3 Scientifically Proven Ways to Improve Office Productivity

Social media, life’s ups and downs, lack of sleep, health, and countless other factors get in the way of productivity in the office. However, science proves there are some factors you have control over that can go a long way in improving employee morale and productivity. Here at Emagispace, we specialize in helping business owners quickly and affordably make crucial adjustments to the workplace. You can combine our design products and these science-backed methods to reach new heights this year.

1.     Incorporate employee artwork into your everyday life.

A study published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology found that participants were more likely to remember and complete items off a “To Do List” if they drew a picture of it. It takes a little more time, but the combination of semantic, visual, tactile, and motor skills reinforces the information.

For this reason, the blackboard wall finishing option is one of the more popular choices. Creative companies encourage employees to draw their ideas and notes to others on the wall to make the space more dynamic.

2.     Focus on one project at a time.

Today’s society places a high value on multitasking, but the truth is: we’re not very good at it! Stanford University researchers concluded that “people who multitask do not pay attention, control their memory, or switch from one job to another as well as those who prefer to complete one task at a time.”

Emagispace privacy pods make it easier for individuals to focus on the task at hand by providing a quiet place, tucked away from distractions. Coworkers know when their colleague is in “the pod,” it’s a sacred space of productivity where essential work must be accomplished. Forget sending your workers to find an empty conference room. These versatile pods on casters can be shifted around the office space as needed.

3.     Choose your colors with care.

The University of Texas found that white walls have the worst impact on productivity. Test subjects made the most errors in a white room. Red is associated with high focus and performance on detail-oriented tasks, while shades of blue and blue-green are most conducive to promoting a calm, creative environment, according to another study by the University of British Columbia.

Emagispace accent walls can add a splash of color anywhere you need it. In addition to different colors, we also offer limitless textures – brick, white shiplap, wainscoting, natural wood, and more. If you dream it, we can build it – as easy as Legos!

4.     Change up your work groups.

Harvard researchers looked at 2,000 employees over a two-year period and found that 10% of a worker’s productivity was directly influenced by the two nearest neighbors. They found the best seating arrangement was to pair people with opposite strengths – such as putting speedy workers next to quality workers — which led to a 13% faster work and 17% fewer unresolved tasks. The spillover effect brought slow workers up to speed and poor quality workers up to task, but did not detract from the best workers’ quality. For NY ad agency MODCo Media, intermingling accountants and media buyers of different skill sets saved the company “a couple hundred thousand dollars a year.” Similarly, Wharton School of Business Management Professor Sigal Barsade said worker dispositions can be contagious. “People literally catch emotions from one another like a virus,” she said. Fortunately, low energy and sluggishness is the least contagious, while a calm, relaxed state is the most contagious. Her research found that people with similar emotional temperaments generally work best together, but it’s also effective to surround stressed-out workers with cheerful, energetic people.

Shifting employee workspaces every few months, changing tasks, and placing different workers side by side is an easy way to increase collaboration and productivity. Emagispace privacy pods and walls allow you to change seating arrangements in one-tenth the time for less than 50% of the cost of traditional interior design.

5.     Reduce ambient noise.

Even low-level office clamor can stress out workers over a three-hour period, research suggests. One study published by Cornell University found high levels of the stress hormone epinephrine among workers exposed to low levels of noise. Typing performance was not affected, but workers made 40 percent fewer attempts to solve a difficult puzzle and half as many ergonomic adjustments as their colleagues in quiet workstations.

The Emagispace Privacy Pod Premium comes with full soundproof insulation and acoustic panels to create an acoustically perfect zone. Workers can slip inside for a phone call, video conference, or independent laptop work. Private ventilation, a dimmable light switch, and an adjustable work surface for maximum comfort. With customizable exterior graphics, PET finishes, and optional back panel windows to allow natural lighting, we provide you with the quiet space you need at a fraction of the price.

Contact Emagispace to learn more about our wide range of productivity-enhancing office products.

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