Community Atmosphere in the Office Equals Greater Productivity?
Studies (1) have shown that employee satisfaction is the primary driver of productivity, and today’s employees desire a “family atmosphere” at the office. Considering how many hours people spend in the office with their co-workers, it’s no wonder. But what does“family atmosphere” really mean? And how can you create one for your company?
When people talk about family, they are really talking about relationships, connecting, and sharing with others. Employees want interaction, to work as part of a team, and feel their opinions and ideas are heard and appreciated and that they are well informed about company goals and results.
Start a conversation
The easiest way to start fostering a family atmosphere is to talk to all your employees and create sincere, two-way communication.Ask them about their day, about their weekend plans, about their ideas for company improvement, or discuss why they are satisfied or unsatisfied with their position. Demonstrate that you, as their employer, take them seriously and are interested in what they know and do. And most of all, listen to them. Everyone appreciates knowing their ideas are taken seriously.
Make a fuss
Public praise and congratulations are remembered far longer than a pay raise. When your department exceeds its goals, throw a party. When everyone on the floor pulls together to meet a tight deadline, thank them—publicly. If you notice one person is tackling a heavier-than-usual workload, stick your head in their office and say “Thanks for the hard work. I appreciate it!” As head of your department or company, your praise (or censure) carries a great deal of weight and can go a long way toward boosting (or killing) morale.
Similarly, when things go badly, be understanding or firm depending on what the circumstances call for. Avoid coming down on people so hard that they are afraid to approach you in the future. Thank them for their efforts, but make clear what you expect of them going forward.
Create a relaxed environment
The days of starched suits, corner offices, and cubicle mazes are outdated and not appreciated by the newer generations of workers. More offices are designed (2) with open working areas, lots of natural light, comfortable furniture, and management located on the same level with other team members. This has the effect of increasing interaction and is more conducive to sharing ideas and solutions. Rather than isolating your workers, you are encouraging relationships to form, facilitating collaboration and teamwork. Studies show that these changes in the work environment affect clerical and managerial staff the most, with professionals being least affected.
As for the dress code, there’s no doubt that suits and ties are appropriate much of the time. But take an honest look at how often employees interact clients or the public and how often they spend the day at their desk. Would it really be so bad to allow a more casual feeling around the office? Many companies have found that a reasonably relaxed dress code results in significantly higher productivity and morale.
Real life example
A Midwest Manufacturing company had a major goal of repositioning their products in the building-design market. When planning the design of their new headquarters, they decided to shift its corporate culture and inspire increased creativity, innovation, and cooperation.
“A key step was to design a way to break down barriers between work groups, many of which had previously been working in a high-rise office building. Butler wanted departments to be more aware of and concerned about one another while enhancing product quality and market research.”(3)
The new building design directly addressed their goal of building a strong sense of community among employees. The new two-building complex each with two-stories, was linked by a central “town-square,” a point through which every employee passed daily.
Be realistic
To continue working with our analogy, as in any family, individuals won’t always get along. There will be disagreements and competition. Particularly in companies where people are uncomfortable with direct conflict, employee disagreements or issues can simmer behind cubicle walls until they effect the entire company.Wouldn’t you prefer people to address their problems early on, face to face, for a prompt resolution allowing everyone to get on with business?
A family atmosphere takes work. You must make an effort to forge relationships and encourage communication. But the feeling you get when your entire workforce is happy and productive is priceless.
[1] Link to http://www.us.randstad.com/Review-2006%20pdf.pdf
[2] Link to http://asid.org/NR/rdonlyres/9D800-D933-48D4-9933-05C84D054BF7/183/
asid_productive_solutions.pdf
[3] Sue Mosby, The Creative Design of Corporate Workspaces is a Vital Tool in the Success of Company Goals (Kansas City: Halcyn Business Publications, Inc., 2006)