In a world where most people spend more time with their co-workers than their families, it’s important to establish good working relationships in the office. Sure, it may be difficult to get along with everyone in the office, just like in regular life. Personalities and working styles don’t always mesh, so following are the top tips for getting along with your office co-workers.

Respect
In an office environment, everyone should be treated as professionals and with respect. At some point, each person in the office was interviewed and then hired, so someone thought they deserved a chance to prove themselves. Regardless of who the person is, what they look like, or what their prior experience is, they are your co-worker for a reason. They have something to contribute to the company. It seems very simple, but establishing a base of respect for others will create a nice working environment.

Communication
Sometimes people get so wrapped up in their own little worlds, that they don’t realize how disruptive they may be to others (e.g., when someone is chewing gum or clipping their toenails in the office or cubicle next to you). So sometimes, you just have to speak up. If a co-worker is acting out of line and making you hate them, your company, or your life, then it’s healthiest to open communication to resolve the issue. Too many people are afraid to speak up, letting little things build up until they’re ready to burst. Communication is key to establishing good relationships with your office co-workers.

Cooperation
Some people remember this concept from the Sesame Street song “Cooperation makes it happen,” but it’s an ideal that, even when learned young, remains important throughout life, especially in the office. While some jobs may be more independent than others, it’s important to consider office co-workers as a team. Everyone is there working for the same company and goals, so it’s best to work together and help each other when you can. It’s another idea that children learn young, when playing together on sports teams, and it’s something that should flow into adult life and the office. If someone could use your help or expertise, then why not lend it to them?

Sure, they say you can’t choose your family, and unless you’re the boss, you probably can’t choose your co-workers, either. So your best option is to establish good, lasting working relationships with your office co-workers to ensure that your work day is as enjoyable and productive as possible.

If you work in an office, then you know that the right office products can make you that much more productive. This way, you have the tools you need to succeed. The following are the office products that any successful person needs to keep themselves focus and organized.

One of the most important office products to invest in is a quality desk. This gives you the space you need to work. Look for a desk that is sure to keep you organized. It should have enough storage space for everything from folders and files to office supplies like staplers and Post-Its.

Similarly, it pays to invest in a high quality office chair. If you work in an office, then chances are high that you are sitting the majority of the day. This will keep your mind and body as healthy as possible.

File folder organizers are a great way to stay on top of your work. This will make pulling specific information that much easier and efficient.

Invest in a desk lamp, and you won’t be sorry. This will ensure that you can work no matter the time of day. On a rainy day, a desk lamp can make all the difference between having a productive day and a gloomy one.

Next, be sure to invest in a desk organizer. This will help you keep your outgoing and ingoing mail separated and will you give you spaces or slots in which to place everything from extra paperclips and staples to your office keys.

Invest in a corkboard so that you can pin up important documents or notices. This will also give you the space you need to hang family photographs.

Nothing beats a solid calendar. This will help you quickly check the date and keep yourself on task on a daily basis.

A planner is another necessary office product. Investing in this item will ensure you have important dates, deadlines, and information all within arm’s reach.

A Rolodex is an important investment if you want to keep on touch with important contacts. This helps you network and build relationships with other people in your field and with clients.

A shredder is a great investment, especially if you are working with confidential information like financial documents. This protects both your office and you from passing along personal information

Effective communication is essential to successful management and leadership. The office meeting is a good way to communicate information to a group of people, and get feedback at the same time. Poorly done, however, meetings can be the biggest waste of time in an organization. Whether in the public or private sector, workers find themselves involved in a large number of meetings, and at all levels, employees often have to be responsible for organizing or running meetings.

Ensuring that meetings don’t waste time, and achieve communications goals, is a matter of proper prior planning. Following are some helpful tips to make office meetings more effective.

1. Establish a clear agenda for the meeting and communicate it in advance to all participants. This will enable participants to arrive prepared and eliminate the need to take up time explaining the meeting’s purpose.

2. Set and enforce ground rules. Make clear the start and end times, the amount of time allowed for individual presentations, etc., and make sure everyone abides by the rules. Office meetings should always start and end on time, and except in very rare cases, should not last longer than one hour.

3. Assign responsibility for chairing the meeting. Even in flat organizations without clear lines of authority, unstructured meetings without someone in charge are unproductive and waste valuable time.

4. Have all necessary equipment and materials in place before the meeting starts. Make sure that AV equipment is in working order, and there is someone available who knows how to operate it.

5. Select an appropriate location for the meeting. It goes without saying that the meeting room should be large enough to accommodate all participants. But, it should also have adequate lighting and ventilation, and furnishings (chairs, writing surfaces, etc.) that are comfortable and facilitate taking notes. The meeting venue should also be as centrally located as possible.

6. Consider alternatives to face-to-face meetings. Some communications are more effective when done face-to-face, but for routine communication, it can be expensive in money and time to move large groups of people to a central location. Digital Video Conference-capable satellite facilities located near work areas allow effective communication between and among groups of people without taking them away from work for extended periods. This is especially useful if your organization has elements that are widely separated in the same building or located in different cities.

All of us have problems with organization. There’s just so much stuff and too little time to get to all of it. When we have to deal with our desks, whether we’re doing business or pleasure, the desk becomes the repository for all sorts of clutter. If you’re like me, sometimes the piles end up being taller than I am when I stand up.

credit

Luckily, that doesn’t happen anymore, because I have come up with ways to avoid letting my desk get to that point. Here are 10 tips to help you better organize your desk.

credit

1. Prepare for the organization

The first step before anything else doesn’t involve the desk at all. You need to have some things handy because, when you start this process, you’re going to resolve to do a positive action with every single thing you touch. So, get your garbage can, your shredder, and at least 3 boxes the size of stationary boxes, the type where you can put things into it by removing the top. If you don’t have boxes, then you’re going to have to write up large labels for yourself and put them on the floor next to your desk. The title of each of these labels is “Immediate Response,” “Read,” and “File Away.”

credit

2. Move all Paperwork Off!

Now it’s time to move all paper, books and magazines off your desk. Start from either the right or the left and work towards the other direction. Organize your paper by the three categories you created above. Put all magazines in the box labeled “Read”. Stack your books in their own pile. And, of course, shred or throw away everything that’s trash.

credit

3. What do you really need?

Next, it’s time to look at all the remaining things on your desk. Every single one of these things is going to involve an immediate action step. You can throw it away, put it in a drawer, move it to another place or put it somewhere on the desk where you think it’s appropriate or entertaining. For instance, if you have stress balls on your desk and you’re often stressed, you might want to put them far enough away on your desk to be out of the way, but not too far to reach. Maybe you have pictures of your family on your desk; they can be pushed further away because you can still see them. Business cards, either put them in your desk drawer or put them in your “Immediate Response” box. Don’t have too many things left on your desk, though, even if it’s family pictures. It’s much more efficient to put pictures on the walls, and other things in a drawer.

credit

4. Move Your Books

At this point, you should be left with a totally clean desk, but we’re obviously not done. The next step is to do something with all your books. Either put them in a bookcase or remove them from the room. If you’re working on something and need one of those books, leave it next to your desk for the time being, but don’t put it back on the desk.

credit

5. Get Filing!

Next, it’s time to address the items that you put in the “File Away” area. If you have a filing cabinet, or wherever you put files, put that stuff away. While you’re at it, you might as well do the same thing for the items you put in the “Read” box. Separate the magazines from the other paper, because magazines are always something you can take with you, put in the bathroom, or put in other rooms. If you have enough room in your file cabinet, put those items you want to read in their own area. Here’s a truth; most of the things you put in your “Read” area you’re never going to read. If something sits longer than 4 weeks, get rid of it. Even Einstein had a problem with this one, so you’re not alone.

credit

6. Move Immediate Response Items

Finally, it’s time to get to the “Immediate Response” items. At this point, you’re either only going to touch these items once or twice. Once means you’re going to do something with it as soon as you look at it, so you can throw it away. Twice means it’s something like a bill, and you need to put it somewhere so you can pay it when it’s due. This step could take you awhile if you had a lot of items here.

credit

7. Sort Your Inbox

Contrary to popular belief, an “Inbox” is not the place where you get something and put it there. It’s a place where other people who deliver things to you put something so you’ll look at it. Therefore, unless you have someone bringing you things, get the inbox off your desk. Instead, put it behind you somewhere, or to the side of you. The psychological thinking of this is that we tend to start ignoring those things that are directly in front of us, but if we have to make one more action step, such as turning around and putting something in a tray, we’ll think about it more. This now becomes your new “Read” bin, because from this point on, except for bills, whenever anything comes in that needs an immediate response, you’re going to take care of it right then and there. If it doesn’t need an immediate response, it’s either “Read,” shred or trash.

credit

8. Organise Your Drawers

To keep your desk free of clutter from things such as pens, paper clips and the like, buy a drawer organizer to keep all those things in. If you have a small drawer that won’t support something like that, then buy one for your desk. People are always looking for those types of things, and because they’re small, they get all over.

9. Keep things like staplers and staple removers in the top or middle drawer. You probably don’t use them all that often, and they’re big enough to take up enough space to get in the way. That also goes for things like binder clips and rubber bands.

credit

10. Don’t just throw everything in your desk drawer without some kind of plan. The main things most people lack are enough resources to put things in a place where they’re not cluttering up other spaces. If you have a deep drawer in your desk, it’s not the “pile everything in there” drawer. It’s meant for business items, whether at home or work. Things like checks, or contracts, or any other types of files. If you need to either buy other organizers that fit your needs and space or get rid of more stuff. Think of it this way; most of the things we tend to keep we’re not going to do anything with, or rarely touch. If it’s not something very important, move it.

credit

At this point you not only have a clean desk, but a plan for keeping it that way. All it takes to keep a clean desk is a bit of organization and the dedication to take care of things when they come in. It’s not always easy, but the good thing is you now also have a plan for getting out from under clutter the next time it looks like it’s coming back. Good luck!

Image sources:

Setting up a meeting space can be quite a challenge. Not only must you work within the constraints of the actual space, but it is also important to ensure that everyone attending the meeting has a good view of presenters and is able to easily communicate.

The first step in setting up meeting room furniture for a successful meeting is to choose a layout. There are actually several different meeting space plans that can be used, allowing you to select a plan that will comfortably accommodate the number of people attending the space as well as work well with the space available.

The classroom floor plan is one of the most well known and traditional plans for a meeting. This layout involves places rows of tables and chairs. The number of people that can be accommodated with this layout will depend upon the size of the tables. A six foot table can easily accommodate two people while an eight foot table can accommodate three people. The only problem with this layout is that it can be difficult for everyone to interact.

Another option is the theater floor plan. This layout features rows of chairs with space for aisles. This plan may be used in an auditorium, which is a good idea when the meeting is formal in nature.

A banquet floor plan typically involves the use of round 6′ round tables that can accommodate up to ten people each. The benefit of this type of layout is that is more easily allows for interaction among members at each table, but may make it more difficult for the entire group to interact. The banquet floor plan is more commonly used for dining events.

A boardroom floor plan is a common layout which features participants sitting around a single table environment. This layout ensures that everyone attending the meeting can have close interaction with one another.

credit

Another common floor plan is the U-shape. The table and chairs are arranged so that a U is formed at the front of the room, where a speaker will lead the meeting. The benefit of this layout is that it also allows audio-visual equipment to be placed in the center of the U shape. This is an excellent plan to use when you need an interactive presentation or when speakers need to frequently exchange ideas with meeting participants. The U-shaped floor plan is also an excellent layout to use with rectangle shaped rooms.

Finally, you might consider using the hollow square layout. This plan is much like the U-shape with the exception that the fourth side is closed off so that a rectangle or square is formed. In addition, this plan features an open space in the midst of the table. This plan is best utilized for mid-sized rooms and when you need to accommodate a fair number of people who need to be able to interact with one another. It is an excellent option to use for brainstorming sessions as well as when everyone needs to contribute to the discussion at hand.

When designing an office, many people get so caught up in the logistics of their business that they fail to remember how important it is to take into account all the details that are necessary in order to make the office as comfortable and efficient as possible. While picking out office furniture may seem like a vain exercise to some, it is crucially important if you want your office to be a center for productivity.

Office Chairs are the most important element of any office, as it is important to keep your staff comfortable. This is not the area to skimp monetarily, as an uncomfortable staff is also an unproductive staff. Try taking the route of ergonomically correct office chairs.

Next, every office needs a conference table. Your conference room is where you will hold your morning production meetings ever day, as well as client meetings, so your table must convey a sense of professionalism and class. These days, many offices are going with modern look of a plate-glass conference table. These tables become the centerpiece of whatever room they sit in.

Obviously, each member of your staff will need a desk, and it is important that they feel comfortable at their workstation. That said, this is an area that you can try to save on costs, as many of the modern office desks on the market today can be purchased for lower prices than you might think.

When most people think of going green at the office, they usually think of recycling paper and using organic cleaners for disinfecting surface areas and cleaning windows. But, the office furniture you use, including the chair you sit in each day, may contain carcinogenic chemicals which can pollute our soil when the furniture is discarded.

Recycling Old Office Furniture

If you’re in the market for some new, sustainable office furniture, but your old furniture still has some use left in it, you should recycle the old furniture rather than taking it to a land fill. How do you recycle your old furniture? By allowing someone else to have it, either by selling it to them or giving it away. This empties your office of old furniture, keeps it out of the land fill, and allows someone else to get a deal on the office furniture they need.

What To Look For In Sustainable Office Furniture

When you begin shopping for your new furniture, you may feel that the price is your first concern. While you must consider your budget, it should not be your only determining factor and in fact, it should be low on your list of priorities.

The first thing you should look for in sustainable office furniture is functionality. You want furniture that will serve you well for many years. If yours is a small operation, consider that your business will grow. You need furniture that will grow with you. This may mean purchasing a desk or file cabinet with some extra drawers to allow for expansion.

You should also look at the features of the furniture which allow it to be functional or non-functional for your particular purpose. Is there a place on the desk for a computer keyboard? Are there shelves for books and other materials?

After functionality and features, your next consideration should be comfort. This especially applies to your chair. You will spend many hours in that chair at that desk, so you want to be sure that you will have ample back support. Also, your desk should not be too low. You should be able to fit your legs under it comfortably and stretch them out.

Finally, you will want to check the certification of the furniture and the materials used in the manufacturing process. Make sure the manufacturer stands behind their products and offers a guarantee on quality and materials used.

Whether you’re moving into a new office space or trying to re-organize the space you’re in, optimising your office space is important to your productivity as well as that of your employees. It isn’t how much or how little space you’ve got, it is how you use it that counts.

credit
Here are some steps you can take to optimise your office space and get the most from your work day.

1- Replace The Bulky Furniture From Decades Past With The Sleek Designs Of Today

If the words “office furniture” make you think of large, bulky desks and big, gray metal filing cabinets, think again. Today’s designs offer functionality while using a minimum of space. Desks are smaller and more compact, while offering ample storage and work space. Chairs are sleek and comfortable. And filing cabinets come in a variety of sizes to fit your work and space needs. Replacing your old office furniture with the modern designs available today will make even the smallest office more spacious.

2- If You Don’t Absolutely Need It Get Rid Of It

Does your office really need that sofa or that over-stuffed chair? How about that extra filing cabinet? If you have extra pieces of furniture or other things, such as an aquarium, in your office that are not being used, removing them will add space you can use for more important things – including breathing room!

3- Use An Open Floor Plan Instead Of Partitions

Partitions and cubicles tend to minimize space by breaking it up. Instead, use an open floor plan. This not only adds space, but will allow employees to share some furniture or accessories such as computers and file cabinets when appropriate.

4- Re-arrange Your Office Furniture

Try arranging your office furniture differently. Instead of having your desk at an angle or in the middle of your office, move it into a corner against one wall with just enough room for your chair. Move your file cabinet to the other corner, or if possible, out of your office altogether.

5- Make Use Of Your Wall Space

Wall space can be used for storage by adding cabinets and shelves. These should not be to clustered together so as to make it pleasing to the eye. Also, when the cabinets and shelves are spaced properly, artwork can be hung on the wall to complete the look and give ambiance to the space.

Office furniture can be composed out of many materials, but hardwoods make the best desks because of their durability and range of colors and textures. These five hardwoods are often used in desk construction and are the perfect complement to any home office or commercial space.

1- Cherry

Cherry furniture has a very distinctive look and is often found in the offices of executives and high-level managers. The color of cherry wood can range from light brown to a dark brown with a reddish tint. Some of the advantages of cherry are that is very durable and offers a very polished look for any office. One disadvantage of working with cherry wood for desk construction is that it can be difficult to work with, making furniture construction difficult.

credit

2- Oak

Oak is one of the most popular hardwoods for office furniture such as desks. Oak is known for being sturdy and it also has a very attractive and distinctive grain. Both white oak and red oak have prominent streaks in the wood grain. The biggest advantage of using oak for desks and office furniture is that it is very durable and will last for many years with proper care. One disadvantage of oak is that it can be expensive.

credit

3- Walnut

Walnut is another durable hardwood that is used for desk and other office furniture pieces. Walnut is chocolate brown in color and can sometimes have purple or brown streaks in the grain. This hardwood is used to craft fine, durable furniture and is very valued. One advantage of using walnut for desks is that it is durable and will last for a long time. The major disadvantage to using oak is that it is very expensive and may not fit your budget.

credit

4- Ash

Office desks made from ash can range in color from white to gray and often have light brown or reddish brown tints. One advantage to using ash for office furniture is that it is very bendable and easier to work with when using hand tools. One disadvantage is the price of ash; it is moderately expensive and may increase the cost of your office project.

credit

5- Elm

Elm is a hardwood that ranges in color from light brown to dark brown and can contain streaks of red. It is very durable, but also bendable, so it is easier to work with than other hardwoods. The disadvantages of elm are the price and the difficulty in finding this type of wood.

credit

In this day and age, when computers are more advanced than ever before, and wireless technology is starting to become the norm, we are not yet at the point where it is possible to have a wireless office. In order to alleviate problems such as snags and tangles, cable management is the only solution to this problem, and should be implemented whenever installing a new desk, or moving existing desks around.

credit

Although some desks are manufactured with some form of cable management system, there are some minor alterations you may need do, in order to make a cable management system on a new desk more efficient. Depending on your budget and the distance your wires need to travel, this can be done successfully in a relatively short period of time.

Cable ports are the best solution to this problem are inexpensive. It may be necessary to drill a hole in the desktop to push the cables through and feed them through the cable port. You’ll only need to do this step if the desk that you purchased does not have a pre-drilled, cable management hole.

Next, feed the cables through the hole in the desktop, so that they follow, parallel to the floor, to an electrical socket or alternative power source. To enhance feeding the wires, cable baskets can be installed under the desktop, acting like a gutter, to conduct them properly.

If you use a laptop and are constantly disconnecting it, it is wise to have a power source installed on the desktop. As these power modules are located on the desktop, it would eliminate any tangling, as direct access is supplied. These desktop power modules also come with sockets for modems; so, everything can be in one place, reducing tangling and other headaches.

The real trick is keeping the cables organized as they meet perpendicular to the floor. A helpful device to purchase to aid in this is a goose-necked cable spine, which can be adjusted to manage the direction your wires need to go.

With just a few minor adjustments and equipment, your computer cables can be organized with little effort and time on your part – saving you the headaches of dealing with electrical shorts, accidentally pulled wires, and unnecessary, untangling of cable wires.