How Working Environments Can Become More Positive
Working in an open workspace, like the one in which entrepreneur Raphael Avraham Sternberg works, is an excellent place for success and happiness. The open workspace idea has existed for decades, but workplaces have recently transitioned to a more positive work environment.
This article discusses some tips on how working environments can become more positive. The ideas presented will allow employees of any age or position to contribute their opinions and feel involved with their colleagues.
1. Define the purpose
The first tip is critical to building a positive working environment. The purpose of the workspace should be defined before anything else. What is it that someone wants the space to do? What do people want it to become? And are there things that people want it to avoid? If the purpose isn’t defined, and more than one person owns the office, there will be disagreements about how best to utilize the space.
2. Set goals
Setting goals will allow people to track whether the process is going in the right direction. The plans have to be charged with some flexibility, as they will change over time. Once they are in place, they remain there and provide a framework as someone moves forward with changes.
3. Involve employees
To make the workspace more open, involve the people who will be there. A lack of involvement will cause people to feel estranged from the space, which will, in turn, make them less likely to want to spend time there. This step requires focusing on management and leadership.
4. Learn more about employees
Employees’ career goals and individual motivations vary greatly. They may want to know more about what their coworkers are like or if they are interested in information about the larger organization. Understanding that can help someone learn more about the space rather than just looking at it as a room where work happens.
5. Create comfortable areas
Some employees may want quiet places to rest, while others are willing to put up with noise to be in a more social area. Both options will help people find a place to fit in and relax.
6. Encourage collaboration
Though the idea of open and collaborative workspaces is simple, they can take time to create successfully. It’s essential to have areas where people can be themselves with their computers, especially in the early stages of the transformation. In addition, make sure that there are some physical dividers between working areas so that employees know if someone wants to be left alone.
7. Provide benefits
The benefits to employees of an open workspace will vary, but examining the effects on productivity and creativity is worth investigating. There are many ways to help people feel part of the community, like providing snack machines so that people don’t have to leave their desks to eat lunch or using social media tools in other ways. If space is managed well, then it can have a positive effect on the worker’s psyche.
Entrepreneur Raphael Avraham Sternberg is a big believer in positive work environments, as he believes it is among the most effective methods of growing efficiency, productivity, and creativity. Employees feel more involved by implementing simple steps into the company’s design plan, enabling them to succeed.