Blog

To be a productive person in the office, you need to be able to settle down to work without feeling as if you’re overwhelmed with things to do. Your workspace is a total reflection of your mind; a disorganised office speaks to a disorganised working life, and while you could multitask, you shouldn’t have to. You should be able to be naturally productive in an office that has been put together in a way that makes sense.

Productivity is easier to come by when you’re feeling motivated, the space ahead of you and around you is clean and you are raring to go as a result. You don’t have to worry, however, as there are plenty of ways that you can declutter your workspace and bring back that fire you want to light for yourself. With that in mind, here are six ways you can declutter your office for business success.

1. Start with storage. You can get started by buying the right storage for your workplace. You need boxes, containers, filing cabinets and more to be able to give everything in your business a home. If you get rid of the smaller things in the office and find space for the paperwork and the bigger things, you’re going to be able to make your storage more efficient.
2. Upgrade your lighting. It’s so easy to hide from the build up of stuff in the office when you can’t actually see it. So, you need to set up your workstation near as much natural light as possible, as this will both uplift your mood and ensure that you can see your things better, too.
3. Don’t forget your computer. Not only do you have to ensure that you declutter your actual work area, you need to look at your computer desktop and rearrange your icons. A messy back screen can make it much harder for you to organise your workload for the day, too.
4. Get ready to head to the tip. You need to write down the things that you see on a daily basis and anything that you don’t use and doesn’t require storage can be added to a bin! Write down a list of things that you use and things that you don’t and get rid of everything that you don’t – it’s just going to clutter up the place!
5. Buy some new furniture. There is nothing worse than old and broken furniture taking up space that doesn’t need to be there. If you have old furniture, get rid of it and replace it with new stuff. You can take all of the older furniture to the tip and replace it – this’ll help you to be more productive!
6. Stay on top of it. If you want your home to stay looking great, you need to consider doing this level of decluttering every week. You can stay on top of keeping it clean and tidy,and it will make a big difference to your space, your productivity and your motivation levels.

Every business is dependent on its workforce, but small businesses are more reliant on their staff than larger organisations. When you’re relying on a small team to achieve commercial success or you’re working together in a relatively small space, any issues can be magnified and have a devastating impact on your operations. 

While disputes can arise from time to time, things can be even more complicated if you have a difficult employee to deal with. To help you navigate the situation, take a look at these four top tips for dealing with a difficult employee in your small business:

Review Your In-House Policies

As an employer, you should have established policies for dealing with complaints, grievances and poor performance. However, many small businesses don’t have custom processes in place. Seeking advice from employment law consultants will help you to determine what your duties are under the law and enable you to create bespoke policies that will govern your staff and your business. 

When you’re dealing with a difficult employee, it’s vital to follow established policies and promote transparency. By revising these policies now, you can ensure that every member of the team is treated fairly and equally in accordance with your company’s established management policies. 

Listen to Their Issues

If an employee is being difficult, it’s tempting to tune out their complaints or simply assume that they’re being difficult for the sake of it. However, actually listening to their issues could shed new light on the situation. In some cases, a ‘difficult employee’ might have a legitimate grievance or even a personal issue that’s affecting their behaviour at work. 

When you give them the opportunity to be heard, it can have a transformative effect on their conduct and enable you to put appropriate remedies in place. 

Provide Fair Feedback

When you’re unhappy with an employee’s behaviour, it’s vital to take action. Using the company’s policies to guide you, offer feedback that will help the employee to change the way they work. Sometimes, people are unaware that they come across as abrasive or combative, but the right feedback can help them to communicate in a more collaborative and effective way. 

Protect Your Team

One difficult employee can have a big impact on the team as a whole, so don’t let ongoing issues affect morale. While dealing with difficult employees can be nerve-wracking for small business owners, getting the right advice and taking swift action can protect the rest of your workforce and your company. After all, you don’t want to lose productive members of staff because of a poor working environment caused by a difficult employee. 

Fostering a Harmonious Atmosphere at Work

Every employer should have a strategy in place to achieve a positive and harmonious environment at work. However, there are times when a difficult employee will appear to thwart any efforts you make to cultivate a happy and productive workplace. With the right professional support, however, you can find appropriate ways to remedy the situation and safeguard your small business.  

Did you know that clutter in your home can stifle your creativity and prevent your mind from working properly? Having a clean and organised living space will boost happiness, productivity, and overall well-being. This is due to the fact that everything has its own space, and nothing distracts the mind from more important things. Here are some ideas for organising your home to help you have a clearer mind. This is not a recommendation for you to run around your house and get rid of everything. These are simply suggestions for making your home less cluttered. Follow these suggestions, and you’ll soon see the results!

Put things in their own place

Making sure that all items have a home within a cupboard, drawer, or closet (unless they are ornamental) is essential for keeping your home tidy and organised. If some of your belongings don’t currently have a home, it’s time for a purge. The six-month rule is a good guideline to follow when organising your belongings. If you haven’t used it in the last six months and don’t expect to use it in the next six months, it’s likely that you’re keeping it ‘just in case.’

Spend a little more on products that will help you clean your home

While cleaning your home shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, spending a little more on cleaning products will help you fight through the dirt and grime much easier than, say, the home brand products you’ve been using to save money. Chemical companies UK have a wide range of cleaning products that will help chore day go smoothly and quickly.

Keep your kitchen organised

Don’t forget to include your kitchen in the mix as well. There are numerous ideas available online for organising your kitchen cabinets. Why not take it a step further and organise your refrigerator as well? Not only will it make it easier to find the food you’re looking for, but if done correctly, it will also prevent cross contamination within your refrigerator. Having a designated area in your kitchen for your utensils, mugs, plates, and everything else you use will make it easier to keep your kitchen organised even after regular use. Plus, the more organised your kitchen is, the easier it is to keep tidy in the long run.

Organise toys

Many parents struggle with where to store their children’s toys when they are not in use. Purchase a large basket or ottoman to store their toys in after they have been used. You should be able to find storage that complements your decor and keeps it feeling like home. Make it a habit for your children to put their toys away when they are finished playing, as this may affect how tidy their bedrooms are as well!

Make space

Making space in your garage or shed for items that you don’t necessarily want in the house but know will be used again or are sentimental items is a great way to keep your home clutter-free while still being able to keep the things you really love.

Keep your home free of clutter and excessive noise to create a much more relaxing environment. Having a well-organized home also makes it easier to keep clean. Why not put these tips to use right away and see the difference for yourself?