30 Ways to Make Workspaces Better, More Welcoming & Foster Teamwork

Look around your office- what do you see? Odds are that unless you work at a hip start-up flush with young talent and IPO cash, you’re still using the same staid, boring and uninspiring cubicle-office layout introduced decades ago, which has been shown to de-motivate employees and hinder teamwork.

Sprucing up the physical workspace for your staff can yield tangible results quickly by making the environment more conducive to open communication, collaboration and all-around good cheer, improving office morale and, ultimately, productivity.

Think it’s too much trouble to focus your attention on office atmosphere? Here’s a list of ways you can improve the surroundings and technology of your workplace, to allow employees to function better as individuals and teams:

1. 1.     Lower the cubicle walls
2. 2.     Re-activate the internal IM system
3. 3.     Require employees to display at least 1 “fun” object which can spark conversation
4. 4.     Get an office pet – something non-allergenic, like a fish or lizard
5. 5.     Keep a healthy snack table fully stocked in the center of the office
6. 6.     Write a daily joke, riddle, trivia question or quote on the cafeteria whiteboard
7. 7.     Lower the decibel level of office telephones
8. 8.     Put a refrigerator, microwave & water cooler in every place you can think of
9. 9.     Create an Intranet “wall” for employees to write public comments
10. 10.  Create a “brainstorm room” which people would actually use, and isn’t lame
    
11. 11.  Rename shared drives something funny (i.e.: “Floyd” instead of “X:”)
12. 12.  Move cubicles away from restrooms, janitor closets and other unenviable places
13. 13.  Encourage toys, family photos and other personal desktop “flair”
14. 14.  Relax the dress code
15. 15.  Splurge on lunch each week, catering from a different regional cuisine each time
16. 16.  Place cubicles by windows (or install windows where there are currently walls)
17. 17.  Plants- lots of plants
18. 18.  Provide a selection of ergonomic devices for staff to choose from
19. 19.  Offer free coffee and a wide arrange of teas daily
20. 20.  Invest in massage chairs or cushions
21. 21.  Paint “public” areas like the lobby and conference rooms in funky colors
22. 22.  Allow non-client-facing employees to paint/decorate their own cubicle walls
23. 23.  Declare certain rooms to be “shoe free zones”
24. 24.  Disco ball
25. 25.  Let employees select their own chair style & color
26. 26.  Invest in an iPod docking station for the cubicle area, conference or brainstorm room
27. 27.  Get neck pillows for everyone
28. 28.  Create a “primp station” of lotions, creams and other cosmetic items
29. 29.  Upbeat music in the elevators & restrooms
30. 30.  Hold regular contests for the most creative suggestion to improve the workplace

There are so many ways you can alter the physical space to make your people happier, and thus work better. What other ideas can you think of which would make working within your office a terrific experience?