Your office design is more than the aesthetic that it offers. It is not merely for visual needs, but a whole lot more, especially when it comes to your business. It certainly does affect your business as a whole and there are two areas where it can have an impact. Both will most likely convince you to make some changes.
What are these two areas? The first one is a bit obvious, but allow us to expand that for you. The second one, on the other hand, will just give you more reason to consider redesigning your office.
Employee Productivity.
As the owner of the company, you are responsible for not only bringing in revenue for your business, but also for the well-being of your workforce. At the end of the day, they are your most valuable asset that fuels your business.
Keep in mind that your employees spend a significant amount of time at work. The design of your office environment has a consequential impact on their overall wellness. Their work environment is a subtle component that affects their productivity, and it should be considered as part of administrative restructuring and wellness efforts to ensure employee productivity and wellness and eventually, the company’s viability and performance.
With that, remember that the studies also don’t lie. In fact, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) published research in 2014 that revealed overwhelming evidence that office design had a major impact on employees’ productivity, health, and happiness.
Moreover, a Management Today Magazine 2003 survey also showed that 97% of employee respondents view their work environment as a representation of their value to the company. Unfortunately, only 37% of them believed that their offices were built with them in mind, and around 30% even mentioned that they felt uncomfortable inviting their clients or colleagues back to their office because of its condition and design. How tragic that can be?
Well, it doesn’t have to. As the owner, make sure each aspect of your company office is well thought of. Here are the main ones you should look into:
- Lighting and Ventilation
- Indoor Air Quality
- Noise Control
- Furniture (consider ergonomic)
- Storage (must be adequate)
- Color and Art
- Employee Engagement
With the last one, keep in mind that when your business model also requires more collaboration among your employees, then your office design should also reflect a collaborative space that makes collaboration a natural thing.
Client Impression.
We all know that it’s challenging to attract quality clients. The process is tedious and you have to stay consistent.
You cultivate a positive relationship with them and it begins in the sales funnel. You get to talk to them, at least virtually for the first time, especially with the recent situation. After all these, you know what’s next and that is a face-to-face meeting with them.
Imagine that today, you will be hosting your client in your office. You look around and ask yourself, what does the office design tell about our company? The answer to that question is hopefully a positive one. If not, you should absolutely consider redesigning your office space.
Definitely, surroundings have a huge impact on anyone making a purchase. Remember that our emotions are influenced by visuals, and our purchasing decisions are influenced by our emotions. There is a reason why your office design shouldn’t be disregarded.
Right now, you might be curious as to what you should do to create a good impression on your clients. In that case, consider the following:
- Highlight your company’s achievements and accreditations in the appropriate places.
- Emphasize your company’s story, experience, and of course, reputation.
- Install recognizable signages that make clients feel welcome.
- Showcase tastefully assembled work layouts e.g. collaborative spaces and hybrid layouts (depending on the need).
Indeed, your client meeting will be more valuable if it is held in a well-designed office with comfy furnishings. More significantly, it will instill pleasant feelings about the meeting, which, as we all know, influences purchasing decisions!
So, where do you start?
The Big Plan.
Start off by evaluating your current office space. After which, you can consult an expert who knows exactly what design or layout to showcase depending on your needs as a company. To redesign an office may be intimidating to think about in the first place, but never ever feel afraid of that. For sure, doing so will elevate your company to the next level by considering an office design that will cater to the needs of both your employees and your clients.
References
- https://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/article/office-design-impact-employee-health-productivity
- https://www.babinc.org/how-does-office-design-impact-productivity/
- https://octink.com/how-your-office-design-affects-your-business/
