10 Time Management Mistakes to Avoid in Corporate Facility Design

Designing a corporate facility is tough and while there are many mistakes to be made, one of the biggest is not considering time management. Time management is often thought to be the responsibility of the employee while this is true common errors made by employees in time management such as not prioritizing, starting days late, getting distracted, and not taking enough breaks are due to design errors of the facility.

For employees to be able to get more done, corporate facilities have to be designed in a way that allows them to do this. Here are ten time management mistakes to avoid incorporating in facility design;

1. Washrooms that are too close or far

One of the main essentials in any facility is washrooms and the positioning of washrooms is paramount to time management. A bathroom that is too close to where people work will pose the risk of a distraction as it will tempt and urge people to frequently leave their desks or posts to use the bathroom even when they don’t need to and this can quickly add up to lost time.

On the other hand, washrooms that are too far will mean that people will be away from their desks for a longer period of time and the possibility of getting distracted to and from the bathroom is big.

2. Food courts and stalls that are too close

Similar to the previous point, food courts, stalls, or vending machines provide a ripe source of distractions to people who are working. From the smells and sounds to even the slightest thoughts of food or snacks can make anyone distracted and remaining focused while there is a constant source of distraction is almost impossible.

Keeping food-providing and preparation areas well away from the workspace is key to maximum productivity and concentration.

3. Proximity to the road and loud noises

Often corporate facilities are either near busy roads or construction sites and as in most cases, it is unavoidable, measures such as soundproof walls and sealed windows will keep the distracting noises of traffic, people, construction sites, and everyday life at bay. In addition to this loud noises within the facility should be avoided.

4. Open-plan offices

Even though in the 21^st Century they have been praised as a way to increase productivity, open-plan offices have more downsides than up. These include constant distractions from co-workers and the ability for diseases to spread.

5. No quiet or relaxation zones

A big mistake to make when designing a corporate facility is the lack of quiet or relaxation zones. People often need a place to quickly unwind and recuperate without demands flying around them. Quiet zones could also pose as a distraction if not supervised.

6. Too bright or dull theme

The décor of a corporate facility is as important as ever; a color scheme that’s too bright will distract and one that’s too dull will bore to no end. Have a variety to keep focus up.

7. Loud phones

Many facilities still use landlines and phones that run throughout the building, if this is the case, tone down the volume of the phone to limit distracting others.

8. Small desks

A small but often overlooked factor is the size of desks. A small desk means a disorganized one, and a disorganized desk means that precious time is lost trying to sort through the mess.

9. No natural light

The lack of natural light in a facility directly affects the productivity and time management of those who work in it.

10. Lack of resources

A lack of resources in a facility will result in frustration for those who work there. Effectively combat this by providing adequate resources.

Relevant Resources:

• Achieving Sustainability Milestones for Your Corporate Facility
• Influence of Technology on Your Corporate Facility