It’s easy to talk about improving the workplace in big ways, like more flexible working hours, better benefits, a more positive company culture, and so on, but the truth is that it’s usually much smaller things that actually make the most difference and really shape the way we feel about work every day. 

The fact is you can’t always fix everything with one big policy change or a new office – creating a truly better work environment means paying attention to the details, meaning the ones that affect comfort, focus, and morale, even if no one really notices that’s what’s happening. 

Whether they notice or not, those are the things that make people feel looked after, and they’re the things that make someone look forward to coming in or logging on, and not dread it. So just what are those details and what is it that makes them matter quite so much? Keep reading to find out. 

You’ll Show People You’re Thinking About Them

Have you ever had to work somewhere that wasn’t comfortable or just felt off in some way? Maybe it was the lighting, the air quality, the layout, the lack of natural light, and so on. Well, you won’t have been the only one to feel that way, and understanding that, and knowing how it affected your productivity, happiness, and overall wellbeing, means that you’ll want to get it right for your team, and show them you’re thinking about their comfort. In other words, you need to think about how it feels to work in your office, not just about how it looks. 

When employers think about these finer points, like the temperature in different rooms, the way noise carries when it’s open plan, how much natural light comes in and where it lands, and so on, it shows your staff that their comfort matters to you. That’s great because when people know they’re being thought about, they’re usually going to respond by being more focused, trusting, and productive. 

You’ll Have Systems That Don’t Cause A Distraction

It’s not just about the furniture and the office layout, of course (although that is crucial to get right) – if you want to create a better work environment, you’ve also got to make sure you build in systems that actually help people do their work and feel good about it. 

That could be something as simple as reliable, high-speed internet, for example, or it could be a conference booking room system that’s easy to use and gives you the results you want. Maybe it’s access control so that everyone feels safe and secure. Whatever it is, it’s got to work in the right way because when basic systems are clunky or unreliable, they mean people are a lot less productive and they eat up time and attention that could be spent doing plenty of other much more useful things. 

One great example of a detail that’s both practical and often overlooked is entry and security. It doesn’t have to be complicated at all, but it does need to work with the office, which is why a smart, integrated system like the Genetec Synergis access control system is perfect – it gives you flexibility and control without making everything feel uncomfortable and like a challenge. And that’s just one example; there are plenty more you can use to make your office the best place for your people. 

You’ll Have Good Break Spaces

People just aren’t made to work eight hours a day without any breaks or rest, and that’s something everyone knows, even though in practice it’s often a different story. However, it’s wise to remember that the most effective work environment allows for breaks, and they actively encourage them too, which means creating space where people can really get away from their desks without feeling like they’re doing something they shouldn’t be. 

You don’t have to go over the top when you’re making a nice place for people to take a break, but it does need to be clean, welcoming, and carefully planned out. It should ideally have plenty of natural light, and it’s a good idea to include free drinks and snacks, as well as standard kitchen equipment like a microwave and a fridge, as well as equipment to make hot drinks. 

If you make these areas good, people will return from their breaks feeling a lot more relaxed, de-stressed, and calmer, and they’ll be able to do a lot more in their work, which is going to benefit everyone. 

Remember The Little Things

You don’t need to totally redesign everything overnight just to make improvements to your work environment, and although some form of change might be needed, it’s better to start with the smaller things and move on from there. 

Look around – and ask your team – and think about what little annoyances there are in the office that people just work around or have become used to, but that might be causing productivity or comfort issues. It could be a squeaky chair, for example, or perhaps the printer’s in an awkward place, or maybe the office isn’t all that clean… 

Fixing these small things sooner rather than later won’t just mean that the office becomes a nicer place to be – it’s also a great way to show people you care and that they matter, and what’s so important if you want a successful business, not to mention a better work environment. 

Leadership Needs To Care 

When you think about it, leaders in business set the time for everything else, so if they take pride in the environment, others will too. But if they treat the workplace like it doesn’t matter, that’s the kind of feeling that’s going to spread, and that’s not going to give you good results. 

You don’t have to micromanage everything, and you don’t have to nitpick, but it’s a good idea to do what you need to do to create the best working environment you can because it’s sure to pay fantastic dividends in the end.