Productive workspace – less clutter, more culture
For all the disruptions to our working life that the pandemic has caused, one thing we’ve all been thinking about is how, where and why we work the way we do.
If you’re in the process of re-opening your business, now is the ideal time to redesign your office to maximise productivity. Let’s take a look at a few strategies to bear in mind as you reboot in 2021.
What’s the secret to productivity?
Companies around the world are rethinking their workspaces and company cultures as they encourage employees to return to the office in the latter half of the year. The major question on the minds of managers is, what does a productive workspace really entail? As it turns out, it’s a lot more than rearranging a few desks.
Breaking down a complex phenomenon like productivity isn’t easy, but organisational specialists have identified three elements that come together to create a productive environment: Physical comfort, psychological comfort and organisation comfort.
Without going into too many technical details, the major idea behind productivity – especially post pandemic – is safety and support.
- Workers need to feel physically safe, especially with hygiene measures in place, and perceive the workplace as a supportive environment.
- An office where people come to work, collaborate and grow is more likely to encourage a return to the office and help your team resume their pre-pandemic work habits.
Companies that are used to taking employees’ psychological resilience for granted may find that their workforce is still a little shaken up by 18 months of repeated lockdowns, working from home, and all the other disruptions that came in the wake of the pandemic.
Fostering a supportive work environment is essential in 2021 and beyond and should be high on the agenda when management comes together to plan strategically.
The physical work environment is a productivity booster
Company culture is reflected in the chemistry between people within the workspace, it’s seen in how things are done and it’s also centred on shared beliefs and values.
It takes time to change or even develop a company culture when transitioning from a work from home attitude, but factors like the office layout, remote versus in-office working schedules, and enhanced hygiene measures can make an almost immediate impact on employee morale.
In an environment that is all about productivity, it’s important to acknowledge that our physical environment is going to impact our professional output.
There are several things you can do right now to prepare your commercial office space for the post pandemic era.
Eliminate clutter as a matter of policy
Asking employees to clean their desks like children is probably not the best way to foster good relations. On the other hand, once a clutter-free work environment becomes part of your company policy (and everyone from senior management all the way down embraces the new system) it could become a great productivity enhancer.
- The Marie Kondo method, which has been applied successfully in homes around the world, works equally well in the office.
- Simply put, anything that’s either broken or never used needs to be thrown out or repurposed.
This approach applies to everything from office equipment to paper documents and records. In fact, now could be the best opportunity to go paperless and hide all that mess in the cloud.
Embracing a hybrid work future
Companies and employees have expressed mixed feelings about their work from home experience during the pandemic – and overall most of us seem to be keen to return to the office.
- The initial novelty of working from home has definitely worn off for most of us, and many employees are looking forward to working at their old desks again, enjoying some office chit chat, and learning from talented co-workers and senior members of staff.
As the fourth quarter of 2021 approaches, companies will need to foster an appealing, supportive hybrid working model that encourages staff members to dip a toe in the water and start feeling at home in the office again.
That way, 2022 could be the year when we return to the office for good – and that’s great news for commercial property tenants and owners in Cape Town.
Reopening your office soon? We’re here to assist
The challenge to reclaiming your workplace landscape and welcoming employees back to the office will need to be a strategic recreation of those “watercooler moments”. There are so many innovative ways to do this but underpinning the needs of all human beings is the fact that we all rely on interaction and engagement with others, and the best place to do this is “in office”.
If your business is looking to return to in-office productivity this year, a new office based business in Cape Town that’s ideal for hybrid working could be the optimal productivity solution.
Our team of area specialists is on hand to advise you as you explore our portfolio of commercial properties in the Mother City. Contact us today for more information.
