Ambiance affects on-the-job innovation

Mood lighting can impact an employee’s creative quotient, a new survey suggests. More than half (55%) of advertising and marketing executives polled in the US said office environments -- including layout, décor and lighting -- greatly affect on-the-job innovation.

“Physical surroundings can heavily influence an employee’s ability to concentrate and perform well,” says Tracey Fuller, executive director of The Creative Group. “Companies can encourage productivity and innovation by providing staff members with comfortable, attractive areas for team meetings, as well as individual work stations that can be tailored to personal needs and preferences.”

The Creative Group offered the following tips for developing a productive and stimulating office environment:

Construct “creativity” zones. Designate a few office areas where informal meetings or spontaneous brainstorming sessions can occur. Equip each room with industry publications and a white board to jot down ideas.
Offer private sanctuaries. While open floor plans can increase collaboration and communication among employees, some projects require greater concentration and solitude. Provide stations where employees can work without distraction. These spaces also can be used for teleconferences.
Let there be light. Maximize opportunities to benefit from natural daylight; position desks near windows so workers can have external views. In locations where this is not possible, ensure sufficient ambient and task lighting are in place.
Install an idea wall. Transform the walls of a communal area -- the lounge or cafeteria, for example -- into a blank canvas for spontaneous scribbling. Cover flat surfaces and tabletops with colorful paper and keep a jar of markers close by for people to post ideas.
Venture into the unknown. Hold staff or team meetings in unusual places -- a nearby courtyard, park or café, for example. A change of scenery is sometimes all it takes to spark the imagination.