Monday Morning Meetings at Carrwood

WorkWell on September 7, 2018

Monday Morning Meetings at WorkWell

Think of your Monday morning meeting as a productivity booster for your team

This week, given the beautiful weather we have been grateful to receive lately, we decided to conduct our weekly management meeting in one of our outdoor areas. Ok, so we know we are incredibly blessed to have 120 acres to play with, and not everyone has access to rural areas within their workplaces, but at WorkWell, we have it, so we’re going to use it!

Natural light, a bit of vitamin D and countryside sights are an idyllic way to start the week, but it’s not just all about supporting staff well-being; we also place a high value on increasing productivity in the workplace.

The objective of a Monday morning meeting is to ensure everyone in your team has a clear picture of the week’s objectives against your monthly/quarterly plan and how the objectives can be met, along with the progress to date. The meeting should be held in a private room and needs to have a clear and concise agenda, and at the same time, each Monday, if possible.

Without a Monday morning meeting, your team may not have a clear idea of what the expectations are for the week. Take this time to ensure your team is informed, motivated, and any issues from the previous week are addressed.

Think of the Monday morning meeting as a weekly productivity booster. Equally, it is not a training/discussion time. If that is necessary, then you may want to consider holding a more formal meeting with an agenda right after the meeting/a lunch and learn with only those people required.

Here are our top tips on how to utilise your Monday meetings effectively:

  • Information is key! Up-to-date news is important.
  • A week’s plan is essential. How are we going to meet our objectives for the week? Don’t forget to review your progress from the week before against your month/quarterly plan.
  • Motivational! Where possible, try the good news – bad news – good news approach. You want your team to understand the issues, but ensure your team is ready for a productive week.

Once you have a few Monday morning meetings, your team will look forward to them because they know they don’t take much time, and the information they receive will make their day/week more productive.

Working remotely? Six essential tech tools every remote office worker needs

WorkWell on June 2, 2018

Remote working is indisputably on the rise, primarily thanks to dramatic improvements in IT and telecommunications technology.

In 2016, the TUC found that remote working had increased by 20% (an increase of 241,000 workers) compared to the previous 10 years. This year, a new report has suggested that a significant 89% of employees see remote working as the number one motivator to boost productivity. This is a figure that many businesses will be keeping a close eye on with a view to implementing more flexible and remote working in the immediate future.

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Failing to secure that perfect client? Here’s why…

WorkWell on December 12, 2017

Every business owner has that one dream client. Someone that’s fun to work with, easy to communicate with and makes your financial life a whole lot easier.

But they’re called ‘dream clients’ for a reason. Most businesses won’t ever get to work with their dream client without a lot of effort and years of building up a reputation.

As a business leader, you’ll probably know the struggle; months of hard work warming up a lead, establishing a relationship with them and staying up all night working on that perfect pitch, only to lose out to another company. It feels like a waste of time, and it’s understandably very demotivating.

But there’s no need to let this get you down. With the right amount of research and creativity, you’ll have no problem winning your dream client. And if that still isn’t enough, then it could be wise to ask yourself these questions…

Have you done your research?

To deliver the perfect pitch, you should know everything about the people you’re pitching to. From knowing the business’s main services to something as precise as the business owner’s favourite food, it all helps. Knowing some of the smaller details can help you connect on a more personal note, which could end up being the deciding factor for whether or not you secure your dream client.

For a while, there’s been an argument that a B2B/B2C approach to marketing should be replaced by ‘human-to-human marketing’. It’s certainly something to consider when crafting your pitch. Appealing to the human side of a business is sure to help with your case, and being able to relate to your potential client, even having a bit of fun and laughter, is a great way to do this. Take time to research your meeting attendees. Take a look at LinkedIn, on their business website, and maybe even ask some of your mutual connections for a few inside tips.

Is your pitch bespoke enough?

When pitching to clients, reusing a presentation and changing a few slides simply won’t suffice. You need to take the time to create a bespoke pitch, taking into account some of the things you may have discovered when researching the business. For example, if you find that your dream client has ties with someone you already work with, why not include a video testimonial with that familiar face?

Have you been creative enough?

Demonstrating your ability to use a creative approach is only going to bode well. It shows that you’re willing to think outside the box and try something different. Of course, creativity is very subjective. This is where knowing who you’re pitching to will come in useful. If you were trying to win over a more corporate firm, you could include a creative, professional design on your presentation. But with a more laid-back company, something as simple as a funny-but-relevant video could work! It’s important to bear in mind that your choice of creativity could either make or break your pitch. If something doesn’t align with their brand, it can be a major turn-off.

Does your meeting room reflect your brand?

One part of a winning pitch that is often overlooked is the location where it takes place. Spending hours researching the potential client and crafting that perfect pitch will all be for nothing if your meeting room is below the mark. Do you want to come across as a credible, forward-thinking business? Then your meeting room needs to reflect that, too. We’d always advise going to see the meeting room for yourself before signing on the dotted line, so you can really make sure that it aligns with your brand.

It’s also important to consider some of the finer details, such as the location of your meeting room, whether there is a reception service and the IT infrastructure. How far would your delegates need to travel? Could a friendly receptionist greeting them on entry be a difference maker? Do you want to risk losing a dream client to a technical fault?

Securing your dream client doesn’t have to be a dream. Asking yourself these questions can help in understanding what you need to do to deliver that winning pitch. With the right amount of research, hard work and determination, there’s no reason why you can’t secure your dream client.

Are you looking for a luxury meeting room in Leeds or Harrogate? From our 4-person suites to our board rooms, all our meeting rooms are of the highest quality. Your delegates will also benefit from superfast WiFi, seamless IT infrastructure and a truly inspiring environment. Why not arrange a viewing at WorkWell today?

The future of office furniture pt. 2: office acoustics

WorkWell on November 4, 2017

Studies show that workers lose, on average, 21.5 minutes a day due to conversational distractions. A noisy office has also been proven to increase stress levels and dramatically decrease employee productivity – workers can be up to 66% less productive when exposed to just one nearby conversation.

Whilst workers in closed-plan offices can still fall victim to noise distractions, workers in open-plan offices can often experience these distractions on a much greater scale. With open plan offices making up 54% of UK offices and 70% of US offices, office acoustics are becoming a necessity for more and more businesses.

In the second instalment of our ‘The future of office furniture’ blog series, we take a look at some of the different office acoustic solutions that are becoming prevalent in office spaces around the world.

Acoustic pods

Acoustic office pods can be a great way to escape from the general noise and clutter of an open office. They can provide ideal spaces for both formal and informal meetings, somewhere to have a private conversation, or just a quiet space to get some work done. These pods come in various shapes and sizes, depending on their purpose – there are even acoustic pods designed specifically for people to make phone calls.

Not only can these pods be great for acoustics, but they also fit really well into the modern office, generally available in a range of bright colours. If you read our last blog, you’ll know that this can be a great way to boost the creativity and productivity of staff.

Sound masking

Sound masking has been around for years, although people still aren’t aware of what it is. It is the introduction of an unobtrusive background sound, such as the sound of air moving through the office, in order to reduce distractions. This sound is usually distributed through hidden speakers, for example, in the ceiling.

Sound masking has many proven benefits, such as productivity gains of 8-28%, job satisfaction increases of between 125% to 174%, and stress reductions of up to 27%. With these kinds of results, it’s no surprise that companies have been using this solution since the 1960s. Although sound masking has been a part of office spaces for such a long time, we predict that it’s going to be used a lot more in the future.

Acoustic panels

Acoustic sound panels are becoming the norm in offices – you will probably have seen some of these panels on the ceilings, floors or walls of an office at some point, without even noticing their real purpose! The sound panels are often built to look visually appealing and to blend in with the general style of the office, whilst simultaneously reducing noise.

As well as appearing directly on ceilings, floors and walls, these sound panels are now being suspended from the ceiling, and are generally designed to look artistic. We think this is a great way to make your office look more ‘21st century’.

Acoustic panels can also be used in places you probably wouldn’t have considered. How many chairs do you have in your office? Desks? Storage cabinets? All of these things can be altered to help reduce the noise in your office. Investing in furniture with acoustic sound panels is one of the best ways of reducing noise in the office, simply because there is so much different furniture and appliances that you can add these panels to.

You’ll always get a better result if you buy professional acoustic furniture or if you move into serviced offices that already contain acoustic furniture. But there’s nothing to stop you from trying to make some of the simpler surfaces, such as your desk, more soundproof. Soft materials, like fabrics, are generally what you need to break up noise, although these 10 materials would also work well. Why not even consider buying some soft rugs for your office?

Remember to subscribe to the WorkWell blog for the next instalment of our ‘The future of office furniture’ series, where we will be looking at some of the different ways offices are becoming more eco-friendly.

Want to reap the benefits of an acoustic office without the hassle of having to sort everything out yourself? Why not book a viewing at one of WorkWell’s high-quality serviced offices, fully equipped with the latest in office acoustics?

Top 6 entrepreneur blogs for 2017

WorkWell on October 1, 2017

Entrepreneur blogs 2017.jpg

Which are the best advice blogs for entrepreneurs, small businesses and start-ups? With so many experts sharing advice for business owners on succeeding within a highly competitive landscape in 2016, you could spend your whole working week reading them all.

To save you time and help you refocus, we’ve sifted through and picked out some of our favourite best entrepreneur blogs for 2017. Enjoy!

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5 ways to create an office space to rival Google

WorkWell on August 8, 2017

It’s well-known that some of the most successful brands in the world have amazing offices. Tech giants such as Google, Apple, Facebook, and Dropbox are well known for their impressive workspaces, as well as for the enviable productivity levels they’re said to create.

There are many reasons to aspire to have a great office. Not only can the right office seriously impress potential clients, it can also completely change the ethos of your workplace and ensure your staff are more effective, happier and more loyal.

This is a key consideration for companies of any size, as happy employees are “an essential starting point of a sustainable business.”

What can we learn from the best offices in the world?

Google’s office is undoubtedly one of the most engaging workspaces in the world. It has indoor trees, slides, themed breakout areas, a stage and even a cinema.

Though most businesses may not have the office design budget to create something on the same scale, there’s still a lot to learn from how Google and similar companies have put together their workplace.

1. Choose your office wisely

The space you choose for your office will have a big impact on how successful the final environment is. For best results, look for a space with plentiful natural light that’s big enough to house your current team, plus space to grow.

If you’re looking for a new home for your business, why not come and check out some of the best offices in Leeds or Harrogate, here at WorkWell? We’d love to give you a tour of our space and talk about what you could create here.

2. Build fun breakout spaces

From Airbnb to Urban Outfitters, the owners of the most effective offices in the world know that breakout space is vital. They have also come to understand the importance of collaborative spaces that are fun to work in. Why not take inspiration from BBC North’s padded work pods or Zynga’s artificial indoor grass?

3. Incorporate greenery

Speaking of grass, abundant greenery is another common feature of successful workspaces. Plants in the workplace have been proven to reduce stress, increase productivity, reduce absence, increase creativity, reduce noise and improve air quality. Companies already enjoying all these benefits include Amazon, who have 40,000 plants in their Seattle biodome campus.

 As well as plants within the office space, our Leeds offices, Brookfield Court and Carrwood Park are home to over 1200 trees. Surrounding our offices here – perfect for green immersion during break times! 

4. Encourage employees to exercise

We all know that movement is good for us, but it isn’t always easy to incorporate this into our working day, especially for those of us who work sedentary jobs. Many companies have worked to counteract this by building exercise spaces into their office. This could be a gym, such as they have at Dropbox, basketball hoops like at Google or even pool tables like Nokia. Carrwood Park is set among over 100 acres of green space, which we encourage residents to walk in and enjoy during their lunch breaks.

5. Offer private spaces

Though open collaborative working has many benefits, it can also be good for employee morale to offer the option of quieter, more private spaces when they want it. Google’s honeycomb pods and Pallotta Teamwork’s pallet offices are great examples of this.

What could you learn from all this?

Creating an environment with appeal helps you to retain staff and optimise their output. It can also help you physically demonstrate the kind of culture your workplace upholds, whether that’s creating inclusive environments accessible for all, or you’re incorporating fun activity-based spaces to show your staff you care about their wellbeing.

Every element of your office environment shapes the experience had in it.  Inspired to create your own iconic workspace? We’d love to work with you to make it a reality. Take a look at some of the benefits of investing in our serviced office suites here at WorkWell.

Why the tech industry still needs office space

WorkWell on June 6, 2017

The tech industry is the fastest-growing sector in the UK. It has been reported that the industry is growing faster than the UK economy, and the number of tech jobs has grown at more than twice the rate of jobs in other sectors.

This is great news for digital businesses and the wider business scene as a whole. Industry growth means that many digital companies are naturally growing, bringing with them the challenges that come with expansion.

One of the key challenges to consider here is how to choose the right office space. After all, the more employees a company recruits, the more space it will need to house them all.

But does the tech industry need traditional office space?

The growing tech industry has brought with it a whole host of exciting tools and platforms that have revolutionised the way we do business. Video conferencing software, online collaboration tools and cloud-based software have all made it easier than ever for employees to work flexibly from home.

So if this is the case, couldn’t all employees just work from home, eliminating the need for traditional office space?

Though this is certainly an interesting proposal in some ways, we believe that office space is still a vital part of running a successful business, no matter what industry you’re in. A growing number of businesses now even choose to have a traditional workplace, whilst also offering flexible working options to get the best of both worlds.

Why is office space still so important?

High-quality office space is important for companies for a number of reasons. This includes:

  • Productivity – Different employees work best in different environments, and many employees do their best work within an office with their colleagues around them.
  • Creativity and innovation – The tech industry is very creative. In order to maintain this innovation, it is important for employers to foster the type of environment where ideas can flow. If you’re having trouble with employee creativity, these are some ways to get the creative juices flowing in your workplace.
  • Collaboration – Teamwork is a vital part of the working process in all businesses. Collaborative working tends to be most successful when it is done face to face, as things can often get lost in translation via other methods of communication.
  • Prestige – Office space can also be an effective way to improve the image of your business. An executive office suite can attract new talent, add weight to client pitches and impress industry leaders.
  • Security – When working with sensitive data, it’s important to be able to limit access to the server. This is easier to do when you can limit access to a single office IP address rather than trying to account for employees working from home.
  • Sociability – The best working relationships are formed over time when employees work together face to face in an office environment. You’ll be able to form a much closer team, which will only have a positive effect on your business.

Why choose an office space in Leeds?

Leeds is lucky to be part of the northern tech powerhouse. These clusters of digital companies span across Leeds, Hull, Manchester, Sheffield/Rotherham, Liverpool, Sunderland, and the Newcastle/Durham area. Together they employ approximately 283,500 people and produce an estimated £9.9billion.

Want to rent an office suite right in the heart of this powerhouse? We’d love to show you what we have to offer at WorkWell. Our Leeds and Harrogate office spaces are both flexible and impressive. Why not book a viewing to see for yourself?

 

5 essential productivity tools to keep your business running over Christmas

WorkWell on May 12, 2017

5 essential productivity tools to keep your business running over Christmas

When it comes to the festive period, preparation really is key. Instead of letting your employees switch off in the run-up to Christmas, losing vital productivity, why not use this time to get ahead on work?

Some effective productivity-boosting techniques include encouraging healthy eating, introducing some competition and reviewing your office environment. But with the rise of digital technology, an endless list of time-saving tools has been created, some of which we’ve talked about before.

Combine the productivity-boosting techniques we mentioned above with these 5 essential tools and you’ll be able to truly sit back and relax over the Christmas break.

1. Mailchimp

This email marketing software is a great tool to keep your customers engaged over Christmas. You can use Mailchimp to create a range of exciting email campaigns with anything from New Year promotional offers to a festive message from the team. The great thing about this free tool is that it’s really easy to use. You can choose from various ready-made templates and then drag and drop different segments to customise the email to match your brand. Mailchimp even allows you to schedule your emails in advance – why not schedule a ‘Merry Christmas’ email to go out to your customers on Christmas Day with a special deal or promotion?

2. Buffer

With over 65 million businesses using Facebook, you may be one of the many people checking your company’s social media accounts over the Christmas break. You can use this easy tool to schedule posts across a wide range of social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Your marketing department could write some posts to keep you going over the festive period and then use Buffer to schedule them. This means you won’t have the unnecessary pressure to constantly check your social media over Christmas, so you can all take the break you deserve. Of course, if you do end up checking your Twitter timeline, you can still live-post too!

3. Google Docs

As a business leader, it’s only realistic that we’ll end up doing some work over the Christmas period no matter how hard we try. Google Docs can be a fantastic tool for collaborating on work remotely. This means that if you want to stay at home and relax by the fire with a warm cup of mulled wine whilst doing some work, you can! It’s really easy to use and you can also share documents with other people. Google Docs allows you to work on a document at the same time as your team, and you can even see each other’s changes as they happen.

4. Twilert

Use this insightful tool to keep track of any brand mentions on Twitter over the festive period. You don’t want to be constantly checking notifications across your break, so you can get real-time email alerts from Twilert any time that your brand is mentioned. You can even customise your search results to exclude certain keywords and only show tweets from certain locations. Use this great tool along with Buffer to keep your Twitter followers engaged over Christmas.

5. Virtual office

With a virtual office, you won’t need to worry about answering your phone over the Christmas break. Of course, you could always record an out of office voicemail, but does that promote the professional image that your customers are looking for? It’s essential for your business to be presented as professional and reliable. With a business phone number at Carrwood Park all of your calls will be answered within just three rings by a friendly, experienced receptionist. Now that’s the kind of service your customers deserve…

Using a combination of these tools and other tools we’ve mentioned before, you’ll have the freedom to take some well-deserved time off this Christmas. For more business advice, why not subscribe to WorkWell?

A virtual office at WorkWellcan be a great way to establish and build the credibility of your brand, from our Virtual Leadership Package to our Reception Answering Service & DDI Membership. Call our friendly team today on 0113 385 4480 to find out more about our virtual office packages.