Innovative Ideas in the office

[HR Solutions]

A recent posting on a another thread prompted me to get off my backside and do something new and to get new ideas from other business people, and hopefully help each other to help to create a "better" "improved" working environment in your own office situation.
Therefore my question is : What innovative ideas would you implement in your office that could improve the way people work and/or improve the working environment in your business ? What can you do to improve things in the business to help grow the business and subsequently improve on your own position in the company ?

[adrianh]

1. Get rid of open plan offices.
2. Ask people what takes the longest to do.
3. Ask people what part of their work do they think is a waste of time.
4. Don't allow people to play music or radios (that is why earphones were invented) - I must add that you need a mechanism for them to hear phones and also for you to speak to them.
5. Don't force people to do office outings. Some people simply don't like the get-togethers (especially when it is sport and they're not into it)

[Houses4Rent]

Scrap all call centres

[IanF]

Watch The Internship all about google and interns then look at their offices in the movie for ideas.

[HR Solutions]

In our office we encourage creative thinking, creative leadership and often have brainstorming sessions with our staff.

[adrianh]

I read a interesting article about Hewlett Packard. Their view was that their people should be good at something, anything. The one plays guitar and the other dances or whatever. The company would take an interest, support and encourage whatever (within reason) they were into. There is no better way to motivate people than to help them reach a goal, whatever it might be. It is amazing to help and watch people grow. I'm not saying that you need to go watch their kid play soccer, I'm just saying that people who a supported in chasing their dreams, whatever those dreams might be, are happier and feel that their purpose is shared.

[Mike C]

Have small round tables raised to just below chest level so that a group can stand around them and use them for their notes and writing implements. Hold meetings around these tables with no chairs available. This will cut unnecssary time-wasting that usually happens at meetings.

[HR Solutions]

Richard Branson says :

Build a corporate comfort zone.
“Employees must feel free and encouraged to openly express themselves without rigid confines so they can do better work and make good, impactful decisions. It takes an engaged, motivated and committed workforce to deliver a first-class product or service and build a successful, sustainable enterprise.”

[desA]

One-legged stools.

[HR Solutions]

One-legged stools.

So everyone can "support" each other ?