• Corporate ,
• Tags: increase productivity, noisy office, office, open concept office, productivity, productivity fails, sound masking
• 20 Aug

So… what do you see killing the productivity in your office?

There are many, many things that can tank office productivity. One of the big ones that many (especially with open concept offices) complain about, is NOISE.

Constant noise will not only affect mood (which, will definitely affect your productivity), but it also serves as a constant distraction. There is consistently something else going on, and other noises butting in as you’re trying to focus. According to one article by The Sydney Morning Herald, “The open-plan office, with its lack of offices, partitions and other noise-absorbing devices, is the main culprit in the war on noise. But there’s more to office noise than open-plan format. Consider hot-desking, that awful trend where staff no longer have a permanent desk and change work spaces frequently. ” as well as “Changing work practices are another factor. In many professions, most work these days is by phone or email, and less on the road, because of time and cost pressures. That means extra people at work and greater office noise and distraction.”

So… what are the options? Some of the simplest solutions are more flexibility to work from home when needed, occasional meetings outside the office, better grouping of noisy employees (within reason), and better acoustical enclosures for noisy equipment. But, what if this isn’t an option for your space?  Another solution that’s working for many places yearning for the quiet, and some privacy is sound masking. It’s an easier install than construction, and highly effective at neutralizing the noises that are breaking into employees concentration.

So, what else besides noise is ruining office productivity?

Even though one Forbes article reiterated that “a majority of U.S. employees (61%) agree that loud colleagues are the biggest office distraction”, there are also other culprits adding to office distractions.

“As it turns out, telecommuting, group projects, impromptu meetings, cubicles, sitting next to the boss, and face-to-face interactions are other big culprits.”

One of the most surprising in this list is telecommuting. What could be better than being at home while you’re working? Problem is, for most of us working from home comes with it’s own unintended distractions (pets, kids, roommates, Netflix… all your personal favorite activities at your fingertips, etc.)

An intriguing one, sitting by the boss! But, “the survey revealed that more than a third of those who have a boss said sitting and working alongside a higher-up can kill productivity. In fact, 38% would rather do “unpleasant activities,” such as opt for more work, sit next to someone who eats loudly, or take on a longer commute, than sit next to their boss.”

So, beyond shutting down some of these productivity killers… what else helps boost the productivity in an office?

According to a Forbes article, green offices are actually more productive! Plants not only effect air quality (and probably health), but the researchers found that “when we work in green-certified offices, we get a 26% boost in cognition, and 30% fewer sickness related absences. What’s more, respondents also reported a 6% rise in their sleep quality.”

Also, and Inc. article , put together a very handy list of many things that would help the majority of us with productivity. Some are well known items to keep top of mind – Take regular breaks, Set self-imposed deadlines, Quit multitasking, Track and limit how much time you’re spending on tasks, etc.

It also has interesting ones such as “two-minute rule.” “Entrepreneur Steve Olenski recommends implementing the “two-minute rule” to make the most of small windows of time that you have at work. The idea is this: If you see a task or action that you know can be done in two minutes or less, do it immediately. According to Olenski, completing the task right away actually takes less time than having to get back to it later. Implementing this has made him one of the most influential content strategists online.”

Also, work in 90 min intervals. Once those 2 minute tasks are all knocked off your list, figure out your next priority and set a timer for 90 min. This could easily be combined with tracking your time, and turning off notifications, and not multi-tasking. “Researchers at Florida State University have found elite performers (athletes, chess players, musicians, etc.) who work in intervals of no more than 90 minutes are more productive than those who work 90 minutes-plus.”

Another one that could turn into a fan favorite – SAY NO TO MEETINGS. According to the article”the average office worker spends over 31 hours each month in unproductive meetings. Before booking your next meeting, ask yourself whether you can accomplish the same goals or tasks via email, phone, or Web-based meeting (which may be slightly more productive).”

If you’re having a hard time being consistently productive, see if trying some of these out works for you.

Have questions on sound masking? Contact Us!

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Note: While Ten10 Technology has tried to be as informative as possible and link to factual information, it is always encouraged to double check facts and perform your own research.