Tag: motivation

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Adding Art to the Office

Artwork is an important part of the design of any office. Adding artwork can be a fun part of putting together a new office or revamping an older one. There are many important considerations when choosing art for the office. Obviously, your own taste is important. This is not, however, the only consideration. The appearance of your office sends a message to anyone who visits. It also affects employees’ perception of the office. That’s why you should consider several factors when choosing artwork. These include color, constraint and theming. These elements will help you find the right art for your office.

Color sends a lot of messages. Darker colors can be depressing. However, if they are blending subtly with slightly brighter colors, they can imply trustworthiness, dependability, expertise and trustworthiness. If your company deals in an industry where these qualities are valued, your colors should be in line with these messages. If your business deals with more creative or modern elements, you can make use of brighter colors and designs.

Theme is an important part of selecting artwork. Your office should have some kind of theme and the artwork should help tie it together. Some people select the artwork first and build the office theme around the art. However, this is not an option for everyone. You may have an office decor you like and want the artwork to fit in. In other cases, you may want to promote a particular theme through the artwork. If you are confused about how to do this, consider consulting an interior designer for help. Designers are knowledgeable about artwork and interiors and can help you set the right tone.

There are a variety of themes you can consider for your office. Some common themes include inspiration, professionalism and motivation. Other themes are designed to reduce stress and often include waterfronts, beaches, mountain scenes, flowers and plants. For more professional themes, you might consider still life, architecture or prints by well-known artists. If your office theme is more vibrant, there are many options. Consider vintage advertisements, music prints, famous people, abstract art and colorful prints by local artists. When your theme is motivational, you’ll have a wide variety of choices. Avoid artwork that repeats over-used motivational phrases. Instead, find pieces that approach motivation from an unusual perspective.

Consider one of the most popular types of artwork for your office. Photography can capture a wide range of themes. Black and white or color photography can be extremely effective in setting a particular mood. You can purchase prints of many famous pieces of photography. Pictures can also reflect your company’s growth and accomplishments. For example, you could regularly take pictures of your team and enlarge the pictures and post them in prominent places. Some companies take pictures of their founders and original business sites to reflect the company’s growth over the years. If your organization has offices in a variety of locations, consider posting photographs of each location. These are some great ways to use photography as artwork in the office.

Restraint is the key to finding the right artwork for your office. There are lots of attractive, brightly- colored and fun pieces of artwork available. The question is “ are they right for your office? If your business is serious and you want to send a message that you are reliable, professional and respectable, fun artwork is not the best choice for your office. You need pieces that are sedate and blend in with the furniture, wall colors and flooring. A conservative office is not the place for whimsical artwork.

If your company’s business is creative, you can select brightly colored artwork and take a more whimsical approach. Creative artwork sends the message that your company can meet the creative needs of clients. Many graphic design, software and non-traditional marketing firms use artwork to convey their unique approach to client needs. In this case, less restraint is necessary. However, it’s still important to think about the message your artwork sends. Think about the client’s perspective and make sure your artwork isn’t over the top or confusing. Above all, don’t use art that could be offensive. You may need more than one opinion to ensure that your artwork won’t send the wrong message.

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Creating a Motivational Space

Motivation is a complicated issue. It involves many different factors such as management style, team structure, feedback style, goals and job fit. Motivation also may include office culture, potential for growth within the company and many other factors. It’s impossible to list all the things that can motivate employees. As an employer, you need to address as many motivational issues as possible. One of those is the space that your employees work in. If you can create a motivational space, it will work wonders on your employees.

Think about some of the least motivating places you’ve ever worked. The colors were likely drab and dull. People were separated and cut off by cubicles with full walls. Office areas were simply rows and rows of cubicles. There were few areas for interaction among employees. You felt separated from everyone and almost like you were alone. Workplaces like this are simply depressing. If you want to motivate employees, you need to avoid creating a space like this. Instead, strive to create a space that increases interaction and reduces feelings of isolation.Tablet arm chairs

A first step is to create areas where employees can meet informally such as lunchrooms and break rooms. These areas allow people to relax and unwind. They can talk with their colleagues about something other than work. Larger companies often have cafeterias that offer a wide selection of food.

They usually have extended hours so that employees on different schedules can stop by for breakfast and lunch. Some cafeterias even offer dinner, depending on the company’s schedule. Another similar perk some workplaces offer are coffee stands with gourmet coffees. Most of these stands offer muffins, scones and other small treats in addition to coffee. Employees can visit the coffee bars on breaks. Sometimes, teams may get coffee and meet afterwards. Managers and employees may do the same thing when meeting. It creates a more informal environment. Keep in mind that employees will pay for food and drinks at cafeterias and food stands which helps defray some of the costs involved.

Dark spaces are de-motivating. Brighter spaces will help you achieve more motivation. If possible, pull down barriers around windows so that plenty of light is available in the office. If your office doesn’t have a lot of windows, place lamps in strategic areas around the office. Consider providing each worker with a lamp for his or her desk space. The brightness will help employees stay alert and engaged throughout the day.

Open areas in the office can be motivating if they are used appropriately. Employees need some space for private work. However, open spaces with tables and group desks help build collaboration among employees. This can be extremely motivating in the right circumstances. Workers can talk openly about projects rather than relying on emails and playing phone tag. Group conversations can stimulate new ideas and excitement about projects which can ultimately lead to improved work.

A workspace that recognizes achievements can be extremely motivating. There are a variety of ways you can do this. Never put up charts that promote employee competition with statistics. Instead, recognize the best employee achievements of the week with congratulatory signs. Announce special accomplishments not only in person but with public certificates, plaques or other awards. Make a special effort to recognize all achievements, not just those by certain employees or teams.

Many workplaces use motivational quotes and posters to help improve the attitudes of team members. This can work well if it’s done effectively. However, many motivational posters are overused and employees have seen them dozens of times. Some employers put up a poster and leave it up for years. It’s important to take a fresh approach. Find unusual posters or quotes and rotate them throughout the company so employees don’t look at the same thing for years.

You can also ask team members to provide inspirational quotes for the office on a rotating basis. Individuals can find quotes that inspire them and submit the quotes for approval. They can create them on design software and print them out on high-end paper. You can hang them in the office for a designated amount of time. After that time, another team member can create the next inspirational quote for the office.