When facing the relentless competition that comes with being a small business, how can you be sure that your business will really thrive? The answer may lie in what your work environment is like. Sure, your company may have its head above water in terms of profits, but do your employees actually enjoy coming to work? An improvement to your company’s work environment might be just what your business needs to take you to the next level of productivity and efficiency. Here are three ways you can start to invest in a better work environment:
Make Sure Your Data is Secure
No matter what industry you are working in, digital security and efficiency should be a priority. The various sensitive documents and financial records that are shared within your office must be protected and a weak security system can leave them vulnerable. That being said, one of the most important assets to your work environment is a quality IT staff. Their work may often go unnoticed, but it will guarantee that your network is operating the way it should.
Data transmission and storage security are imperative in modern enterprise. Experiencing a major security breach can be a huge cost to your company, in terms of both revenue and reputation. A reliable IT department will make sure you don’t have to worry about these aspects of your business.
Implement a Co-Working Space
For a business to be able to thrive and grow, especially if it is a small company, having a good company culture is incredibly important. It is no surprise that the productivity of your employees can be largely tied to how comfortable and connected they feel in the workplace. One of the ways that you can strengthen employee connection within the workplace is by implementing a co-work space. Co-working spaces are on the rise: estimates claim that there will be over 6,200 U.S. coworking spaces by 2022.
Some companies may allow workers to visit a designated offsite co-working space, or simply implement one within the office itself. This kind of adjustment can work wonders for the overall atmosphere and attitude of your workplace, and in turn, improve the quality and pace of work. It may even help maximize efficiency within your business, as a co-work space would make communication more open and free-flowing, cutting down on some of the time it may normally take to get in touch with colleagues.
Promote Mental and Emotional Health
Unfortunately, a working condition that often gets overlooked by many corporate environments is the mental health of its employees. Though it may not seem directly related to the overall performance and profit of your company, the mental and emotional health of your employees is essential for building a sustainable workplace. People’s willingness to share may vary, but it is likely that many employees are dealing with various conditions or difficulties that can affect their ability to focus on work. ADHD, for instance, isn’t just a childhood disorder. About 4% of American adults over the age of 18 deal with ADHD on a daily basis.
Putting in the effort to ensure that your employees are receiving the support they need, both in and out of work, will benefit your working environment. Checking in with everyone individually to make sure that they are taken care of physically, emotionally, and mentally can be a very valuable practice. For the sake of your workplace, consider creating the type of environment where everyone feels like they can share about themselves and how they are feeling in whatever way they are comfortable.
While your company’s sales may normally be of top priority, it’s important to know the other areas of your business that are worth investing in. One of the best ways to make sure that your company will stay secure, productive, and sustainable is by creating a high-quality work environment. You’ll see great improvements in your company’s performance and morale when you can guarantee that your employees will genuinely enjoy coming to work.
“Devin is a writer and an avid reader. When she isn’t lost in a book or writing, she’s busy in the kitchen trying to perfect her slow cooker recipes. You can find her poetry published in The Adirondack Review and Cartridge Lit.”