Our workplace not only defines our affinity towards work but also the quality of work we do. A cluttered workplace breeds confusion and chaos and impedes the natural flow of work. One of the key aspects of managerial sciences is ensuring a healthy and comfortable workplace. However, it is nothing too complicated and simple changes can go a long way in improving the overall work culture. A disciplined strategy, with proven results, is the key to maximizing the quantity and quality of work you do. Here are the three holy grails of a highly efficient workplace:
1. Stay Clean, Stay Smart
There is no substitute to a neat and clean, well-maintained workplace. It is not only a physical charm to work in a clean environment but also psychologically vital. Many prominent researchers have found that an untidy and irregular workplace demotivates workers and also reduces the quality of work they do. The physical appearance of a workstation affects employee creativity, discipline, confidence and cognitive ability. An organized workplace quickly sweeps into a person’s personality and he/she behaves more professionally and effectively. A clean and organized workplace also ensures fewer accidents and lower health hazards, the benefits of which add up over the long term. Overall, efficiency is a relative concept and it depends a lot on the cleanliness of the workplace.
2. Organize and Deliver
Nothing works better than good ol’ coordination. Organizing a workplace is one of the key aspects of increasing productivity and there are several dimensions to this. A few general rules to make your workplace more organized are
• Easy Communication Channels- Communication gap is one of the key impediments to a growing organization and it indirectly burns off a lot of productive hours. It is necessary to establish proper communication channels between all levels of your workforce. People tend to feel more confident when they can freely voice their opinions, so it is a good idea to organize a platform where everyone can speak their hearts out. It can be as simple as a Facebook group or an informal meeting in the workplace.
• Conflict Management- It is the very nature of humans to argue and differ. To address these differences and conflicts at an early stage is vital to ensure a peaceful workplace. Every conflict has different stages and a good leader will easily spot the conflict at an early stage and look for win-win solutions. A bias-free working environment and a grievance redressal mechanism, that gives voice to everyone, can work wonders at both the macro and micro levels of an organization.
• Use of Technology- Technology can simplify a lot of work and help us analyze things better. For example, the latest cloud storage technology not only guarantees remote access to information, it also improves collaboration, adds flexibility to your workflow and makes data recovery easier and reliable than the traditional form of data management. Each technology is invented to add some value to work and it is necessary to keep looking for ways to integrate new technology.
3. Stress Relief Measures-
All work carries with it a fair amount of stress and the workplace should be equipped to manage growing stress levels. Stress is actually of two types, distress, and eustress. While most of us perceive stress as a negative aspect of life, it can be a big boon if understood properly. Humans are psychologically programmed to work well under pressure, but most of us have a breaking point. In a stressful environment, we physiologically experience a “fight or flight” situation. Our bloodstream receives a shot of adrenalin which naturally pumps up the blood flow, increases metabolism, and makes us more alert and focused. Eustress is this positive aspect of stress, that keeps us motivated and helps to test our breaking point. Stress beyond the breaking point becomes distress, and then it starts to harm us physically and mentally.
Most HR experts understand the necessity of stress management and rely on eustress to enhance productivity. The immediate work environment affects the level of stress immensely. The key to developing a relaxing office atmosphere is playing on details. Having a simple indoor plant or a scenic picture can provide a relaxing environment. Proper lighting and ventilation is also a vital part of stress management. It is better to have a natural source of light than artificial lights. You can also organize regular breaks, and indulge in group activities like yoga, meditation, singing, etc.
