What comes to mind when you think about your company?
When it comes to a positive work environment, a first impression is everything. Fifty-five percent (55%) of first impressions are based on overall appearance. People decide whether or not they like you, and will do business with you, within ten seconds of a first encounter. This first impression not only focuses on the person, but your office space as well. With that in mind, what is your business saying to your customers, employees, vendors, or more importantly . . . You?
More time is spent WORKING; yet most people don’t take the time and effort to evaluate the business as a whole and learn how to get more bang for your buck.
Positive Work Environment; Five Steps to Improving the Bottom Dollar!
Step 1: Ask Questions and Gather Facts
When was the last time your office conducted a 360-degree assessment? For some, assessments are standard, but when day-to-day demands get in the way, nothing is done with the data. This is a way to learn and grow while making decisions based on perception. It’s not always about what you think, but the perception that is left on the minds of your employees and customers. How you portray the assessment is important. Once you gather the facts and ask the questions, then set the change plan in motion.
Step 2: Strategic Thinkers Embrace the Change Plan
Once the questions and facts have been gathered, it’s important to sit down with the information and make a plan for moving forward. What is your motivation for change? Determine your strengths? Address your weaknesses? Analyze the data and plan your direction.
Step 3: Evaluate the Process
What have you been doing for the sake of doing for years? Is it the most effective and efficient way of completing the task? Do you find yourself reinventing the wheel every time? Do you find employees leaving out steps? Develop a flow chart that simplifies and streamlines operations and provides a sense of quality control.
Step 4: Empower Your People
Organizations do best when they support, nurture, and take care of their employees. What happens when the going gets tough, they forego on training, which will cost them a lot more in the long run. Create an effective, cohesive team that is built on trust, accountability and results. What does your culture say about your company? Do you encourage your staff to speak up with suggestions and outside of the box thinking? Do you provide learning opportunities that encourage constant growth?
Step 5: Address the Elephant in the Room
One of the biggest areas overlooked when it comes to increasing the bottom dollar is the work environment. Your space speaks to everyone . . . Employees, customers, vendors and you. Have you walked into a cluttered and stale room with poor lighting and noticed how it made you feel? If so, then you understand that all rooms have ENERGY. When a room makes you feel good, you attach a positive emotion to the people associated with that room? An energized and balanced office will allow you to enjoy the time you spend working, which adds to your quality of life, PRODUCTIVITY, and a positive work environment.
What does the front entry say? When looking at the break room, what does it reveal? Look at the bathrooms, what impressions do you get? What do the individual offices disclose?
Your environment has a direct correlation on how your business is going! If you want a thriving and prosperous business, don’t include things in your office that say cluttered, cheap, or broke.
Learn more about how to organize your work flow, processes, and more with the Balance & Harmony topics and links below!
Author, Trainer, Life Organizer®
Melinda Smith, CPO® organizes and executes action plans, training, and consulting. Great referrals are business owners, executives, and companies looking for sustainable change. Above all, she can help create a more productive work, a happy home, and a prosperous you.
Especially relevant is the fact that Melinda has worked with companies and individuals for over 20 years. Conducting workshops across the East Coast, they include over 60 cities in 19 states. Equally important focus topics include Strategic Thinking, Teambuilding, and Organization. As well as Balance Strategies, Stress Management, and Embracing Change.
After all, Melinda was one of the first 200 in the nation to achieve a Certified Professional Organizer status. In addition, she is also a graduate of the Western School of Feng Shui (pronounced feng shway).
Melinda has owned Balance & Harmony 360², Inc., since 2003. She is also the author of The Complete Guide for Balance & Harmony OWL Kit. In addition, this kit consists of a book, workbook, and F.O.C.U.S. Journal as well as five products to help organize Work, Home, and You.
Melinda’s training, books, consulting, advising, and speaking options, as well as where to purchase, visit:
Website: www.balanceharmony.com
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