4 Office Efficiency Tips for Exeter SMEs

All Exeter-based SMEs need to operate resourcefully to prevent wasted effort and lost resources.

Here are four quick ideas on how to create a more efficient office.

1. Get the Office Cleaned

Office cleaning is often assigned to the person lowest on the totem pole. This is demoralising for the person whose responsibility it is. Putting the chore on a rota system for several employees to take turns isn’t much better. It lowers morale because employees weren’t principally employed to be a part-time office cleaner and they resent it.

Think about it from a financial perspective too. The amount it costs to employ a full-time knowledge worker including their salary and benefits, pay for their share of the office space, desk, chair, computer, and other costs is considerable. As such, having them put in part of their time cleaning the office is not only a waste of their talents but hugely costly on an hourly basis.

It’s much better to outsource Office cleaning Milton Keynes to professional cleaners. They have dedicated teams with the appropriate training, the right tools, and at a sensible rate of pay. This way, staff can focus on their job.

2. Short, Scheduled Office Meetings

Office meetings can be weekly events, but they should be short. Having a regular or irregular meeting depends on how much guidance employees require as a group. All meetings should have a fixed agenda with other points moved to the next meeting. The meeting plan must include a time allocation for each point on the agenda so that the meeting can end on time.

Standing meetings are an option. They tend to keep the duration down. Do consider people who are medically unable to stand still for that length of time and provide seating for them. Also, don’t finish a meeting without a list of the next actions and people assigned to them, including due dates for each.

3. Clean Desk & Tidy Office Space

A clean desk policy at the end of the workday is useful to start fresh the next day. Leaving company documents out overnight is a security concern too. While most documents should be digitised anyway, actual documents need to be under lock and key.

Keep the office area tidy too. Each employee with an assigned desk is responsible for keeping their area clean, including what’s underneath the desk. Avoid accidents by not having employees leave desk drawers open and items on the floor that could cause a slip.

4. Focus on Diligent Work to Avoid Downtime

Work on having employees focus heavily on their tasks with few distractions. If they can complete their tasks sooner, let them have downtime or leave the office earlier to recuperate. Employees tend to work slower because they’re worried that they might be given more work if they are extra productive. Turn this thinking on its head.

By staying diligent about how the office runs and employees work, Exeter companies can stay profitable and be good local employers for years to come.