Michael Levitt's Blog, page 18

How To Create the Office Space of Your Dreams: A Guide on From Design to Functionality

Photo courtesy of Unsplash

Corporate spaces have evolved dramatically over the past few years. The typical hard desk and fluorescent-lit office are no longer what employees expect from their office space. Instead, people now demand more from their offices, which means businesses are accommodating by providing better amenities, layout, and even design. With that in mind, here’s a quick guide on creating the office space of your dreams. If you work in an office or plan on renting one soon, ensuring your workspace meets all of your needs can be challenging. You might not have the budget for a top-grade designer or architect just yet, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take steps in the right direction to make your workplace more comfortable.

Be Transparent About Your Office’s Purpose

Before designing anything, you should consider the room’s purpose and the people who will be using it. The first and most important thing to ask yourself is, “Why do people need to be in the office at all?” If your team members are all located in one central location, it might make sense. If you have a remote team, it might not. If you’re working with a mix of both, you’ll want to consider a few things. Do you need to create a space that facilitates face-to-face interaction? Or will video conferencing work just as well? What about one-on-one conversations? How important is it for people to be in the same room together? Do you have certain employees who would benefit from the tranquility of a private office? If you have a remote team, you’ll want to consider things like noise cancellation and the ability to block out light when necessary to create a better working environment.

Establish a Culture of Collaboration

One of the best things about an office is the ability to collaborate with others who share your passion and interests. When you don’t have to commute, you spend more time focusing on your work and less commuting. When designing your office space, try to incorporate features that encourage collaboration. For example, if you have a central table, it can be an excellent place for employees to work together on projects. If you don’t have a table in your office, you can always request one from your landlord or building manager. Another great way to engage your employees is to incorporate a lounge area with comfortable furniture. This can be a great place to take breaks, have impromptu meetings, or simply relax and socialize.

Assign Workspaces Based on Team and Activity

Depending on your team, you might want specific groups to be in close proximity or have their own space. For example, you might have a design or engineering team who needs lots of quiet time to focus, while you have a sales team who needs a central place to congregate. For example, if you have a design team, it might make sense to have them close together so they can easily collaborate. Additionally, if you have a sales team, you might want them to be in one central place where they can easily interact with each other and other employees.

Add in Natural Light and Fresh Air

When designing your office, it’s essential to ensure there is plenty of natural light from outside. The amount of light your office receives can significantly affect both your productivity and general mood. In fact, studies estimate that lack of natural light in the workplace can cost your business up to $2,000 per employee annually in terms of health-related issues like fatigue, stress, headaches, and mood disorders. Fresh air is just as important as natural light when it comes to creating a well-made office. In fact, it may be even more critical, as indoor air pollution has been linked to various health problems. As tempting as it may be to seal off your office and block out the noise from outside, you’ll want to resist this urge. Instead, you can use things like noise cancellation to create a quiet space in your office while still allowing plenty of light to come in. For privacy’s sake, however, you’ll want to make sure that the windows to your office don’t let people outside look in. You might want to consider options such as commercial window tinting to give your entire building’s windows privacy screens.

Make Sure There’s Plenty of Space to Move Around

While you want to ensure your office has plenty of light and fresh air, you don’t want it to be too open. You don’t want to sacrifice privacy, and you also don’t want to make it difficult for employees to move around the office. When designing your office, you want to make sure there are plenty of nooks and crannies where employees can have private conversations. You also want to make sure there’s plenty of room to walk around and that you have enough pathways between offices and rooms to make it easy for employees to get around, so there aren’t any potential safety hazards.

Incorporate Technology That Supports Productivity

Depending on your industry, you may want to consider incorporating some new technologies into your office. For example, if you work in the creative industry, having a projector in your office can help you share your visuals with employees and clients. Or, if you work in an industry where employees need to take notes, you might want to consider investing in a whiteboard that can be written on via a tablet or smartphone. If you work in a construction company, you might also want to consider installing a conference table that doubles as a whiteboard. This way, you can host meetings and take notes on the table itself rather than having to write on paper or on a wall.

Bottom Line

If you’re just starting your business, don’t worry too much about the specifics of your office layout. Instead, start small and grow your office as you hire more employees. For now, focus on ensuring your employees have a comfortable workspace. If you have an open office, provide plenty of places where people can have privacy. This can be as simple as creating a nook or corner with chairs or adding plants and greenery to brighten up the room. That being said, when it’s time to expand, you can consult with a designer or architect to help you finalize a plan for your business. The most important thing when designing your office is to make sure your employees are comfortable and happy.

The Best Places To Put Your Business Signs

Businesses aren’t uncertain of the best sign materials to use; they're more concerned with where the signs should go. For example, companies traditionally hang their business signs above their store, office, or warehouse building. However, that's not the only place to put them. Other places might work better.

On the Property's Lot

The location of your business’s logo matters a lot. Any person who drives by should be able to clearly see your company's name, especially if they're currently looking for your product or service.

Having the sign face out on the property's lot gives onlookers a chance to see your company's nameplate. When people notice the signage, they're more likely to remember the name and come in to shop or book an appointment.

Also, having the sign near the actual property's lot gives onlookers a better way of knowing the exact location. If there's a sign on a lot but no building, it can lead to confusion. And no customers will want to try and hunt your store down. Placing it on the lot grants others the choice to come in and learn more about your services and products.

On a Door or Window

If you have other signs, such as promotional ones, you should hang those on the door or windows of your establishment. Having them in these two places causes passersby to stop so that they can see what's on sale or learn more about your company.

One of the things to ask before hiring a sign-making company is what the location requirements are in your area. Sign manufacturers spend time making signs to fit in areas that meet building codes and regulations. For example, your display case could host a big poster advertising a sale, but it has to meet height requirements.

Along Walls

It's essential not to go too crazy with plastering the company's name on every inch of your store. Instead, use other sign designs that inspire customers to buy. If you have a clearance section, make it more fun by creating a slogan that makes others excited to find bargains.

Near the Bathrooms

Sometimes, you need signs to showcase other areas of the store, such as the bathroom. No one wants to have a scavenger hunt when trying to find the restroom. Make sure there are signs around to show the bathroom locations.

By the Registers

It can be hard to coordinate a line structure for the registers. In other words, it's difficult setting up an area for customers to stand in. Instead of letting them stand haphazardly, put up signposts to show where the line starts.

Instead of finding the best place to put your store's signs yourself, bring in your team to find areas that work best, especially near the entrances and exits. Customers love when companies post signs that are visible to everyone. Up your promotional tactics by finding the most significant areas to put your business's signs.

The 5 Ways To Build A Community Your Customers Want To Buy Into

Image by Belle Co via Pexels

When it comes to building a brand, there are so many things to consider. How do you create something people trust and want to learn more about? How do you build a community so people feel connected and interested in what you offer? How do you make your audience fall in love with your brand? These are all questions that come up when establishing a new company. But for many business owners, the answers can seem elusive. 

Whether you’re launching a new business or looking to refresh an existing one, these tips will help you attract customers and grow your company.

Create Content That Educates

Connecting with customers is all about marketing and brand awareness. And a big part of building a thriving online community is creating content people want to read. This can include anything from blog posts to podcasts, but the focus should always be on educating your readers. If your content is not valuable or helpful, there’s no way that people will want to read it, share it, or connect with you. You can also consider launching a podcast that connects with your audience on a deeper level. Podcasting is an excellent opportunity to provide highly relevant content to your customers’ needs. Use your podcast to your advantage by sharing links to your online store or website.

Be Transparent

Another way to build a thriving online community is by being transparent about your brand. Being honest about your products, services, company culture, and the team can help earn your audience’s trust. This can include sharing information about your business model, as well as your pricing and payment terms. On top of that, you can use content to showcase your team members and give customers a better idea of who is behind the brand. This can come in the form of interviews or Q&As with your employees or company-wide memos that provide more insight into the company. Being transparent can lead to a more positive customer experience, earning loyal and long-term customers.

Hold Events That Matter To Your Community

Another way to build a thriving online community is by hosting events that matter to your community. This can include things like meetups and workshops, as well as hosting webinars or online seminars. Hosting events can be a great way to connect with your audience and really help them get to know you on a deeper level. It can also be a way for you to earn new leads, drive sales, and expand your brand. And make sure to promote it appropriately. This can include sharing it on your social media platforms and sending an invite to your email list. 

Be Authentic In Everything You Do

Another way to build a thriving online community is by being authentic in everything you do. This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s important to remember that your customers can sense when you’re not being genuine. This can include everything from the imagery you use for your brand to the content you share online. If you’re not being authentic, it can be easy for your customers to see right through you and spot a fake a mile away. On top of that, building a thriving online community can be difficult if you’re not even being authentic with yourself. Just remember, it’s easy to spot a fake. Be genuine in everything you do, and you can help build a thriving community around your brand.

Buy Into Merchandise

Finally, another way to build a thriving online community is by investing in merchandise your customers can connect with. This includes t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and other branded swag. When creating Branded Merch, use imagery and branding relevant to your customers. On top of that, keep your prices reasonable so everyone can get their hands on some swag. Finally, always share it on your social media channels when selling online. This is a great way to drive new traffic to your online store and help build a thriving online community around your brand.

Helping Your Employees To Develop A Positive Mental Attitude At Work

Image Credit - CCO License

If you are keen for your employees to work hard and to get as much done as possible at work, then one thing you will want to pay attention to is their mental attitude. In particular, you are going to find that it is pretty important that they have the most positive mental attitude possible, which is something that it is always possible to work on if you know how. In this post, we are going to discuss some of the things you can do to help your employees to develop a positive mental attitude in the workplace and towards work.

Boost Morale

One of the best ways in which you can help your employees to develop a positive attitude is by boosting the morale in the workplace in general. In fact, this is one of those things that work as a kind of virtuous cycle; as long as the morale is high, the mental attitude of everyone involved is going to be better, and that will make it easier to keep morale high. So think of whatever ways you can to really boost morale, and you will find that this helps a great deal with the attitude everyone has.

Host Workshops

There are many great reasons why you might want to have workshops in the workplace every now and then, and it’s important that you are going to do everything you can to keep these workshops as regular as you need them to be. There are actually many types of workshops which might prove to be especially important, such as corporate workshops where you get a hypnotherapist in to help them with their mental attitude. This is becoming a pretty popular thing to do, and with good reason, as the results can be profound.

Treat Them Fairly

Your employees obviously deserve fair treatment, and it’s vital that you are doing all you can to make sure this is happening each and every day in the workplace. If you are treating them fairly, they are going to find it a lot easier to develop and adopt a positive mental attitude and to keep that mental attitude in place too, so this is really worth thinking about. Make sure that everyone is treated fairly and equally, and all else will fall into place much more easily. This is a vital approach that you should always be careful to adopt.

Create A Positive Environment

Of course, the more positive the environment is, the easier it will be for your employees to feel positive as well, so it’s important to make sure that you are creating the most positive environment you can. There are a lot of ways that you might be able to do this, and the main thing is that you are doing so regularly and without trouble. If you can do that, you are going to find that your employees are going to have a much better time in their approach to work in general, which is always going to help.

How to Rent Commercial Space

Photo by David

Are you getting ready to rent commercial space? If you are, then there are some things you need to bear in mind to make sure that you are renting the right commercial space for your needs. 

A good commercial space will ensure that you and your employees are comfortable. It should also be safe and secure. However, these are just a few other things you should keep in mind. 

If you are considering renting a commercial space, here are some tips to help you make the right decision.

What Do You Need?

The first step in finding the right commercial building for your needs is to understand what you need. When you are in tune with your needs it will make it easier for you to find the right commercial space.

If your business is growing rapidly or you expect that it will, then you need to think about that ahead of time. Renting a commercial space and then having your business expand may mean that you have to move the business if the space isn't big enough. 

Consider the sections your office will need space for. Make sure that the square footage of the space you are thinking about leasing can accommodate it. 

Consider the location as well, you want to make sure that it is right for your business. If you are currently at another location you should think about whether or not office moving will be extremely difficult.

Ask for Help

If you have no idea how to go about finding the right commercial property for your needs, get advice from others who have been in business for a long time. 

This is especially useful if you are a new business. You should also discuss with your financial advisor or your banker what you plan to do. They will be able to advise you whether or not you are making a good decision about the price you are paying to rent the commercial space. 

It may be that you need to consider getting a smaller space, or find a different location, or maybe you need to think about buying a commercial space instead.

Negotiate a Good Deal

Once you have found an office space that looks like it may be right for you. Do not just sign off on the contract without first trying to see if you can negotiate better terms for your lease. 

Don't just assume that you have to accept what is presented before you. You can politely ask for any specific terms or conditions that you think would be beneficial to you and your business.

Find the Right Space

Finding the right commercial space to rent is extremely important. The location is something that you need to seriously consider as well as the terms of the lease. 

You need to make sure that you are financially capable of paying for your lease over the period that is given to you. Think about the needs of your business before signing off on any contract as well. If you are in doubt, always ask a professional to assist you so that you can make the right choices.

4 Tips To Better Manage Your Small Business’s Finances

Source

Being a small business owner can be very stressful, even more than you would expect. It’s generally quite overwhelming to run your own business when you’ve had no prior experience, and not everyone has the skills to do it right off of the bat. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that you’re not the only business owner who is struggling to stay on top of things. There are a lot of tips you can make use of to make it easier on yourself and stay on top of what’s important.

If you struggle to manage your finances, then you’re going to find yourself in the negatives very quickly.

Keep your accounts separate

First of all, no matter how small your business is, you want to make sure that you’re not using your personal accounts to collect payments. Your business should have its own account so that you can better keep track of what you’re spending on your business, as well as how much you’re earning.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t claim any of the profits for yourself, but it’s better to have it all in one place before you start looking at how much you can claim for yourself. The reason for this is, that you want to make sure you’ve covered all of your payments before you set aside what’s left for you. It will be much easier to see how profitable your business is currently this way.

Log everything

Simply having all of your money in one place isn’t going to solve all of your problems, and it will help you greatly if you knew what the money was for, and where it has come from. Logging all of your transactions in detail will help you to create an accurate cash flow forecast, which is beneficial to every business, big and small.

Make use of helpful tools

You don’t need to handle your finances all on your own, and there are applications and tools you can use to make the process much easier and simpler for you. For example, Merchant Cash Advance can be a useful tool for quickly processing your money and making it available to you sooner - which is often very beneficial when you have payments coming up that you need to make.

It’s better to use tools like this when managing money, as you’ll find that you get much more accurate readings of your earnings. Human error can be very troublesome if you’re trying to accurately manage your finances. 

Prioritize payments

Your prioritization skills are important when managing your money, as they will allow you to operate your business without any complications. If you can properly prioritize which payments you need to take care of first, you can avoid putting your business in hot water early on. You might even find yourself cutting out your own personal profits for some months to pay off certain bills, but it will be worth it if you can create a more successful business as a result.

4 Ways to Improve Communication and Employee Satisfaction at Work

Source: Image credit

Today's workplace is more collaborative, virtual, and flexible than ever. As a result, employees often report feeling happier and more fulfilled at work than in previous decades. But that doesn't mean the modern office is drama-free—or perfect. Many workplaces struggle with communication and employee satisfaction. If your employees seem unenthused or disconnected at work, it's time to take action to improve communication and boost employee satisfaction. These strategies will help you create a more productive and inspired team excited to come to work every day. Read on for more details about each of these three tips for improving communication and employee satisfaction at work:

Always explain the why

Any time you make a decision or give feedback, always explain the why. This simple action can make a huge difference in employees' engagement and satisfaction with the company and their feelings about their manager. If you can't explain why you made a particular decision or scheduled an important meeting at a specific time, your employees will likely feel that you don't care about their needs. If you feel compelled to decide but don't know why it's better to hold off on making the decision. You may come up with your reasons later, or you may decide the issue is not worth addressing at all. No matter what, if you can't explain the why behind your decision, you'll create an environment of resentment and dissatisfaction among your team.

Encourage feedback and act on it.

Many employees want to feel like their feedback is heard and valued. If you encourage your team members to give feedback, they're more likely to feel engaged and satisfied at work. This is especially true if you follow through and act on their feedback. In many workplaces, managers and HR leaders encourage employees to give feedback about job satisfaction, processes, and more. But many times, the conversation stops there. 

That's a missed opportunity—and a sign that your company isn't truly committed to improving communication or boosting employee satisfaction. If you genuinely want to receive and act on feedback, do more than acknowledge receipt. Review feedback and make changes where necessary. Be sure to keep track of which feedback you receive and when. This will help you track progress and ensure you follow up with employees who have given feedback in the past.

Use digital signage to convey important messaging or employee updates.

Many companies have made the shift to a more digital workplace. But not all companies have fully jumped on the digital signage trend. This is a mistake, especially if you want to improve communication and boost employee satisfaction at work. You can use digital signage and business tv to send various messages to employees. 

This can include important safety information, dates and times, training reminders, upcoming events, and more. Digital signage is beneficial for large companies with offices across different locations. It allows you to share important information with employees in each location, even if you're not in the same office.

Take the time to listen.

Finally, you can improve communication and boost employee satisfaction by taking the time to listen to your employees. When was the last time you truly heard your employees? If you can't remember, it's time to change that. Take time to sit down with your team members and truly listen to what they say. It's that simple, but it will make a massive difference in the engagement and satisfaction of your workers. 

Communication is a two-way street; rarely does one person have all the answers. You'll create a more open and productive work environment by taking the time to truly listen to your employees' ideas, feedback, and concerns.

How to Help Young Students Through Difficult Times

Source: @neonbrand

According to recent research, one in five teens between the ages of twelve and eighteen suffer from at least one diagnosed mental illness. 

Conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems are all becoming much more widespread among young people as the mental health crisis continues to grow in the United States. 

If you are a parent or already work closely with children, then you will be understandably worried about this alarming trend. You may have already witnessed first-hand the devastating effects these illnesses can have on young people. So, how can you help young students who are going through difficult times, either at school or at home? 

Read on to find out. 

Notice the signs that a child may be struggling

The first thing you can do to help is to notice the signs that someone may be struggling. Look out for:

Inconsistent attendance

Lack of interest in schools or friends

Sudden change in attitude 

Negative relationships with teachers

Low literacy or numeracy skills

If you spot any of these signs, you should make sure to speak to them or mention this to someone that the child will trust and who may be able to help, such as a counselor, teacher, parent, or whoever can help the child move forward. 

Nominate a person of trust

If you have identified a student as vulnerable, the first action afterward is to nominate a person of trust within the establishment to look out for them and offer support. 

Ideally, you want to select a member of staff who the student already has a strong connection with so that they feel comfortable talking and sharing with them. This person will then be their “go-to” for times of emotional stress or when they feel overwhelmed. 

Become a school psychologist

For those that really want to make a difference in the lives of students who are experiencing difficult times, you may want to consider getting a School Psychology Credential. 

Once qualified as a school psychologist, you will be able to play a vital role in the lives of vulnerable children throughout their school years and actively help them to navigate these challenging times. These types of degree programs can be carried out while you continue to work and can be completed in as little as 3 years. With this kind of degree, you could help not just students but teachers who feel overwhelmed too. Be there for all those that are within the school environment and ensure that you are helping to make it a positive place. 

Create a calm space 

Sometimes vulnerable students need somewhere to go where they can feel safe and comfortable, especially during times of stress or anxiety. This is particularly important if the child in question tends to lash out or become physical when they experience difficulties. 

You must make it clear that this calm space is not a punishment but simply somewhere for them to go and regain control of their feelings and actions. Depending on the age of the student, this could be a room outside of the classroom or in a quiet corner. 

Establish boundaries

When dealing with vulnerable children, it is essential that you set clear boundaries. Many at-risk students will not have any boundaries at home, or they will have excessively strict ones, both of which make having them at school even more important. 

Aim to set consistent and firm boundaries so that the students know what to expect and what is expected of them but try to ensure that these boundaries make the child feel safe and supported. 

It can become all too easy to grow attached to a vulnerable child or teen, but you must remain professional at all times. 

Eco-Friendly Initiatives That Also Help Office Productivity

Making your workplace greener is excellent for the environment, reduces your monthly energy bills, and promotes collaboration in the office. Consider these eco-friendly initiatives that will make your office greener and help productivity.

More Natural Light

The best way to reduce your electric bill is to introduce more natural light into the office. It’s the most eco-friendly lighting solution, so keep your windows open as much as possible or consider adding more to brighten up the office.

Natural light is not only energy-efficient but a natural mood booster. After all, no one likes to sit under harsh fluorescent lighting all day. Introduce more natural illumination, and you’ll notice a happier workforce and a more productive office.

Go Paperless

If your office still uses an old filing system with reams and stacks of paper, it’s time to switch to paperless. Your business will benefit from going paperless by cutting down on wasted paper and improving communication and efficiency.

With digital files, employees can instantly find documents they’re looking for at the click of a button, rather than combing through file cabinets and shelves. Plus, it makes communication through digital channels and intra-office networks much simpler.

Introduce Monthly Eco-Friendly Challenges

One of the easiest ways to get the office excited about eco-friendly initiatives is to turn it into a competition or challenge. Many workplaces introduce green challenges for the office and a points system that rewards the entire office, departments, or individuals.

Some examples of green challenges for employees include:

Going the whole month without using plastic utensils

Commuting to work via bike or public transport

Starting a compost pile at work

Bringing old electronics into work to recycle e-waste properly

These challenges bring a collaborative spirit to the office, which helps foster better relationships, enhances communication, and leads to a more productive and healthy office environment.

Create a Green Office Task Force

Coming up with all these initiatives and tracking their progress can be a lot for one person, so consider creating a green office task force with some of your most enthusiastic employees. They can take care of monthly challenges and develop new green initiatives for the office to follow.

A dedicated green group lets the rest of the office focus on their work more and not get bogged down with the details and particulars of green initiatives—this allows the office to be more efficient without losing productivity!

Most businesses believe that going green means sacrificing in other areas, but as you can see, there are numerous eco-friendly initiatives offices can adopt that make their workplace more efficient and more productive.

Tips for Controlling Humidity in the Office

Maintaining a comfortable workplace is essential for successful businesses. People who feel their best work their best, increasing productivity and improving your operations.

Nobody wants to work in a stuffy environment. If you’re struggling with a moisture problem, take some steps to refresh your workspace. These tips for controlling humidity in the office will help cultivate a pleasant and productive atmosphere.

Upgrade Your HVAC System

The first thing you should do to improve your indoor humidity levels is to upgrade your HVAC system. If your employees complain about feeling sticky and uncomfortable, fixing your units could be your solution.

Stuffy interiors are a major sign your HVAC system is weak. Perform regular maintenance checks on yours to ensure they’re working correctly. Your HVAC system should cool your space and remove excess moisture, so opt for a newer model if yours isn’t getting the job done.

Reduce Indoor Moisture

Wetness of any kind can make humidity levels in your workplace unbearable. Reduce indoor moisture as soon as it occurs to keep conditions cool and prevent mold or mildew growth.

Make sure all bathrooms and office kitchens have plenty of ventilation. These areas see the most moisture and can get unpleasant quickly. If carpets, walls, and other large spaces get soaked, dry the site as soon as possible to get humidity under control.

Check for Building Damage

Sometimes, moisture sneaks in from the outside. It’s easy for humidity levels to rise if your office building has structural damage. Inspect the building envelope and check for any signs of wear and tear.

You’ll want to seal any cracks or leaks that allow moisture to enter and cool air to escape. It’s also wise to check your pipes to ensure water doesn’t seep into places it’s not supposed to. This tip for controlling humidity in the office won’t just improve your indoor conditions but will also make your building look more inviting.

Install a Dehumidifier

Finally, installing a dehumidifier will zap away any moisture you can’t control if all else fails. Experts design these devices to reduce humidity and do all the hard work for you.

If your problems are specific to one area, you might be able to get away with a small room dehumidifier. However, offices with an overwhelming humidity issue should consider implementing a whole-structure dehumidifier to take care of the entire space.

Reducing humidity levels doesn’t only enhance employee comfort; it also helps you avoid ugly structural damage that’s expensive to repair. Use these tips to improve your work environment and make some necessary changes.