projects.
Volunteering to work together and helping each other out is a great way to foster a more cooperative and friendly environment. You get more synergy out of employees and they’re a lot more likely to come up with brilliant ideas with everyone’s input.
Allow for more flexibility
One of the number one reasons for employee dissatisfaction in the workplace is a distinct lack of flexibility. When employees are put on a strict and inflexible schedule, they’ll feel as though the job is more of a prison rather than a good opportunity for productive work.
Many employers forget that the point of the employee’s job isn’t sticking to a rigid schedule and trying to squeeze out eight hours of productivity at a time. It’s all about creating the ideal work environment that will allow them to showcase their skills and talents. Sometimes, this means introducing a more flexible work schedule.
Certain jobs would benefit greatly from more lenient work times. If an employee in Sydney interacts with clients halfway across the world on a daily basis, having them come in at the same time every day could have questionable results. They should be given the opportunity to work when it provides the company with the best possible results. As it so happens, it’s usually the schedule that best fits an employee that will allow for the most productivity. The more flexibility you allow in your workplace, the more satisfied employees will be with their work. This translates to much better-utilized work time and thus more profit for the business.
Incorporate natural elements
Within every design catalogue, you’re going to see a ton of plants strewn across living spaces. It’s not much different when it comes to work environments, either. Plants are integral to workplace design and décor. They might be gorgeous elements which contribute to the look and atmosphere, but plants have a ton of hidden benefits that make them even more important for every workplace.
Not only do they brighten up your day by making the space livelier, but they also directly influence your mood. It’s been shown that the presence of plants reduces feelings of anxiety and stress. When there’s a lot of greenery surrounding them, people feel more at peace. This tranquil feeling has an enormous effect on workplace productivity. It allows employees to better focus on their work throughout the day. It’s a relatively small change that can have an enormous impact on how well employees handle their workday.
Not to mention, plants are constantly filtering the air and reducing stuffiness. During those cold winter months, having a little bit of nature can help make the air feel a lot fresher, even when windows are mostly kept closed.
Provide the right kind of lighting
Lighting is one of the most important elements in any workplace, and yet most Australian employers don’t put a lot of thought into the quality of their lightbulbs. It’s not just about keeping the space well lit, there are a lot of things you have to watch out for when installing lighting.
The colour and quality of light are very important aspects to consider. Older workplaces might still have fluorescent lights that illuminate most of the space. They do keep visibility up, but they’re uncomfortable to look at and negatively affect eyesight. Iridescent lightbulbs are considered a step up, as they provide a warmer and more comfortable type of lighting. Nowadays, modern workplaces incorporate LED lights to increase both visibility and comfort. They might be more on the expensive side, but they also use less power, making them a worthwhile investment.
There can be no discussion of workplace lighting without at least mentioning natural lighting options. Natural light provides the healthiest and most comfortable illumination of any workspace. Large windows and proper work desk placement are key things you need to consider when designing your workplace. Natural light fosters productivity and a cozier atmosphere throughout the year. However, there is such a thing as too much natural light.
Summer months can make it a real pain to work, especially when the sun gets a little too harsh to handle. This is why controlling the amount of natural light that enters the workplace is so important. It’s not an uncommon sight to see lots of curtain blinds in the offices. They’re a quick and convenient way to block out the sun when it’s getting in the way of work. Exploring different shading options and consulting professionals like Oztech, is just as important as introducing the right kind of lighting to the workplace.
Treat employees from time to time
Everyone likes to feel appreciated. This is especially true for work environments. When you show your employees that they are an essential part of the team, they are sure to cherish the gesture. It’s all about creating the perfect cohesive team that will look out for each other. Make employees feel valued by treating them every once in a while.
Start with something small. Provide them with coffee first thing in the morning. Having a fresh cup waiting for you in the office kitchen is something they are sure to appreciate. Not only does it help boost productivity and wakefulness, but it’s also a nice friendly gesture. Speaking of coffee, why not have a snack bar ready? Even if they’ve had their breakfast, it helps to know that they can come to the kitchen and grab a bite whenever they need a little extra energy.
Let employees design and decorate their own desks. Having everyone sit at desks that look painfully similar is depressing. It’s a lot nicer to be able to add a little flair to your own desk. Designing it for maximum comfort and attractiveness only contributes to the cozy feeling in the office. It also shows that you want employees to feel at home while they work. A few details here and there can help make sitting at the desk all day a lot more tolerable, so imagine how good it must be to allow even more creative freedom.
Conclusion
One of your most important goals should be to inspire and motivate your employees. When you’ve already found some of the best people for the job, the only thing left to do is to create the ideal atmosphere to facilitate their success. This is something that can drastically improve your business’s potential. All it takes is a bit of thoughtfulness and a keen eye for ergonomics and comfort.
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