Tag Archives: office layouts

Myths of The Open Office Concept

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Employees working together in modern open office space, corporate group team employees using computers, talking, discuss project, colleagues in coworking, collaboration, teamwork

Since the 70s, the open office concept has gained lots of traction. In fact, in America, it’s estimated that 70% of all office spaces were open office concepts of some degree. Championed by businesses like Facebook and other Silicon Valley giants, the open office was supposed to be the creative, collaborative workspace of the future. The problem—open offices have done just the opposite. 

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the pitfalls of such a system, as well as discuss potential alternatives. 

Open Office Lack Of Creativity 

It’s rare when a concept does the exact opposite of what it was intended to do; unfortunately, that’s what we have with open offices. 

According to a 2018 Harvard Business Schol research paper, open offices reduced face to face interactions drastically, promoting emails and instant messages (IMs) more. Perhaps more importantly, workers were less productive, efficient, and quality fell to boot. 

Other studies have shown decreases in creativity, productivity, job satisfaction, and attention spans. In an era where everyone’s attention spans are decreasing, the last thing a business needs is even less attention from employees.

If that wasn’t enough, higher stress levels, blood pressure, and job turnover are also associated with open offices. Not quite the office revolution that people were hoping for. 

So…Now What?

So cubicles are drab, but open offices are bad in almost every way. What do we do? Well, as with most things in life, the best option may be somewhere in the middle. Some companies are utilizing open office design in small groups. Each group will have its own sequestered space but will be able to collaborate amongst themselves. This boosts productivity and collaboration without having the noise of the entire office distracting them. 

Getting the Most Out of Your Office With Indoff

If you want the most productive office space for you and your staff, you’ll need to get the best equipment for your staff. Here at Indoff, we ensure that our collection of office furniture and equipment is of quality design and functionality. Contact us today to find the best office furniture for your goals! 

 

Tips for Optimal Workplace Productivity

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woman being productive at workDo you find yourself taking work home, wondering why you couldn’t get done at work? So many of us do! The reality is — there are only so many hours in a day and time can easily get bogged down with small, often unproductive tasks. Being productive requires work. It requires strategic planning and most all, it requires discipline. It’s easy to arrive on time (or even early) and have your day’s plans get thrown out the window with one interruption, which often leads to another. By the time you know it, it’s 5 o’clock.

But being productive isn’t necessarily a science. There are small but effective changes you can begin applying that will cut down five minutes then ten, 20, and eventually, you will find yourself with an extra hour to accomplish those tasks you’ve put off for a lack of time.

Here are 7 effective strategies to being more productive at work that you can easily begin applying today:  

1- Track Your Time

Do you know how long you spend in the break room getting coffee each morning? What about the time it takes to send out emails to your staff or replying to those emails? If you’re not currently tracking your time, it’s time to start today! Estimates don’t count. And if you’re thinking won’t tracking my time take time? It will only take TWO MINUTES out of your entire day to track what you’re working on every 30 minutes. We suggest starting off with the 30-minute interval. This way you can get into the habit of checking in with yourself every 30 minutes. Once you get used to jotting down what it is you’re working on, you can extend it to an hour or every time you change tasks. There are tools like Rescue Time that make it easier to track specific tasks including checking email, talking to coworkers, going to the bathroom, and meeting with clients, all of which make up your entire day.

2- Always Take Breaks

Okay now you’re probably thinking so in addition to tracking my time, you want me to take breaks? The simple answer is yes. While it sounds counterintuitive, taking breaks will help improve your concentration. Keep in mind, these breaks should be short. You also don’t want to take too many frequent breaks. Rather, every 90 minutes take a small productive break. What do we mean by productive? We mean, grab some coffee, go to the bathroom, stretch, take a “smoker’s break” even if you don’t smoke. Essentially you want to use this time to step away from work and reconnect with how you’re feeling. Give your eyes a screen break and your body a reboot.

3- Place Deadlines on Yourself

Ah, deadlines. Whether you love or hate them, deadlines help us stay on pace and they give us the right type of stress. By setting self-imposed deadlines on yourself, you’ll be able to stay focused on what needs to be accomplished and by when. Deadlines will also give you the ability to visualize a finish line. In return, your time will be planned out. Many people are surprised at how self-imposed deadlines force them into mini-athletes where it’s them vs. time. Be realistic about how long tasks should take and also don’t afraid to challenge yourself to some more strict deadlines.   

4- Avoid Multitasking

Multitasking can essentially decrease productivity. How is that so? It’s been found that multitasking results in lost time because people cannot devote their energy to competing tasks. For example, the old cliche and driving while putting on your makeup. This can easily result in an accident. There are some tasks that can be done in unison but you want to make sure they don’t compete with one another. For example, while you can’t put on makeup and look at the road, you can drive and mentally plan out your day or visualize what it is your day will entail. Remember to remain positive about it. Visualize being the most productive possible.   

5- Minimize Interruptions

Interruptions are inevitable but do your best to let others know that what you’re working on is time-sensitive. When your colleagues respect your time, they’re less likely to interrupt you. If you have your own office, close the door to tackle those projects. You also want to consider mapping out your time to meet with people. Resist the temptation to give away your time as this often leads to staying late in an effort to make up for it or taking work home.

6- Stay Motivated and Determined

Motivation is the key to all of these tips. You know yourself and you know your work habits. Add in determination and you’ll see that work is feasible. Don’t allow feelings of worry to take over. Even if you know something may not get done “on time,” knowing it needs to be accomplished, just get to work on it! Eliminate all feelings of doubt and productivity will follow.

7- Keep Your Energy Level High

Once you have time management down, it’s all about your energy. Your energy level is essential to not only remaining productive at work but also outside of work. We’re not robots. We require exercise, connecting with friends and family, and doing the things that motivate us. Where does your source of energy come from? It may be your morning run, a 10-minute meditation, or a mid-day walk. No matter how you get energized, make sure to prioritize these rituals. They matter your mind and body.

“Action Expresses Priorities.” — Gandhi

How you choose to spend your time says a lot about who you are and what your goals are. We are given the same hours in a day but how we spend those hours will determine our legacy. What do you want your legacy to be?

The Office Life: What Do Office Desks Say About You?

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Indoff Commercial Interiors believes that office furniture speaks volumes about your business or company. We might not realize it, but the spaces we inhabit have an affect on productivity, mood, and how we feel about work. With Indoff, get comfortable and functional office desks that fit every work style.

If you’re like many hard working Americans, you have at some point stopped and looked around the surrounding office desks and wondered: How did it get like this? You see empty coke cans, half-filled coffee mugs, Post-it notes scattered like confetti, pens, files out of order, and maybe even a half eaten sandwich from the day before. Perhaps you are completely the opposite: your pens are neatly placed on one side, Post-its on the other, and files stacked in a  perfect perpendicular line against your origami tree. Your office desk can say important things about your personality and how you approach your work.

There are a few different categories that might describe your office desk and beyond. Perhaps you are a little bit of each. So what does your desk say about you?

The Spartan: This is for the minimalist warrior in you. A person that sticks to the basics, doesn’t fall for the unnecessarily ornate and doesn’t keep more than they need. They survive with little and can make it go a long way. This means your desk doesn’t pile up, get cluttered, or accumulate extra accessories or junk. You might encounter: a lot of free desk space, pens in place, folders organized and color coded.

The Collector:  It’s hard for you to let go. You consider that you might need that one Post-it note even though it’s been a week since that one meeting. The collector also takes a few days to clear out old messages, packages, or lunch remnants. You might encounter: big paper stacks, unorganized files, scattered pens, and random trinkets or papers.

The Information Geek: You are meticulous with information and you like to document everything to maintain order. A physical reminder is important for you and so your office desk is a kind of organized chaos, but what you exhibit has a distinct purpose. You might encounter: marked calendars, reminders, family photographs, reference books, maps, and/or project specific notes.

The Yogi: This office desk tends to be soothing to look at. This is for the person that is the best to handle stress, doesn’t panic, and usually calms everyone down when you’re close to deadline on a major project. They might do Yoga or meditation on their lunch hour. You might encounter: soothing plants, pleasant colors, a Buddha statue, and an organized surface with an added element of inspirational posters or items.

Be the Best with Indoff Office Desks

Regardless of what type of personality might describe you, the quality of the office desks will set the stage. High quality and well-designed furniture provides the comfort and professionalism needed to keep order and encourage productivity. Set the stage with Indoff Commercial Interiors and get started on your way to success.