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Anica Oaks
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How to Make Your Startup Office Look Professional

Anica Oaks

January 19, 2018


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Working for a startup is dream come true for lots of people. There’s a lot to like about working for a brand new company that employs out-of-the-box thinkers. However, startups sometimes gain a reputation for being a tad unprofessional. Here are some easy ways to avoid being put in this category.

Innovative Desks

Your employees are going to be sitting at their desks for most of the workday, so they should be using desks that make their work easier. There are affordable add-ons that expand upward to transform regular desks into standing ones. For workers who care about being active and staying fit, this is a major perk.

Brands like D&R Office Works, Inc., make desks that fit in with various office setups. For example, the Apex series is designed for groups who do a lot of team projects while the Tessera collection features built-in storage and aesthetically pleasing pieces for your reception area.

Partitions

While managers might like the idea of open, collaborative work spaces, studies show that employees produce better work when they are afforded a bit of privacy. If you are unable to provide each employee with his or her own office, utilize cubicle partitions or make creative use of room dividers.

Separate spaces are also beneficial for introverted employees who prefer to complete their work without the distractions that other people present. The workplace will be quieter and appear more professional because employees will be less tempted to have social conversations, as they won’t be able to see each other without leaving their cubicles.

This isn’t to say that you should discourage your staffers from being friendly with each other. They just need to be situated in a way that encourages productivity.

Hide the Games

Startups sometimes like to distinguish themselves from larger corporations by adopting a “work hard, play harder” ethos. This is great for attracting young and energetic employees, but it may alienate the older, experienced staffers who can take your company to the next level.

If you feel that you need a foosball table or Nerf guns, keep them out of sight in the break room. The last thing you want to do is push away the experienced employees and established investors that you will inevitably need to impress.

Dress Code

Your employees represent your business, and this is true even when they are in the office. Your employees should make a good first impression on every vendor or client who visits. A business-casual dress code isn’t too restrictive for younger staffers who are starting out on small budgets. Emphasize the importance of wearing clean and well-tailored clothing. Jeans should be in like-new condition, and t-shirts must be fitted.

You can give your startup the feel of an established, professional company with just a few tweaks and new ground rules. These tips will create the kind of working atmosphere that engenders creativity and productivity without eliminating the fun, youthful startup sensibility.


                   



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