First impressions of an office are important, especially in the business world. Within a few seconds, you might decide to pursue a deal with a new business partner, invest in someone’s idea or distance yourself from a potentially harmful cooperation. All of these scenarios are based on first impression. Someone’s tie, shoes, suit, hair, glasses and watch determine what they look like and whether you’ll trust them or not. The same goes for an office: the first time an associate steps into it, opinions are formed and they can see if you’re hard-working, organized or unreliable.
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Luckily, these things can be altered and you can make sure your office is giving off the right first impression.
Tidy or Not?
The most important thing is to keep your office tidy all the time. A clean office isn’t hard to manage and you’ll be able to move around it easily, and so will your guests. Just imagine an important business partner or a potential associate swinging by your office unexpectedly, only to find it messy and dirty. This could surely terminate your relationship before it reaches its full potential.
The factor of cleanliness is what separates a great office from a lousy one and, therefore, trustworthy business people from those who are undependable. Dirty, messy and smelly offices give off the worst first impression, so you should do something about it. Hiring commercial cleaners is a good idea, but do your part as well – declutter your office regularly and make sure everything is in order.
Organization
Your furniture can be messy as well – having too many pieces can make your office overstuffed and uninviting, which is never good. Hence, instead of displaying every piece of furniture you have, try arranging a more practical setup with just a few chairs and a table. This will look more professional and definitely make a better first impression. All you really need to do is provide space for your guests and make sure they’re feeling comfortable.
However, picking proper furniture can be tricky. What seems fine to you might not be suitable for business purposes, so you should always balance between a professional and comfortable look. If your guests have travelled a long way to see you, they should be able to relax before starting negotiations and making plans. If you’re located in Melbourne office furniture in your headquarters must accommodate someone who’s travelled a long way to meet with you. A certain level of comfort will help you make a better first impression.
The Desk
When it comes to organizing your desk, be very careful not to make one of the most common mistakes. Most people either overstuff their desks with all kinds of things or, go with a minimalistic approach and display almost nothing. However, this is all a manifestation of their personality – creative and imaginative people don’t mind having too many items on their desks, while more organized individuals lean towards minimalism.
If you want your desk to look professional, classy and respectable, just ensure it’s clean and organized. You may have too many possessions everywhere around it, but it’s all good as long as they’re properly arranged. Such a desk will show your clients or partners that you’re capable of maintaining order in your office and that this trait also reflects on your business endeavours.
Decorations
Most people aren’t sure whether they should decorate their offices or not. How many decorations are acceptable and how much is too much? Of course, having too many items is counterproductive as it will not only mess with your concentration but also make you look bad in front of other people. However, decorating your office tastefully only means that you want to add some joy to this space and make it seem more personal. This is true for big offices as well as small cubicles where your employees spend their days.
Other Considerations
Some of the other ways to make a good first impression are proper office lighting – it has to be illuminated adequately and not look like a dungeon – and the colour scheme: keep in mind that bright offices are more inviting and more suitable for conducting business.
