Boost Your Profitability with an Office Design Makeover

Your office design affects those working within it and how you’re perceived from outside, so harnessing its potential can ultimately drive your profitability.

Tired offices with their dated décor and maze of cubicles have become such a cliché that businesses are rarely portrayed otherwise in TV, movies and even comics. This uninspiring backdrop is the soul-crushing purgatory where characters robotically carry out their duties. We find it so amusing because it’s based on reality, often one we ourselves have experienced.

Your office may not be at this comical standard, but it could be hindering your business’ profitability because humans are so heavily affected by what we see. According to research conducted by 3M, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, making an appealing office design critical in today’s business landscape. By investing in a thoughtful office makeover you can create an environment that stimulates workers and profit margins.

Good office design will make the most of your property

As one of your biggest overheads, the physical space you operate in needs to be used to its utmost potential to maximise profitability. That doesn’t mean that the layout of your office should be a Tetris-style game of packing people into the smallest space possible, but rather an environment that empowers people to excel. Humans are inherently connected to nature, with natural settings supporting wellbeing and performance. Starting with a safe, risk-free environment and applying an organic layout with natural elements, plenty of natural lighting, and individual control over conditions like temperature, will positively affect the ability of employees, causing your property to power your profitability.

Good office design will enhance how you’re perceived

We all understand the importance of good, strong branding for business success, and your office design is an extension of your brand. The décor you choose, the colour scheme, the office layout and meeting room design are all a reflection of who you are as a company: your culture, philosophy and professionalism. When clients enter for a meeting, or prospective employees arrive for their interview, they are making judgements about who you are as a business and whether they want to be aligned with you. An aesthetically pleasing environment will attract people and give them a positive perception of your business.

Good office design will attract the right people

Your profitability is tied to the abilities of the people you hire, which is why you invest in top talent. After investigating you online, candidates continue scrutinising you and their prospective workplace when they come in for an interview. A lacklustre office may be enough for them to look elsewhere. By providing a stimulating environment you are more likely to attract quality people who will help drive the profitability of your company.

Good office design will encourage professionalism

Your current staff are working to the expectation their surrounds demand, meaning awkward design, outdated furnishings and disorder could give them license to be less productive and careless. A professional workplace will have a better reputation, and attract and retain top employees and clients.

Good office design will optimise performance

The performance of your people underpins your long-term profitability. The more quality work they produce directly impacts your bottomline, so optimising their performance is key to economic success. A familiar equation in organisational psychology is:

Performance = Ability x Motivation x Opportunity

Performance is a function of ability, motivation and opportunity working together, where Ability is defined as whether someone can do something; Motivation is whether they want to do it; and Opportunity relates to the accessibility to do it. Your office design can positively affect these factors by providing the right conditions and amenities. Simply reducing or removing stressors like noise or glare overlooks the design work that will generate a truly positive experience in the workplace. When employees feel positive about their workspace they are more productive, with spatial arrangement, furniture, lighting and noise among the factors influencing how they feel. A comfortable, ergonomically designed office has been proven to motivate employees and increase their performance substantially.

The design of your workplace can go a long way to boost overall productivity, leading to greater profitability. The most successful companies in the world understand the interconnectedness of good office design and profitability, and are willing to invest heavily to ensure their offices support and enhance their business. If you’re ready to transform your office space into a profitable powerhouse, Office National are experts in office fit-outs and furniture with solutions that can be customised to your needs.

Contact us today for an obligation-free discussion on how we can help you maximise your space and office design options.