Workspace Stress – Sometimes, when we join or move into a new office. Unfortunately, it isn't a comfortable space – the lights are too dim, the air is chilly, and we are regularly distracted by new colleagues' loud conversations. We commute much further to the new office, and often arrive feeling tired, stressed, and irritable. I think these Work-space Stress impacts the team performance.
What should PM do minimize the work-space stress for his/her team? Saving Changes...
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Anton OosthuizenSenior Business Analyst / Project Manager| Self EmployedPretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
You are correct in your thinking that the workplace has an impact on team morale, and eventually performance. Nobody likes to work in a dungeon. But there are times where this is the reality i.e. I spend LOTS and LOTS of time in cold brightly lit windowless server rooms in my career. But that was not my primary space and this is what we are concerned with. Often the workspace is a card the team is dealt and they have to make it work, it's not going to change. Having a pause or coffee area that is a bit more inviting and making sure people make use of it sometimes helps. Getting consensus from the team on what lighting conditions, air temp etc. is acceptable and taking this back to building management to resolve it. Office space is the one place on earth where you will NEVER EVER satisfy everybody but aiming for a happy medium helps. Also, communicate good office etiquette so that everybody is aware of what is acceptable and what is not. Having an area where phone calls can be handled is great. Some office has these small telephone booths where you can have conversations in private. Saving Changes...
Sripriya NarayanasamyAuthor, Say Yes to Project Success| Director, KeyResultzChennai, Tamilnadu, India
Great discussion Shadav. While we project managers really do not have a hold on the office space, we can really change it to suit our needs.
If the lights are dim or too bright, we can always make HR look at it. Light is very essential especially when you have teams working late or round the clock.
Even the chairs or seating arrangements need to be comfortable as we spend most of the time there.
As PM, we need to make sure the Ergonomics wing / HR is involved when you have a move. People will get frustrated when the comfort factor goes for a toss due to the move Saving Changes...
While a PM should try to make the work environment as conducive to team high performance as possible, how much they can do really depends on the power structure of the company. If they are working in a weak matrix or functional organization, the best they can hope for is to influence the people managers to lobby for changes on their behalf. In a project-oriented organization, they may have sufficient political clout to be able to get such changes pushed through on their own.
You are right. Work environment has to do with the quality and efficiency of work being done. However, the project manager should enforce some rules and regulations to provide the team with a good work environment. Saving Changes...
A lot depends on organisation structure. In more established places, would be department’s champion working with facilities management, although can still be blurred or avoidance tactic by the accoutable person. Create the right noises collectively normally works. Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
In this situation, focus on people's attitudes and what can be changed.
The company may be willing to address some things.
Also talk to the team and ask for ideas of how to make it better. You may be able to move the desks a bit. Some people may decide to bring a lamp in to help with the lighting. We have never been allowed space heaters due to them blowing circuits and fire concerns. But I brought a heating pad in and will sit on it at low heat. Having a heated seat helps. Noise cancelling headphones can help block out conversations. I use them some days and will listen to light music or no music. If you approach it as a team looking for ways to make things better then you will also build a comradery.
There is not much that can be done about the commute except to car pool if possible. If driving long distance, books on tape can make the drive quicker.
I was in an absolutely hideous location once in the basement of the DOJ building in DC. It was right off of the parking garage, so we smelled gas fumes from the cars throughout the day. There was a blind turn so cars would honk their horns right outside of our room. There were huge black flies everywhere. When we asked one of the maintenance people about them, they said they were the result of them killing the huge rats that ran around the office. The bathroom was so far away that we had to plan in advance to go to it. To try to keep it from getting to us, we would laugh about things. We would go for walks at lunchtime to get away. We tried to make the best out of it. Saving Changes...
