EON Today’s Office

Office décor: Simple ideas to help spruce up your space

You’ve heard it before: we spend a whole lot of time at work. So much of our day, our energy, and our life is spent working, why not spend time making our workspace environment more like a friendly home?  We’ve offered the idea of adding foliage into your office, but there’s no need to stop there.  Here are some quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive ways to dapper up a mundane office.

• Just add water.  You could choose a small fountain or fish bowl (might want to clear this one with your boss first).  The water would not only add to the atmosphere and décor of your office, but would also serve as a soothing, calming influence while you work.

• Add a mirror.  Including a mirror or two can really open up what might otherwise be a closed office space. It needn’t be a large mirror, and with all the shapes, sizes and frames to choose from, you can find the perfect fit for your office design.

• Regroup. Organize your existing art and accessories in odd-numbered groupings.  You don’t necessarily need to purchase new art; by simply moving around what is already on your walls and desk, you can create an entirely new feel. Group your art in odd-numbered groupings, such as one, three or five, and it will be more pleasing to the eye.

• Get new art. Ok, we just told you that you didn’t need to purchase new art, but if you have the means, do it! The new ambiance of your office will be even more spruced up. Or instead of buying new art, you could change up the frames on your current décor for a whole new look.

• Add a rug. You probably don’t spend much of the day looking at the floor in your office, and you may feel like your space is too small for an area rug.  But adding one will help bring together all of the great improvements you’re making, and make your work space feel much more cozy and homey.  We all love rugs in our homes; why not in our offices, too?

• Organize! Choose great organizational items. Find a style that fits you, with functionality that keeps your space uncluttered and attractive.  New desk accessories can be very inexpensive and make a huge difference in the feel and appearance of your environment.  Aesthetics and productivity, all rolled into one!

Hopefully these tips provide a starting point for a whole new look to your workspace. Did you do something different to change things up? Let us know!

Benefits of plants in the office and other workplace environments

Perhaps one good cure for the office blues is a little bit of green.

According to Psychology Today, the presence of potted plants has been found to provide many benefits when placed in various environments—including the workplace.  In several experiments, plants have been shown to lower blood pressure, increase attentiveness, improve attendance and raise productivity.  They have also been shown to improve one’s perception of the space they are in, and even improve one’s overall well being.

How about a little green for inspiration?  A study by Texas A&M tested people’s workplace ingenuity in different environments.  The study included a workplace with plants and flowers, one with inanimate objects, and one that was vacant.  The study showed that people were more creative around plants.

In another study conducted in a computer lab at Washington State University, subjects who were performing a slightly stressful computer task had their blood pressure lowered after plants were added to the lab.  They also showed a 12% improvement in reaction time on the computer task.

So if you’re feeling down or bored with your barren work space, head out to a local nursery on your lunch break and pick up an uplifting office plant.  Do you have an office plant story of your own? Share it with us! And to find out more about the many benefits of office plants, visit Green Plants for Green Buildings.

Workplace conflict resolution: Turning office discord from grief into growth

We’ve all been there before: dealing with that person in the office who always seems to be creating strife in our lives. Instead of letting a conflict rule (and sometimes ruin) our day, why not turn it into a point of growth for ourselves and our company?

It’s a difficult concept to grasp in a world that seems to be fueled by conflict and shock value. When did we last see a “reality” show where a conflict ended in two parties resolving their issue and devising a mature, sensible resolution? But the real reality, so to speak, is that as civilized adults in the workplace, we have to be able to combat conflict in a healthy and civilized manner.

Before we can start resolving our interoffice spats, we need to understand why they occur. The simple answer is differences. As simple as it sounds, everyone is different. We all have different values, motivations, perceptions, ideas, desires… the list goes on and on. Our differences make life richer and more interesting, to be sure; but they also make conflict inevitable.

Unfortunately, it often seems easier to grumble to ourselves, complain to other co-workers, and behave passive-aggressively than to confront a conflict directly. Not only will the passive approach eat up time that could be used to do actual work, but it will likely affect the rest of the office and bring down coworkers’ morale as well. Instead, we should attempt to work through the conflict.  A first step might be to suggest a meeting with our coworker. This meeting shouldn’t take place through a series of emails or phone calls; in-person conversation is best for clear communication.

When the meeting is taking place, we need to be prepared to listen.  A simple fact about humans is that we all just want to be heard—isn’t it safe to assume the person we’re in conflict with feels the same way?  We should start the meeting with an open mind and just listen. Not judging, not internally preparing our rebuttal, but listening. Ideally, both sides will have a chance to convey where they are coming from. Only after really listening to one another can the two sides move on to the next step of the process: finding a solution.

A good way to start finding a solution is to do some brainstorming.  Both parties should have a chance to come up with different ideas for a resolution, and both parties need to agree on acceptable criteria for reaching an agreement.  Once a solution is settled upon, the parties should ensure that it is fair, balanced, realistic and future-oriented, so that repeat conflicts can be prevented.  If two parties can’t see eye to eye, it might be necessary to have a manager or HR representative mediate and provide guidance for reaching a solution.

Of course, conflict resolution is often more complicated than these simple steps, but the idea is that conflict can ultimately result in better understanding and a better working environment for all.  Turning a workplace challenge into an opportunity for growth is a reality we’d all be happy to live with.