Workforces are expected to be productive whenever possible, but many organisations don’t actually realise that this productivity often hinges on the workspace itself and how it’s structured. It’s unfortunate that when fitouts are undertaken optimal design choices aren’t considered in relation to workers efficiency and productivity, and this inadvertently takes a toll on the business itself. It’s tough to know how to actually remedy this, which is why so many employers do nothing about it. In this article, we take a closer look at just how you can make more of a workspace – and extract more productivity out of employees as a result.
Sometimes all it takes is some clever moving
If you’re looking for a drastic overall of your working space, it’s never a bad idea to do some research around commercial fitouts in Parramatta. It’s often recommended that the best place to start is by tidying up all of the clutter that is taking up your office – if you don’t think you have any, you’re probably not looking hard enough. This can include things like old ratty furniture or ancient equipment that hasn’t been used in ages. If you do find any examples of any of these things, don’t just throw them into a dumpster – instead, recycle, sell off or donate where possible as there’s a good chance that someone else out there might benefit from what you don’t need anymore. It might also be a good chance to do stocktake on what you already have, as it can be a great time to get rid of your uncomfortable chairs and (much to the pleasure of your employees) get more ergonomic and comfortable items. If you’re trying a shift towards a brand focus for your organisation, you might also want to introduce some things that really reflect that, such as items of a certain colour, flair or style.
Is it time for a re-think of your workspace design?
Rather than moving to an entirely new office in order to meet certain needs (like the desire for meeting rooms), sometimes it’s possible to re-organise what you already have. This might mean moving furniture to create office dividers or introducing partitions to create new working areas. If you don’t think you have the space to do something like this, it might be time to reconsider how you’ve used your existing space. Stacking items vertically might serve to solve a few of your space problems and help you use main floor space in a more effective manner, and shelving options are a great way to manage this. Sometimes it’s not just about the physical space itself, but how the space actually feels – lighting, whether it be through natural or artificial lighting, can help illuminate certain areas and make them feel much less claustrophobic. Just make sure you don’t use too much artificial lighting, as this can have the opposite effect (and cause headaches as well).
How will your workplace benefit?
Getting more out of the space you already have in a workplace will depend on a number of factors unique to you, so having a sit down and examining your space properly can help immeasurably. Some of them might be obvious – such as office clutter – but a lot of improvements rely on some more careful consideration.
Daryl Green 
Barbara Ratliff