How To Impress Clients With An Up-To-Date Office Workspace

Image by blupics

“First impressions are everything.”
“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
And so on…

These well-known adages reinforce the importance of creating a positive image of yourself (and business) right from the off. In an increasingly competitive market, you must look as professional as possible to secure business deals – remember: there will always be another company ready to take on a deal you can’t clinch. Transforming your office into a stylish, tidy, and polished space can improve important client relationships no end.

Read on to discover what improvements you can make to your office today and identify just how they can benefit your business.

Your Office as a Reflection of your Mind and Capabilities

Ever heard that saying that a tidy office equals a tidy mind? Walking into a well-organised and professional space is without a doubt the best first impression you can have of a potential business contact. Knowing that you’re capable of maintaining order in your surroundings creates a sense of responsibility and can go some way to reassuring a client you are reliable and will get the job done.

What Do Your Design Choices Say About You?

In terms of the décor, it’s said that less is always more. However, having blank walls with no personality can look very bland and corporate, even suggesting you lack imaginative flair. Conversely, extreme decorations or gaudy colour schemes aren’t going to work in your favour or create a relaxing business environment. Creating a balance of professionalism and creativity could just manage to seal the deal – bear that in mind when choosing your new office scheme.

Show Your Client Just What You Can Do

Having a well-kept workspace is all well and good, but often clients will want proof of your achievements before they contemplate doing business with you. Having displays of your work in your office not only demonstrates your capabilities, but also shows that you take a sense of pride in meeting customers’ needs and expectations – it goes without saying that this can only promote your business image.

Taking (Tolerable) Pride in Your Achievements

Showcasing any awards or accolades you have received over the years is also a good way of reinforcing a sense of trust and professionalism. That said, there is a fine line between being proud of your achievements in a positive sense and being slightly too cocky or distastefully arrogant. Being confident is in no way a negative trait but displaying accolades in such a fashion that you seem a tad showy is not going to reassure a prospective client that you will be easy to work with.

Create the Perfect Business Conference Room

Calm and professional discussions should always be the aim of a meeting; therefore it is essential to incorporate a quiet place for negotiations in your office. Trying to talk business in a hectic environment with employees running here, there, and everywhere is hardly the polished impression you wish to create. Similarly, there should be minimal distractions so that the focus of your potential client remains on you and the task in hand.

Not only can the perfect office space improve client relations but it also provides you with a clutter-free area in which to work in a calm environment – ideal when those everyday stresses start to get you down.

Organise your office and improve your chances of success – what are you waiting for?

Have you noticed that an impressive office has helped with client relations? Would you agree that a tidy workplace is so vital? Share your comments and opinions below!

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source

Jade is an enthusiastic freelance blogger who enjoys writing on topics including travel, languages and the world around her. She writes for Applied Workplace.

 

 

Are Serviced Offices The Best Solution For Your Small Business?

When you’ve just started out with an idea for a new business you need a quiet space where you can get away from it all and concentrate on establishing your business. For many start-ups, the perfect solution to this quandary is a serviced office. In this post we’re going to have a look at why serviced offices might well be the perfect solution for your small business.

Flexibility

One of the key requirements small or start-up businesses should look for from their office space is flexibility. Small businesses are plagued by uncertainty. As a new entrant in any market you will be entering the unknown: Will customers flock to your products or services? Are there barriers to entry you had not anticipated? Is there room for another player in the market? Whilst you are finding your place in the market it is important not to tie yourself into a long term lease for a business premises. You might expand more quickly than you had anticipated, or need to work from home if your costs grow quickly out of hand. Serviced offices provide short term leases with little or no start up costs, allowing you to hit the ground running or leave at a moment’s notice.

Location

When choosing the location for your commercial premises there are plenty of considerations for business owners. If you plan on meeting clients at your offices then good transport links are a must. On the other hand, you may conduct client meetings offsite, in which case offices in close proximity to your home may be worth a look. What about status? Are you operating in an industry where the right address will carry clout with your clients? If so, you might need to pay a bit more for offices in the heart of the city. Regardless of your specific needs at the time, the beauty of a serviced office is your ability to meet the changing demands of your business, quickly and without additional expense.

Easy to expand

With a start-up you never know quite how quickly business will take off, if at all! Many companies will turn from a one man band to a business with 10 or so employees in the first year, and will grow exponential thereafter. Obviously serviced offices are not the most cost effective solution for your business once your company gets much bigger than 10 employees, but in the early days whilst you are growing serviced offices are perfect, as they allow you to move from a small office to a larger office without having to take all the furniture with you or worry about other business infrastructure. A move can be completed in an hour, simply move your computers across and can carry on working with extra space and increased capacity.

Infrastructure is included

Growing a small business demands the owner’s full attention. The last thing you want is to be spending your valuable time organising office furniture or fielding calls you really haven’t got the time for. The majority of serviced offices will provide you with a receptionist service, so any clients you are due to see will be greeted by the in-house receptionist, helping to build a professional first impression and create the illusion that your business is bigger than it really is. The receptionist will also be able to field your calls for you if this is a service you require, which can help to reduce the time wasted on calls when it could be better spent elsewhere.

Charlie Maine is an employee of D&G Office Interiors. They specialise in high quality, ergonomically designed furniture, creating fresh and attractive spaces.      

 

 

Why Big Leaders need to have Small Egos

Leaders are very important to the success of a business, as they are the ones who inspire others, drive movement forward and provide the company with a goal. However, a leader with a larger than life ego can actually be a detriment to a company, holding it back and causing problems rather than encouraging success.

There is a huge difference between ego and confidence. Self-confidence is an essential trait in a strong leader as they need to be able to believe in themselves and confidently stride towards their dreams. Rather than the calm self-assuredness that confidence brings, a big ego manifests itself in pride, boastfulness, self-centeredness and an inability to admit when one is wrong.

Here are a few reasons why having a big ego is not a very good trait in a successful leader.

Leaders Need to Be Able to Admit When they are Wrong

Even though they might be put in charge because they have the most education or experience, leaders are not always right. In fact, sometimes they can make big mistakes, totally misjudge situations or get things completely wrong. This is nothing to be ashamed about, after all everyone is human and will make a mistake once in a while.

However, sometimes big leaders are afraid to admit that they have got it wrong. They are so unwilling to show any weaknesses that they will follow through with things even though all signs are indicating that they have got it wrong. They will lead their company towards disaster while pretending that they are doing the right thing, rather than admitting their blunder and asking for help.

A good leader should never let their own ego get in the way of realising when they are making a mistake. A confident leader is never afraid of confessing to a mistake and taking a new approach and if this is done with grace it will make your employees respect you even more.

Leaders Need to Be Able To Let the Achievements of Others Shine

Another trait of someone with a big ego is that they are quick to snap up all the credit when it comes to the group’s accomplishments. You’ve probably seen it before, the team leader whose team puts in plenty of effort to achieve something and then when it comes time to receive accolades, he speaks like he did all of the work himself. These are also the types of people who are likely to choose team members who are less competent than themselves because their primary motivation is making themselves look good. In the thinking of an egotistical person, another person’s success means that they have failed so they will feel better about themselves when others achieve and earn less.

A great leader needs to be able to step out of the spotlight and be gratified by the achievements of others. They must realise that they cannot accomplish or control everything, so they need to invest in fantastic team members and value their contribution to the organisation. Good leaders will know how to let another employee shine.

Leaders Need to Be Able to Unite Rather Than Divide

One of the most important roles of a leader is to be able to make each and every person working with them feel like they are valued and appreciated. They need to create a positive and optimistic working environment which makes employees feel engaged and motivated.

Unfortunately, a leader with a big ego will be too focused on themselves to make this happen. The people working with them will become increasingly fed up with their egotistical behaviour and will not be inspired to do their best. They might even cause conflict in the workplace, which further distracts people from doing a good job at work.

Instead of a big leader with an even bigger ego, it is better to have someone who does not deny reality even when it is negative and is able to admit their own mistakes. They will be able to help people get through difficult times, let the achievements of others shine and encourage everyone that they work with to put their best performance in.  You will be amazed at the different that a calm and confident leader without a big ego can make on your organisation.

Having a big ego can really get in the way of providing excellent leadership and here are some of the reasons why. To find out more about our leadership programs, visit Cirrus today.

 

Building Strong Teams in the Workplace

In a team-oriented environment, workers contribute to the overall success of the organization. They work with fellow members of the organization to produce these results. Even though they have a specific job function and belong to a specific department, people on a team are unified with other organization members to accomplish big picture objectives.

There are a lot of people in business who want their employees to work wholeheartedly together as a team, but struggle with team building execution. Trying to have people come together as a group with a common goal and strive to achieve it can be very challenging. Team building is not as easy as you think, and the workers we manage are sometime not as apt to join and collaborate with a team as we would hope.

Benefits of Teamwork

We all inherently understand the benefits of teamwork. A group of skilled individuals putting all their brainpower together to work for an innovative and quick solution to a problem is excellent. The sum of the whole is greater than the individual parts.

When the workload is shared throughout the group, dealing with pressure and stress is much easier for everyone, usually making the final product much better than if if was done individually. I’ve learned in business that if you want to get something done on time put together a crack team of motivated people to take it down.

Teamwork is not always easy

Teamwork is not always easy to implement. Sure the benefits of teamwork can easily be explained, but actually making it work within a group is much different. From an early age we were set on the path of individualism. Think about going to school, you did not go through school as a group. You participated in school with peers, however you worked individually to achieve your test scores.

Of course many of us participated in team sports or group projects in classes, but the majority of our social experience through our childhood and young adulthood was all centered around being an individual. When we shift from school into the workplace, and employers want to implement a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration in the workplace, it’s hard for people to adjust to the new collaborative style.

Japan‘s Stark Teamwork Contrast

Japan is an example of a culture which socializes it’s individuals to be more of a cohesive team rather than a lone individual. There are many metaphors which explain the Japanese mindset of community and teamwork but one that sticks out is the weak link in the chain metaphor. I had a Japanese Businessmen explain this to me some time ago.

He told me that his company, and more specifically the group within his company that he was a part of, was like a chain. Together they were strong and could weather any storm, but if there was a defect in the chain then the whole apparatus became worthless. Everyone worked hard to not be that weak link.

Upon completion of college, when the Japanese worker is introduced to a company, they are completely indoctrinated as a member of the company. They actually go to an extended boot camp to learn everything about the company and officially become a member. This process further builds on the teamwork mindset that is so special in Japan.

The only western groups that I can associate the same mentality with is the military. The military goes to boot camp together and is completely engrossed and indoctrinated as a member of a larger whole. Japanese workers also go to a quasi Boot Camp to endure the same type of mental and physical indoctrination for the sake of their prospective company.

In the west, we don’t do anything of the sort. When is the last time you sent your new hires to a four-week intensive boot camp to learn the ins and outs of your company? Sure we may send our employees to a weekend team building seminar, but that’s nothing like the team building training courses for joining a Japanese corporation.

I’m trying to illustrate, with this example, that teamwork is not an inherently God given trade. It’s a learned behavior that we can teach employees of the company to exemplify. We may not go to the extent of military or Japanese-style boot camp, but we can take away some strategies to make our teams better.

Teamwork Success

Regardless of how individualistic and nonconformist our mentality is we can still build great teams in our companies. Every team needs a leader. The duties and expectations of the team also need to be clearly defined. Everyone’s going to have different and unique talents, and they should be utilized to the fullest extent for the betterment of the team. Communication must be open and honest.

The most important aspect of achieving great teamwork success in my humble opinion, is withholding judgment of the teams performance until after the project is completed. If a team wins the NBA championships with a buzzer beater shot they still win right? It’s not right to write them off as losers 10 seconds before the game is over just because they are a few points down. On the same token, don’t write your team off before the buzzer ends just because everything isn’t going perfectly.

Team members deserve regular and honest positive reinforcement. When they achieve success they deserve rewards. Rewarding team members for effectively managing their tasks and going above and beyond what’s expected is a good habit to practice. It also cultivates a culture of teamwork within the organization.

About the Author: Robert Cordray is a freelance writer and expert in business and finances. He has received many accolades for his work in teaching methods of reducing employee turnover.

 

Welcome To Narnia? Easier Ways to Create Space for Your Business

With overheads high and businesses seeking to save money on any and all fronts, the idea of installing a complete additional country in the Facilities Management cupboard may seem like an attractive concept. However the options for businesses needing to expand are somewhat limited. Moving premises is all very well, but the cost, inconvenience and disruption to the actual day to day running of the firm make it impractical in many cases. However, installing a mezzanine floor can offer considerable advantages without the inconvenience of removal expenses – or goblins, witches and great big annoying lions messing around with the photocopier. A mezzanine floor is normally a semi-permanent additional floor, which in a commercial or retail setting can be used for extending the floor space of a building for a number of purposes.

Double Capacity, Half the Hassle

Retail businesses have faced some challenging times recently with a number of famous High Street names going online or, failing that, into administration. For those that have bravely remained on the High Street itself, the likelihood of upgrading to newer bigger premises is pretty remote. A mezzanine floor can offer additional retail space, without the costs associated with a move or the danger of losing customers during a change of address. Existing space can be freed up, or new areas for retail developed, allowing you to expand or add to your range of goods.

In industrial premises, or warehousing premises, a mezzanine floor is one of the most commonly used tricks to keep rental low and maximise the use of space. At a tiny percentage of the cost of moving, a mezzanine can be installed quickly. Most mezzanine floor suppliers and installers offer systems that can be installed at high speed, minimising the disruption to your business activities. By their nature a mezzanine is normally self-supporting and does not require large, disruptive and inconvenient levels of structural alteration.

For mixed use premises where an office space needs to be extended (or even created) a mezzanine offers the perfect solution. For a rapidly growing firm, which does not want to risk the additional outlay on new premises, a mezzanine can again offer a quick turn around on a doubling of space. This can make your existing office space far more flexible, allowing for expansion in staff numbers during seasonal peaks in business.

Low Cost Conversions

In most cases a mezzanine floor will be designed for your building – making it a highly tailored solution. Mezzanine floor suppliers can create a range of standard sized sections which can be used to create a bespoke solution for your specific building and to suit the use of the new floor. In terms of planning regulations there are no requirements when it comes to fitting a new mezzanine structure, but compliance with Building Regulations (and in some cases fire regulations) will be necessary. Again, these factors can normally be dealt with by mezzanine floor suppliers and where building and fire regulations need to be met suppliers will normally have an off-the-shelf solution to hand. In terms of costs most suppliers will offer a range of options, but the price is rarely above £120 per square meter. In general, industry experts suggest that the cost of a mezzanine is around 80 per cent cheaper than moving premises and this doesn’t take into consideration the associated disruption and potential loss of business on the way.

You can’t take it with you

Fair point, if we’re talking about your worldly wealth on that last great journey. However, when it comes to moving business premises it’s possible that you could take your mezzanine with you. The mostly likely bar to this easy option is simply that your mezzanine is likely to be designed with your existing premises in mind. A bespoke design for your mezzanine will mean that it may not fit easily into the new premises, but if you’ve planned carefully then there’s no reason why you couldn’t take your additional space with you. The cost of moving the structure may seem expensive, but as with the original installation, it could well be cheaper than buying or renting the extra space.

For expanding businesses the inconvenience of moving premises can often be removed by installing a mezzanine floor.  Mezzanine floor suppliers offer a range of tailored solutions to suit most businesses and can help create the additional space for your business to grow.

 

Understand The Process Involved in Moving a Business

Moving a company from one place to another, or choosing a prime location for your business start-up, can be full of surprises. There is so much to consider; from the setting of the office premises to ensuring that all surveys have been carried out. It can be an especially stressful time because there is so much to do.

This is where choosing a reputable company with experience in office properties and the moving process comes in. Many businesses would rather leave the management of moving their office premises to the experts, so they can get on with their day job.

Searching for the right office in the perfect location can help a business to improve its overall productivity. In addition, it gives off the right impression to clients and helps to retain the members of staff who like to work in a pleasant environment. Customers or visitors need to have the right perception about a business in order to feel comfortable working with them. No business wants to be stuck in the wrong sort of office space that gives off negative connotations to their potential clients.

London is overflowing with business space and deciding on the right spot to open a business can be timely and overwhelming. The capital offers a variety of locations for you to choose from. By enlisting the help of experts in this field, you can ease the pressure on yourself when looking at a new office space. Looking for an office that fits your particular business needs is one of the first things to consider.

On the Move – What to Consider 

Looking for an office space involves several stages. Here are some of the aspects you must take into consideration. Firstly, consider your location. The size of your business and the budget for new premises will have a direct impact on where you want or can afford to set up. Whatever your budget, you must ensure that the location suits your business needs.

The location of an office is crucial. The surrounding area needs to feel right, as well as the building itself. This is especially true if clients often visit your office. Having them drive through an unpleasant or dark and dingy area before turning up at your office, could give them the wrong impression. Similarly, employees are more productive if they are happy and inspired in their office surroundings, so location is key.

What Type and Size of Office?

Perhaps you represent a new business venture and need somewhere moderate and affordable as your first office space? Maybe your business is growing and you want to take on more staff and so need to expand? Planning the exact space you want and the size of that space is important because you do not want to be left with vast empty space that is not being utilised, or discover that you do not have enough space if your business suddenly expands in the future. The latter option could provide an additional rent. When considering how much space is needed, it is advisable to consider any future expansion plans because it is likely that you will remain in your new premises for several years.

Understanding Different Types of Tenure

There are a variety of options available in terms of moving into new office premises. Buying a business space is a long-term investment, leasing an office can last several years and other premises may include a rental agreement on a more temporary basis. How long a business will remain in the same office space will obviously depend on the choice of lease or rental agreement. Making the right decision for your company at the outset should keep you free from problems in the future. All manner of buildings can be bought or leased; from large open plan offices to small workshops.

Going Green in the Workplace

Green issues and sustainability are fast becoming increasingly important considerations for any business on the move. People recognise the importance of energy efficiency and working in a sustainable environment can inspire the workforce and be cost-efficient. Making sure your new business space is focused on green issues will save you money from the outset. Factors to consider include the energy efficiency of the building, how much natural light there is, the sustainability of the air conditioning and whether the building is affected by external noise.

Searching for Office Space Noho has much to offer in terms of great ready-to-go business premises that will help you run a successful company with happy clients and motivated employees.

 

Setting up Your New Office for Success

Whether you are setting up a new business or moving an existing one, chances are you will be setting up your office with an entirely new set of furnishings. New offices will require a bit of pre-planning and you want to ensure that you set your office up with productivity in mind. Here are some components of an office space that you should never overlook.

The Right Furniture Makes the Difference

It goes without saying that the right furniture is important. You want to make sure that you and your employees are comfortable and have enough working space. Otherwise productivity will suffer because it is hard to work without an adequate amount of space as well as when you are not comfortable. Choosing the right furniture includes:

• Sturdy Desks – the desks you choose for your employees should be sturdy and durable. It is a waste of money to throw out furniture every couple of months or years simply because it is no longer reliable. Spending the money up front and buying reliable, durable furniture will pay off in the long run as your desks will likely last you 10 years or more.

• Comfortable Chairs – Because most office work is done sitting down, you want to make sure that the chairs you have are comfortable. They should have ergonomic function, as well as good lumbar support. Chairs come in a wide variety of sizes and with many features and can be found in many locations that sell industrial supplies.

• Conference Tables – Regardless of the type of business you have, having a conference table is always recommended. It ensures that you have a space to speak with clients, as well as employees when you have meetings. Conference tables come in many different sizes, allowing you to pick the right one to fit the space you have available.

Organisation is Key

You cannot run a business without the necessary organisational tools. Success requires being organised and being able to find the supplies you need in an instant. Spending minutes or hours looking for something that should have been strategically placed can hamper valuable business time. Here are some must-have organisational tools that you should have in your office.

• Filing Cabinets – all businesses revolve around paperwork and it is important to have a place to store your important business papers. Filing cabinets use hanging folders as a way of keeping your paperwork sorted by the different aspects of your business. For example, you want to store employee information separately from client files and invoices. Invest in hanging files as well as regular file folders and keeping a maintained filing system should be relatively simple.

• Storage Cabinets – Regardless of how big or small your office space is, you may find that you need to invest in a storage cabinet. Storage cabinets are like pantries, of sorts, but with the intention of storing necessary business supplies. These supplies include printing paper, pencils, pens, folders, notepads and other necessary industrial supplies.

• Shelving – having shelves is a no-brainer. You can use them to store your books, sort out work that needs to be done as well as forms or other paperwork that is regularly used in your office. You can find shelving systems in an industrial supply store and they are available in many sizes and colours. You can choose from corner units for space saving capabilities as well as wall units.

Having your office set up correctly from the beginning will ensure that you have all of the keys to succeed. Because organisation and preparation are two main components of success, you do not want to sacrifice either of them. Visiting your local industry supplies store will turn up a variety of solutions, but do not go overboard. Buy only what you need and what you will use, otherwise you are essentially wasting money.

Having the right office industrial supplies on hand can make your business run smoother. When it comes to maintaining a reputation, you want to start out on the right foot.

 

How Comfortable, Stylish Office Furniture Can Increase Productivity

 

Many employers are looking for methods to help improve employee productivity. Individuals who work at home are also concerned with increasing their own efficiency. Enhancing the aesthetics and functionality of your office furniture is one creative way to boost employee output. Investing in ergonomic and stylish office equipment can bring in solid productivity to defray the cost of buying new furniture.

Ergonomics
Comfortable and ergonomic furniture is a great way to increase productivity in your business. If you or your employees spend the majority of the day sitting at a desk while using a computer, certain parts of the body may begin to suffer from stress injuries. These stress injuries occur from frequent repetitive movements, such as using a computer mouse or keyboard. These injuries can include wrist strain, an aching back, eye strain and headaches. Ergonomic furniture helps individuals perform their daily tasks in a form more natural to the body to help reduce the risk of injury. This furniture also helps to decrease the amount of time you or an employee must take off due to a stress injury, thus maintaining the continuous flow of productive work.

Office chairs are a good first investment for ergonomic furniture. Many computer accessories, such as keyboards, have ergonomic versions as well. Additionally, chairs and desks should be set to the correct height to keep an employee’s computer monitor at eye level.

A Stylish Look
Selecting stylish furniture can also help boost office efficiency. Sterile office spaces are boring and uninspiring. Workers are less likely to look forward to clocking in if they work in an environment befitting a hospital. Taking time to choose stylish furniture shows your employees that you are interested in investing in your office space. Today, it’s possible to find office furniture that is both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to use.

Mentally Stimulating
Interesting office spaces can prod the brain into having random bursts of inspiration. A bored employee who stares at a blank wall with no interesting visual features is more likely to fall asleep than feel the rush of a new idea. An office that features eye-catching furniture is far more likely to encourage a worker’s brain to think about challenges in a new way. Additionally, arranging office furniture in an appealing way can help stimulate the brain. Avoid the boring cubicle look to keep your workers interested in their job.

Just Like Home
An office space that is comfortable and pleasing to the eye is likely to make one feel right at home. Workers who are comfortable in their environment are far more likely to remain calm and relaxed throughout the day. A comfortable and stylish office space shows your employees that you are invested in their success. For individuals who work at home, a pleasant office space helps them to define the line between their home and their work space. A feeling of ease and style helps inspire many people to perform up to their potential.

This article was written on behalf of Cooper’s Office Furniture, a leading provider of global office furniture

 

 

Interior Space Planning For Your Office

From desks to coat hangers, it is highly important to ensure that each item of furniture in your office is placed appropriately. Not only so your office looks great for any potential clients but also so that your workforce can work efficiently.

Appropriate office furniture looks professional; it puts employees in work mode, and boosts productivity which in turn boosts profits it also shows customers that you are running a professional business. Here are more reasons why interior space planning for your office is important.

Office furniture

Office workers often complain of bad backs and strain injuries, therefore having the right type of furniture in your office is highly important. The most comfortable looking chairs can often be the ones that cause bad posture; something that results is repetitive strain injuries.

While it’s wise to choose office furniture that is stylish it is also important to take the functionality into consideration. Mesh office chairs are comfortable and lightweight so make for great office furniture.

Staff room

If you supply a staff break room it is important to make the design different from the office area. This is so that employees can distinguish between a rest break and work time. Also ensure that the furniture in the staff room is comfortable. This is so employees can return to their des feeling refreshed and ready to work again.

First impressions

The first impressions of your company are the difference between them purchasing your goods or services or taking their custom elsewhere. Show visitors that you mean business and you are professionals. If your office space is a mess then your visitors will take note of this and will see it as tough you have an unorganised work force.

Eliminate hazards

When it comes to interior space planning one of the main concerns you should have is safety. It is important to eliminate hazards such as wires running along the floor. It is also highly important not the block fire exits. Blocked fire exits are also in breach of health and safety regulations.

Storage

For nearly all office based businesses storage is highly important. Make sure you work sufficient storage facilities into your planning ideas. Under desk storage is a great way to organise employees and clear up desk space.

When choosing storage think about usability. You will need to locate files quickly whenever they are needed; have labelled folders in organised cupboards for maximum efficiency.

Jade works on behalf ofhttp://www.missionworkplace.co.uk/ coming up with efficient interior space planning for offices.

 

The Low Down on Startup Office Space

Employees need to have certain personal space in order to achieve optimum productivity, but the varies from business to business and the amount of employees the company has. The position one holds in the company will also determine the space the individual needs. The space that the boss or president moves in should be different from the employees under him, this creates authority and a personal space to discuss important matters. Even though these are just estimates, it is very important to consider the space you will be needing before signing a lease or buying a building.

Even though this might seem rather technical, it does not need to be rocket science. There are certain estimates in relation to the type of business. When you are calculating the amount of space needed, take into account that it would be different for a start up company.

Company Expansion

If it’s a known fact that your company will be expanding within the time of the lease, you should consider adding about 10%-20% of the total space calculated. This is very important because terminating a lease can be very costly and then you will have to move your entire office space.

The space per area will also vary from room to room and whether certain areas for communal use. Let us take a look at the square feet per person in areas of the office:

– Generally you can estimate for 150 to 250 ft per person

• President’s office – 250 to 400 square ft
• Vice President- 150 to 250 square ft
• Executive’s office- 100 to 150 square ft
• Supervisor or Manager- 80 to 110 square ft
• Conference Rooms– 25-30 square ft
• Reception area- 125-200 square ft for 2-4 people
• Lunch room– 15 square ft per person

Tech Startups

When it comes to the space in a technology startup and you have an open space, you can fit in even more people. It all depends on the layout of the space and the amount of personal space needed. In the case of a start up company there will probably not be a entire team of higher- ups. There will be between one and two bosses, which can have their personal space away from the rest of the team. The other employees of the start up will then be able to work in an open space which will lead to good communication which is needed in the beginning phases of the prospective business.

When you are signing a lease for your office space, be sure to note how much usable space is available. If you plan the space per person according to the total square feet, you might be disappointed to find out that only a certain amount of that space can be used. When you are planning the amount of employees you want to hire, you should also take into account how many parking space is available.

A technology startup will not necessarily need working stations or big conference rooms. The ideal would be to invest in a solid open plan, which can later be changed into compartments if the business evolves and needs different departments. Since the start up will be technology based, you will most likely not need storage space or a logistics department. If you have a few individuals responsible for sales, this might be the only team that really need their personal space and no distractions.  Even though an open space would be ideal, it would help to have a personal relaxation space where employees can escape from the business atmosphere to unwind.

Employees

Another thing that should definitely be focused on is the type of employees. Your office space needs to be accommodate disabled persons. If one of your employees are disabled, or in a wheelchair, their space would differ from the other individuals. If you don’t have an open plan area, it is then important that the corridor space takes up between 20-30% of the space.

Not sure exactly how much space you would need? Use this Office Space Calculator to find out. It would also be a good idea to join a Business club or online forums to find out about the latest development, articles and discussions about these and other business related topics.

Citations:

• source
• source

Read this contributed article submitted by John Badger. John is a guest author at DryLand. DryLand business club is a great firm in London, offering serviced office space.