A family has just arrived to meet with you. You offer coffee and graciously invite them into your office or consultation space to discuss plans. While waiting they may anxiously fidget, grip documents or finger a loved one’s jewelry. They look around and study the surroundings. “So, THIS is what a funeral home or cemetery office looks like!” they think. Hmmmm.
Your professional attire and demeanor may inspire trust but is that mirrored in the office or consultation space? Does your physical space reflect the same care and attention to detail you exhibit every day? What conclusions might someone draw from a visit to your office?
We know that first impressions can build or erode our trust. Being human we make judgements based on what we see and feel. For example, think of any medical or legal offices you’ve visited and remember how you felt in ones that were sparse, cluttered, dated – or nicely decorated.
A dated medical office causes me to think that the doctor might not be current in his knowledge or that he is cheap. Using his office as a measure of his thought process, I would fear that he might not consider a more expensive, newly proven, less invasive treatment.
A well-designed office can improve your company image, enhance productivity and help to certify you as a top-notch professional. Well-planned, organized office space is also beneficial to your staff. Studies show that crowded spaces make people unhappy while good office layouts increase efficiency.
If this is not an area of expertise, you may want to bring in a Professional Office Designer. These designers study traffic patterns, work movements, storage capabilities, lighting, usable open spaces, capacity (people and stuff), technology needs and décor. A floor plan is essential.
Office designers are alert for how an office ‘speaks’ for a business. To be your own office designer, evaluate:
Lighting
• Natural lighting from windows increases productivity and enhances mood.
• Appropriate task lighting for paperwork and computer areas reduces eye stress.
• Ambient lighting from overhead or wall lights should not create dim, shadowy areas.
Defined office spaces
• Each person should have ‘home base’ for detail work and file management.
• Be mindful that ‘open office’ spaces are distracting and noisy.
• Desktop storage for each person organizes work flow.
• Wall-mounted storage works well for small office spaces.
• Off-site (or out-of-office) storage for older files frees up valuable space.
Other important considerations
• Good traffic patterns prevent ‘file cabinet congestion’.
• Avoid stress and injury with appropriate furniture and storage.
• Attractive design honors your employees and guests alike.
• Display only a few personal items.
• Hide those cords – no snake pit tangles of wires!
• Locate ‘action boards’ (chalk boards) in private areas.
• Keep work area CLEAN (snacks in drawers).
• Ask for employee input!
To note - Physicist Albert Einstein was known to have an exceptionally messy office. If, like him, you need a ‘creative space’, close the door – just as there’s no need to welcome guests to a room where the ‘magic’ is created.
Ideally, the office layout should reflect company culture and goals. Stick with a theme that echoes throughout your facility i.e. ‘traditional’, ‘Zen’, ‘contemporary’, ‘local color’, etc. Great office design bespeaks of good organizational skills, timely action, clear thought processes, and inviting spaces.
Visitors will judge – just from looking at your office - that you run a well-managed operation which honors employees and visitors alike. Your office should speak loud and clear that “This is an efficient, updated place where arrangements and memorialization are handled with compassion as well as attention to details.”
Don’t forget to enter the INTERIOR DESIGN AWARD for Best Conversation Area. Email maryanne@cressymemorial.com. Enter NOW!