For many Americans, the economic recession has dimmed their outlook on the future. Constant reports of increasing unemployment, fewer hours available at jobs and lower wages offered by employers have contributed to a more pessimistic view of their own prospects. Regardless of whether a company is prospering or struggling to stay afloat, this pessimism can have a real impact on the engagement levels of employees and the output of a business.
Ron McMillan, an author and expert in the field of employment engagement, told The Chicago Tribune that now more than ever, employers need to take an active role in creating a more uplifting workplace. Communication is pivotal to that goal, and companies need to make employees feel free to voice concerns and take ownership of their work if they want their businesses to succeed.
“There's a really compelling business reason to make a positive workplace environment,” McMillan noted. “These aren't just nice things to do. They're very practical, and in fact imperative in today's environment where you have to share information, you have to come up with new ideas.”
The importance of proximity
One strategy business owners can use to bolster employee productivity is rearranging the office. McMillan suggests that physical proximity can have a big impact on the engagement people feel with their coworkers. By grouping people up, entrepreneurs may be able to create a better feeling of camaraderie, thereby improving productivity.
In a big company with multiple floors, business owners could consider moving all employees to a single floor while placing recreation rooms and meeting halls on the subsequent floors. Of course, it's important not to cram everyone on top of each other either – a healthy balance of proximity needs to be observed, he adds.
“The physical proximity you have to the people you need to touch base with to do your job is important,” McMillan said. “We've found having people working on different floors dramatically reduces interactions. A person might feel less contacted, feel less involved and they often report much lower satisfaction.”
The principles of Kaizen need to involve everyone, from employees to executives, and improving worker sentiment is one way to improve production throughout the company.