How do Office Surroundings Affect Communication?

The environment in which you work, and the way furniture and accessories are organized, can have a dramatic impact upon the productivity of an office, as well as affecting communication among colleagues. An office that is cluttered and messy, or suffering from a poorly designed layout, can lose its ability to function effectively very quickly, as well as hampering creativity and communication among employees. However, simply redesigning the space in which you work can go a long way towards inspiring a workforce and improving communication, and it won’t take much alteration before improvements can be seen.

The art of communication

Communication in business is key; after all, without communication, how would a company know what work needed doing, keep customers and clients up to date, and inform its employees? It is essential to maintain clear communication while you’re working on group projects with colleagues, and so your office space must allow ideas to flow. Offices with numerous walls and cubicles, while enabling their workforce to concentrate and focus, can actually hamper productivity, creating barriers that will stem communication. It also makes little sense for workers in the same department to be positioned in different rooms, or even on different floors; it is essential that those who work together frequently should be able to communicate with ease.

If you are experiencing a lull in creativity, or a breakdown in communication, getting back on track can be as simple as reorganizing your office, including taking down cubicles to create a more open workspace, installing meeting rooms and socializing spaces, and introducing noticeboards for the sharing of ideas. A stifling office environment can significantly affect the productivity of an office, and it is worth making changes sooner rather than later. Redesigning your workspace can also go a long way towards improving the morale of an office, creating a light, bright, and sociable place in which colleagues can function and communicate without restriction.

Organizing your office

The effects of a badly organized office can be far reaching, and won’t just hamper communication; a hostile or unpleasant environment can demoralize staff and make a workforce less keen to fulfill its duties. As you redesign your office space, consider brightening the walls with warm, neutral tones; add a little color with pictures and plants; and ensure that the temperature is controlled by an air conditioning and heating system. It is also essential that different departments are catered for; ensure that they have access to the technology and equipment that they need.

Helping workers to feel focused and organized can be as simple as rearranging an office’s layout. Desks can be kept neat and clutter-free with the introduction of sufficient filing systems and storage cupboards, while moving desks together can increase communication and encourage a friendly atmosphere. Being comfortable is essential; an ergonomic office chair, which will support workers and correct their posture, is a great introduction to an office and will help the creative juices to flow.

The spaces in which we work are much more influential than merely providing us with somewhere to sit; the right environment has the power to boost communication and feed creativity, and so offices should be carefully planned to ensure they are making the most of the space, and the workforce.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *