It’s a well-known fact that our working environments have an impact on how much we’re able to get done. Those who have studied an office administration course and are in the profession of office management will know first-hand that not all office spaces promote the same levels of productivity. Whether your tasks are related to basic accounting or marketing, your work set up matters. Here’s why.
Your environment sets the tone for your day
Whilst we all prefer to work in a certain way, our office or work stations start things off for us each day. This can go in either direction. If you view your office environment as a place of inspiration and happiness, you’ll be more likely to get things done. Should you feel negative, claustrophobic or anxious when you’re at work, it’s no surprise that you won’t achieve much in a day. Those studying an office administration course will know just how much goes into a business setting. This makes the effectiveness of a workspace something that should be considered in detail.
An open plan leads to greater collaboration but also distraction
Most people tend to favour an open-plan setting in which they can see and communicate with others in the office. Whilst this is great for building friendships and sharing ideas, productivity is sometimes slowed due to chatting and socialising. What’s more, is that those who prefer to work is silence are often hindered by the commotion going on around them. People are also more likely to fall ill and take sick days due to the spreading of germs in an open office environment.
Then there are those who prefer the closed, cubicle.
Some of us might prefer to work in a more peaceful and uninterrupted environment. This makes a more traditional cubicle or closed office setting better suited for those who come to work to do just that, work. Generally, those who prefer this option are normally in high-pressure jobs with tasks that require undivided attention and complete focus. This includes the likes of web developers, bookkeepers and even IT professionals. There is also said to be a greater sense of ownership over one’s position and responsibilities when they have their own designated space that isn’t shared with lots of other employees. This, in itself, is something that yields greater productivity. Although one downside of this set up is that it can be hard to manage and monitor employees who are closed off in their own sections of the office.
It all comes down to you and the way you prefer to work
Whilst many choose to attribute their productivity or lack thereof, to their workspace, the truth is that it’s up to us to make the most of our office environments. By having a good base of theoretical knowledge and highly employable skills, we’re more likely to get things done and stand out whilst doing it. At The IIE's Varsity College Part-Time, an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), we’re focused on how the right blend of industry-relevant knowledge and skills can open up a host of opportunities. To learn more about what the IIE Short Learning Programme in Office Administration entails, please contact The IIE's Varsity College Part-Time.