5 ways to create a productive and happy working environment

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Working environment|5 ways to create a productive and happy working environmentEvery business owner wants their operations to run smoothly. A place where staff get on well, communicate, and are as productive as they possibly can be. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way as personalities can clash, employees can become complacent, and animosities can form.

The good news is that there are many things you can do that can help send your business in that direction. Here are 5 ways to create a productive and happy working environment.

Don’t be too strict

Having policies and procedures is all well and good, but if you micro manage or don’t cut staff a bit of slack once in a while, they will eventually get sick of it. As long as the necessary work is being done, leave them to it.
If you need to intervene from time to time, that’s fine but if your team is self-driven, hardworking, and efficient, let them do their thing. If you don’t, it could backfire tremendously.

Create a welcoming space

An office that looks nice is far more enjoyable to work in, so if yours requires some TLC, you could reap the rewards by giving it a bit of an overhaul. Freshening up the décor, changing furniture, and adding accessories such as high quality custom planters or wall art will make your space feel far more welcoming. This is beneficial not only in terms of client perception but for your employees too.

Socialize once in a while

If your team doesn’t socialize, it’s worth trying to do so once in a while. Whether it be a game of ten-pin bowling, a meal, or a few drinks at the local bar, spending time together outwith the office environment will help you to get to know each other on a different level.

It usually results in better communication when you return to the office, which should, in turn, increase productivity and improve the working environment for everyone.

Reward hard work

If your staff have been working exceptionally hard or have met all their targets, reward them for it. It could be a monetary reward such as an annual bonus, for example. If you prefer to give something a little different, shopping vouchers or a nice bottle of champagne will always be well received.

Rewards make employees feel like their hard work is paying off, and they will be more inclined to continue working hard to make your business a success.

Ask for ideas and feedback

If an employee thinks you are listening to them, they will be more inclined to go that extra mile, so where possible, ask for ideas and feedback. There can be a lot going on in the background you don’t know about, so letting them know your door is always open will benefit everyone.

You are likely to be party to far more information than you would usually be, and they will feel like they can freely offer suggestions or opinions.

Most successful businesses usually have a team of happy and motivated employees lurking in the background, so if that’s something you can replicate, you will reap the rewards in the long run.

Creating an Efficient and Productive Workplace

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Productive Workplace|Creating an Efficient and Productive WorkplaceWhether you are a new start-up creating a new workplace or you are an established business going for a workspace overhaul, you will want to ensure that you get your space right. The correct layout, lighting and furniture can have more of an impact on staff than you might think. Most importantly how your space is laid out and how it functions can and will affect your productivity. If workspaces are cluttered and clumsy then your workflow will not be as smooth. So, before you go out buying items for your space you need to think about what you need to get from your workspace and you need to think about what it must include.

The Purpose of Your Workspace

How will your space be used and what will you use it for? Are you setting up a sales office or are you setting up a sales and production workplace. Will you have customers visiting or will it just be yourself and possibly staff using the location. If you know how you will be using your space then you can create a plan. If, for example, you are setting up a workspace for just yourself and staff then you know that you need to focus on good quality ergonomic chairs and furniture, a space to unwind (featuring a couple of sofas and comfy chairs) and a place to prepare food and drink. If on the other hand you are welcoming customers and clients you will need to focus more on the design element. You will have to create a workspace that is in line with your brand and in line with your customer expectations. From colors to branding – it all matters.

Create a Mood board and Design board

To help collate all of your ideas and thoughts, you need to put together ideas and design boards. These boards will help you see and visualize the space a bit better. On your boards you should incorporate all of the ideas and colors that you would like to have. When you put together boards you get to see firsthand what is working and what is not. A productive and efficient workspace needs to be one that is highly functional. On your design board you can ensure that you are only using items that are functional yet stylish. Items that serve no use or function may look good, but you will find they end up being a waste of space and money later down the line.

Lighting and Ambience

The feel and ambience you create within your workplace says a lot about your brand and about your business. Creating a bright and pleasant working atmosphere that also ensures you stick to workplace lighting regulations is possible and achievable. Whether you go for warm colored and modern-feel lighting or you go for daylight lighting you will want to be consistent and you will want to be as energy efficient as possible. When looking for and buying lighting fixtures consider how they will fit in with your design or scheme and also ensure that they are easy to clean and maintain.

Desks and Office Furniture

Will you be going for sleek individual desks or are you looking to create closed cubicles and workstations. If you are reliant on teams and individuals working together then you need spaces that they can come and sit together. Office furniture needs to be of high quality as it will see more use and wear than your standard home furniture. It will also need to be easy to clean, maintain and repair. Having every piece of furniture built in looks clean and tidy but it can be disastrous to locate and fix problems when they arise, so keep things simple yet effective.

The Flow and Feel of a Workspace

Ultimately, how a workspace flows and feels will affect everyone and anyone that uses it, so it is important to invest time and effort into getting it right. A productive environment can be a profitable environment. You want to create a workspace that you, visitors and employees enjoy being in. Size and shape matter and even the smallest of workplaces can be efficient yet well designed. If your space is an odd shape then keep furniture simple and small, large pieces look cluttered and out of place. Do not forget that if you require any inspiration for color schemes then you can use the services of a designer. Getting the flow and feel of a workspace right is highly achievable with time, effort and a workable budget.

What is Productivity Software?

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article | What is Productivity Software?Productivity is something that we could all use more of, with the right productivity software you can really amp up your production and make a big difference in the way our world works. Xtivity is a great productivity software that can make a big difference in your overall business.

What is Productivity Software?

Productivity software was designed to help make every day productivity greater and to help make a difference in the way that you do things around any worksite or business. Productivity software can be for things like helping to manage products, helping to manage purchasing, managing payroll and more.

It can also help with MRO. MRO stands for maintenance, repair and operations and a software like Xtivity is a great option that can truly help you to streamline your every day. Making sure that you are doing all you can to up your productivity, working to figure out exactly what works for you is a must.

Productivity software is not something that you absolutely have to have but it can make a big difference in your day to day and in how you go about doing menial tasks and completing your work.

Do You Need Productivity Software?

Not all companies are going to need a huge range of productivity software, but most are going to be able to benefit from them in some way.  Productivity software can help you to get the right overall boost in operations and can give you the ability to do what you need to do and to focus on other things and to go ahead and focus on other options and on other areas of concern. Productivity software is something that anyone can use, that can work well with any business and that can help make any business run better and run easier overall.

There are tons of different productivity software options out there and you truly can find a great range of different options that are going to work for you and your company. With the help of great productivity software you can refocus your efforts, get the right software for your needs, and make sure that there is not any difficulty in the overall use of this software.

If you feel that you might be falling behind because you are focusing so much on things that could be automated, productivity software is a good choice that can make a difference in your day to day work and in how you do things overall.

How To Thank Your Employees

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Employees|How To Thank Your EmployeesWhere would you – and your business – be without your hard-working employees? If it would be impossible to run your business without them, if you’re happy you have them, if they are the ones making the engine run, so to speak, then it’s a good idea to let them know and to thank them once in a while. Employees who know their bosses appreciate them and the work they do are much more likely to stay loyal, and they will be more productive, going above and beyond what would typically be expected of them. So it makes sense to thank you for a number of reasons. Here are some ways to do it.

A Thoughtful Gift

Getting someone a personal gift to say thank you is one of the best things you can do, but you need to ensure you get it right, or it could turn into a big mistake. Rather than generic flowers or chocolate, if you’re going to give a gift that shows how much you truly appreciate someone who works for you, it should be something personal to them. This means you need to know them well, or at least know their interests and passions outside of work. You might, for example, buy restaurant vouchers so that an employee can eat at a restaurant they’ve always wanted to go to, or you could find an autograph or other piece of memorabilia of their favorite movie star. The list goes on.

Get this right, and it’s an impressive feat that won’t go unnoticed. Get it wrong, and it will be a waste of money, and your employee will feel embarrassed. They might even decide that they need to look elsewhere for work as you don’t know them at all.

Do Up Their Workspace

Something you will know for sure about each and every one of your employees is where they work. You’ll know what their office looks like, you’ll know what the cafeteria is like, you’ll know what the outside spaces are like. If you really want to thank someone – or an entire team – making these spaces look and feel better is a great way to show how appreciative you are.

For an individual, a new office chair or computer, or even moving them from a small office into a large one might work well. For the whole team, organizing a renovation of the office itself or installing aluminum patio cover kits outside so they have a place to go to get some fresh air all year round are great ideas; there are many more.

Write Them A Recommendation

Although writing your employees a recommendation might make it seem as though you’re encouraging them to look elsewhere for work, the fact that you’ve done it – and perhaps posted it publicly on a site like LinkedIn – often has the opposite effect, and your employees will be more likely to stay with you.

A good recommendation is a great way to say thank you. It’s personal, it tells them exactly what you thought of the work they did, and it will make them want to do more to receive even better praise.

How to Build a Team for Your New Business

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StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Build a Team|How to Build a Team for Your New BusinessStarting a business comes with many milestones, all as exciting as the last. You will make your first sale, rent your first workspace, and, eventually, hire your first team members. Giving new employees the responsibility of looking after your business can be daunting, especially if it is your first time, but it’s a crucial part of growth. Here’s how to build a team for your new business.

Consider Outsourcing

First of all, it is important to know that you don’t have to hire a person for every part of the business. For example, if you need an accountant, there’s no rule saying you need them to work in-house. There are plenty of companies offering accounting services for much cheaper than full-time staff, and if you want to save even more money, visit https://givingassistant.org/coupon-codes/legalzoom.com for Legal Zoom coupons.

Post Job Ads online

Most people look for jobs online, so write an inviting job ad to appeal to more talent. Make sure you include exactly what you are looking for, such as experience and education levels, and don’t be too vague about the job type. If you want an all-rounder, simply state that!

Know What You’re Looking for

One of the biggest mistakes new business owners make when hiring their first employee is not knowing what they’re looking for. This uncertainty could lead to confusion and an unhappy staff member, so make sure you determine what you want in an employee before you begin your search.

Decide on Interview Questions

Your interview questions don’t need to be deep or complicated; after all, your goal is to get an open conversation rolling. You want the interviews to have direction, though, so come up with interesting questions that are relevant to your business and will get the ball rolling.

Provide a Great Space

You want to give your team members a pleasant work environment, so make sure there is enough space and that it is well decorated before their first day. You should also consider natural light, break area, how much noise there is, and the temperature – no one wants to work in a cold, dark room! By providing a comfortable workspace, you increase employee retention.

Keep an Open Mind

Who you hire might not be who you envisioned when you first started the hiring process. Often, business owners have an image in their head of their ideal candidates, but in reality, the person who will perform the best won’t match your exact description. It is also worth considering giving someone with less experience a position, as they can learn and grow alongside your business.

Up Your Leadership Skills

As a business owner with a team, you have more responsibility than you did previously, which means increasing your leadership skills. Some points to focus on include your communication, empathy, listening skills, and influencing ability.
By giving thought to each step, you ensure that you save money, find great talent, and provide your team with a great place to work.