Two of the most important things for any business are keeping your clients happy and keeping your employees happy. You need satisfied clients. Otherwise, you’ll have a hard time generating repeat sales and growing your business. At the same time, happy employees work harder and are less likely to leave for another company, saving you money by not having to constantly hire new people.
There are many ways that you can go about making your clients and employees happier, but one often overlooked option is improving your office space. Below, we’ll offer a few suggestions for how you can improve your office that should make both employees and clients alike much more satisfied with your company.
Keep it Clean
One of the simplest things you can do to improve your office space is just to keep it clean. As you spend a lot of time in your office, you may not notice when things like dust start to slowly accumulate. However, newcomers to your office, like customers or clients, may instantly notice these things and form a negative opinion of your business as a result. Keeping your office clean will not only show your clients that you care about your presentation but also keep your employees happier, as no one wants to work in a dirty office.
If you don’t already have a cleaning routine, now is the time to establish one. Create a set of tasks that you need to do every day or once a week in order to keep your office looking tidy. Also, implement some rules for your employees to help keep the space clean, such as properly discarding trash or keeping their workspace looking respectable.
When you have a large office space, you may not have the time to clean it yourself. In these situations, you may want to work with a professional commercial cleaning company. According to Compass Cleaning Solutions, “First impressions are super important. It’s essential for your business space to look presentable during business hours. You never know when a potential customer will walk through your doors. Your place of business must maintain a high standard of cleanliness for the health and safety of your customers and employees.” Find some services in your area, examine their rates, and determine if hiring one makes sense for your situation.
Redesign the Layout
The next thing to explore is redesigning the layout of your office. When you walk into your office space, you don’t want to feel like it’s crowded or cramped. Instead, you want it to feel comfortable and energizing so that employees are happy to be there and clients get a good impression. A big way to impact how people feel about your office is the layout.
Consider how your office would look if you moved around some of the furniture or removed some things you don’t need. For example, some offices like to go with an open layout, which can promote better team communication. In some cases, simply moving things around or getting rid of a few things can make a big difference, all without spending any money.
Add Some Soft Touches
Soft touches around the office are a great way to boost employee satisfaction with the space. After all, these employees are spending a lot of time in your office so they deserve to feel a little more comfortable and at home. Soft touches include things like comfortable chairs and couches, softer lights, or a more relaxing paint color. As long as you don’t go overboard and make your office the perfect place to take a nap, you should find that everyone working there is a little more relaxed throughout the day.
Give it Some Life
Another element you can add to your office to improve things is life. By life, we mean things like plants, some natural sunlight, or even a fish tank. Adding plants to any room can help it feel more inviting, while natural sunlight will help your employees stay energized throughout the day. Adding natural light can be difficult, depending on your situation, but if you currently have some dark blinds or curtains, consider replacing them with lighter ones.
Implement Latest Technology
Introducing the latest technology to your office can help things run more smoothly and can make the office more enjoyable, which helps both clients and employees. For example, you can set up some Bluetooth speakers to play background music throughout the day, helping your employees to focus. Or you can install a new security system, which would allow clients to enter with a simple code rather than waiting to get allowed in. Spend some time researching new pieces of technology for your office, then see what might work in your space. A few simple additions can make a big difference and don’t have to cost you a lot.
Go the Extra Mile
When looking to improve your office space, don’t be afraid to go the extra mile. After all, your office is a reflection of both your business and yourself, so you want to make it as great as possible. For example, rather than settling for some discount chairs in your waiting area, get some high-quality ones that are more comfortable and will last longer. Hang up some nice artwork around the office to make it look more appealing or spend a little extra on that wooden conference table. These investments now will pay off in the long run as you’re able to retain more clients and raise your employee retention rate as well.
Ask for Feedback
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Ask your employees what you could do to improve your office space, or talk to your clients about what they would like to see. They may have suggestions for things you hadn’t thought of which could significantly improve their experience. Getting feedback could be as simple as asking your employees during their scheduled performance reviews, or you could send out a questionnaire. Once you get these suggestions, be sure to implement the good ones, as this will show your clients and employees that you take their feedback seriously.
