By Mercedes Quintanilla.
There is nothing more important to a company than the employees. If employees are happy, their productivity levels increase. There are many simple ways to create experiences ranging from incorporating the right colors to creating spaces that allow them to individually or collectively focus, socialize and learn.
Among the strategies to increase productivity in a simple but intentional way we have:
Mind and comfort.
The open office was introduced as a new approach, with the intention of improving and finding new ways for employees to communicate, connect and support the company. This new way of thinking and working requires spaces that accommodate the various work interactions an employee needs, from alone time to focus to open collaboration.
Flexibility is a key point, spaces that fulfill different functions offer more opportunities in the same footprint and allow users to create their own meeting places. For this point to be developed properly, the workforce must be allowed to work in the way they need, this means that it is not completely necessary to assign the employee a specific workplace, they themselves choose a place that suits . Their mood and their task lists. People feel more secure when they can choose their environments, which improves their well-being and productivity.
Fun breeds creativity.
People’s ability to learn improves when the task at hand is enjoyable and they are relaxed. Play can also stimulate the imagination, helping people to adapt and solve problems. Creative environments have an easily discernible atmosphere and activity, there is a buzz in the air, colleagues are excited and energetic, and there is a lot of conversation.
There are many activities that can be incorporated to encourage fun and competition, for example, ping pong, and football table games, these activities increase chemicals such as dopamine and endorphins in our brains and these help us feel better, Friendly competitions increase productivity, since this exercise allows the mind to focus when exchanging ideas in a game.
Fitness culture promotes productivity.
Integrating and promoting a fitness lifestyle improves the culture of the workplace. When the design works in conjunction with the company culture, a healthy atmosphere is created, employees have a multitude of possibilities to improve their well-being.
Exercising naturally reduces stress and helps fight fatigue, improves performance and decreases absences from work. In addition, it increases energy capacity and ensures the proper functioning of the brain.
Creativity also plays an important role in this strategy, as in this example where Cannon Design transformed traditional corridors into an imitation of a race track, with the purpose of getting their employees to stand up and run a little to improve their agility.
Wellness culture.
The importance of an employee’s health and happiness in the office has never been more apparent, and office design is changing to reflect this focus on wellness. Research shows that people with higher levels of well-being are more resistant to colds and have a quicker recovery time from illness, have a longer life expectancy, feel less pain, are more creative, productive, and better at problem solving.
Health has become one of the biggest challenges for employees and employers after COVID-19. With many workers struggling to manage an evolving work dynamic in the midst of a global pandemic, organizations must prioritize health and happiness to avoid decreased productivity and prevent burnout.
The office environment must be designed with a greater focus on the workforce, it must provide spaces that promote well-being as a priority objective.
Reference.
• O’Gara, M. (2019, September 2). Thoughtful Design Methods to Foster the Wellness-Minded Workplace. Work Design Magazine. https://www.workdesign.com/2019/05/well-building-design-methods-foster-wellness-minded-workplace/
• As Uncertainty Remains, Anxiety and Stress Reach a Tipping Point at Work (2020) https://www.oracle.com/a/ocom/docs/applications/hcm/2020-hcm-ai-at-work-study.pdf ?elqTrackId=b56bce99950343149d011eb3c6d05705&elqaid=103278&elqat=2
• Team, R. (2021, May 1). The Effect of Covid-19 on Architecture and Design. breathe. https://www.respira.ca/blogs/news/the-effect-of-covid-19-on-architecture-and-design
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