Creating a Workplace That Is Conducive to Good Employee Performance

According to research, an employee’s ability to provide high-quality output and consistent productivity is directly related to how happy they are with the job. The more comfortable and satisfied they are, the better they perform. The best way to ensure this is by creating a workplace that is conducive to good employee performance.

One of the first things you need to keep in mind when creating a productive workplace is that there’s more to a workplace than just the ambiance and the amenities. Everything that is in and happens at the workplace can have a significant impact on how an employee feels about working in it.

Nevertheless, you also have to go beyond the ergonomics and the facilities, and instead put more thought into what really matters. Here are some points you might want to consider:

1. Make Work Rewarding

Simply put, employees work to get paid, but that’s not always enough to keep an employee satisfied. You can consider being very generous with pay and raises, but you could end up paying more for the same staff with little benefit to your business. You want something that would encourage employees to perform better—you want incentives and rewards.

Rewards give employees a good reason to give their all when working. It could be cash incentives for performing well above expectations or something non-monetary but equally rewarding such as company-sponsored travels, gym subscriptions, and spa treatments. Using appropriate incentives and sales compensation software, it’s easy to plan out the most cost-effective rewards, incentives, and sales commission programs so your employees always have something to look forward to every time they enter the workplace.

2. Get Rid of Distractions

A workplace with plenty of distractions can easily throw off an employee’s concentration and even stress them out. Appliances such as noisy air conditioning units and chatter between workmates are the most common source of unnecessary noise, while uncovered windows provide plenty of visual distractions, especially during daytime.

Getting rid of distractions requires two things; redesigning the workplace itself and enforcing rules. Try keeping existing appliances well-maintained, or if possible, replace them with quieter alternatives. Install blinds and get rid of lights that are too bright or too dim. Impose a rule in the workplace to help minimize unnecessary noises made by the employees themselves. With these simple solutions, employees can focus more on their work and improve their productivity.

3. Consider a More Open-Spaced Office Environment

Getting rid of distractions is one thing, but making employees feel less corralled in is an entirely different matter. According to surveys, most employees feel that they are more comfortable working in office spaces with more open-spaced layouts as opposed to being confined in a cubicle. Newsroom style workplaces where employees can easily (but still discretely) interact with their workmates are easy to set up and are very effective.

Confinement isn’t just about floor setup. Many employees feel restricted if they are sitting directly next to a manager or their direct supervisor because it creates unnecessary pressure. While you may want the higher-ups to be more connected to their teams, it shouldn’t come to a point where it puts the employees on edge.

4. Minimize Meetings

Some people think that constant meetings help improve team coordination by keeping employees updated with how things are and what the team needs to do. However, having an excessive amount of meetings and face-to-face interaction with co-workers can greatly slow down worker productivity. Just think about it—some people spend so much time in meetings when they could be more productive doing what they are really supposed to do.

Fortunately, there are plenty of communication alternatives to help employees keep their eyes where it matters. Community apps and instant messengers allow employees to switch from working on their desks to collaborating with their colleagues in mere seconds. They likewise reduce the amount of chatter in the workplace, which also ties to the previous point about keeping distractions to a minimum.

If you want your employees to be able to help your business succeed, you must also help them by allowing them to work better. Improving your workplace provides long-term benefits and results in increased overall productivity, and that makes it a worthy investment.