Small Layout Changes That Deliver Measurable Productivity Gains

Want your team to get more done without working longer hours?

Companies invest heavily in new software. They buy new tools and bring in new training. But often the quickest gains are already in front of them…

The desk.

Little tweaks to your layout can have huge impacts on your team’s attention. And the best part? Most of these changes are:

• Cheap to do
• Quick to set up
• Easy to measure

Here is how to do it…

Inside this guide:

1. Why Your Office Layout Is Costing You Hours
2. Change #1: Split Shared Desks With Desk Divider Clamps
3. Change #2: Set Up Screens At The Right Height
4. Change #3: Build Simple Focus Zones
5. Change #4: Kill The Clutter
6. How To Measure Your Results

Why Your Office Layout Is Costing You Hours

Distractions are expensive.

In a survey conducted by Logitech of 2,000 British workers, 71% said office distractions make them less productive. That same study estimated distractions cost businesses in the UK over 330 million hours annually.

That is a LOT of wasted time.

Noise is the number one enemy. Loud conversations, phone conversations and people walking by steal your attention from what you are working on. When you get distracted it takes time to get back into a working groove.

But here’s the thing…

You don’t have to tear down walls or relocate to another facility to make this happen. Simply adjusting the orientation of workstations can reduce interruptions quickly.

Change #1: Split Shared Desks With Desk Divider Clamps

Wall mounted desks save space. However, they subject individuals to face each other all day long.

That means more eye contact, more chatter and more interruptions.

Ideally you can install some sort of screen between every workstation. Desk divider clamps solve this problem because they attach to the edge of desks with no drilling required. One minute to fit a privacy screen that can be relocated when your team moves around. Screens that clamp on to desks like these workspace desk dividers give everyone their own personal space without closing down the office.

Pretty simple, right?

A good divider helps in three ways:

• Less visual noise: People aren’t distracted by movement across the desk.
• Better sound control: Fabric panels soak up some of the chatter.
• A sense of personal space: Staff feel like they have “their” spot.

How To Choose The Right Desk Divider Clamps

Not every clamp fits every desk. Before you buy, check these three things:

1. Desk thickness: Measure the thickness of the desktop first. If you have a thick desk, you will need a deeper clamp for your screen to sit tight against the desktop.
2. Panel height: The higher the screen, the more noise it will deflect. The shorter the screen, the easier it is to carry on conversations when necessary.
3. Position of clamp: Some desks clamp on to the side, some clamp on the end. Ensure yours lines up with where you want your screen to be.

If you get these adjustments correct, the screen will remain stable. No shaking every time someone pushes up against your desk!

Change #2: Set Up Screens At The Right Height

This one takes less than five minutes per desk.

If your monitor is too low… you crane your neck forward. If your monitor is too high… you tilt your head backwards. Either way your neck hurts and your eyes feel strained by lunchtime…

And tired people work slower.

The top of the monitor should be at eye level, about an arm’s length away. A monitor arm works well for this. Even a few stacked books will do. If you’re working on a laptop all day, attach a stand and use an external keyboard.

It seems simplistic. But comfort correlates directly with attention span.

Change #3: Build Simple Focus Zones.

Not all work is the same.

Some jobs require intense concentration. Others require collaboration and communication. The issue with many workplaces is they try to do both simultaneously.

A Plantronics report found 63% of workers do not have access to a quiet area to concentrate. Wow.

You can fix it by splitting the room into zones:

• Quiet zone: No calls or meetings. Screens up and headphones welcome.
• Team zone: Open desks for group work and quick chats.
• Call zone: A corner or small room for phone and video calls.

No construction work is required. Obvious signs, some screens and some desk rearranging will typically suffice. Place your quiet zone as far away from the kitchen, the printer and main walk through areas as possible.

Change #4: Kill The Clutter

A messy desk is a distracting desk.

Untidy desks with loose cables and piles of paper make it difficult to locate items and concentrate. Give yourself one afternoon to declutter and you’ll see the benefits immediately.

Start with these quick wins:

• Run cables through a tray under the desk
• Add a small drawer unit for paperwork
• Keep only the tools used every day on the desk itself

Clutter makes your space feel smaller and more chaotic. Desks that are cleared feel peaceful. Peaceful people generally make fewer mistakes.

How To Measure Your Results

Here’s where most businesses go wrong…

They change, but never follow up to see if it worked. Track some basic numbers before and after to demonstrate real gains:

1. Output: Tasks completed, tickets closed or sales calls made each week.
2. Interruptions: Have staff count how many times they are interrupted from doing work per day.
3. Staff feedback: Run a short survey on focus, comfort and noise.

Wait at least 4 weeks before you evaluate any change. Humans need time to adjust.

Next, compare the numbers. If output has increased and interruptions have decreased, you know you have a successful layout.

The Bottom Line On Layout Changes

You don’t need a huge budget to have BIG impacts. Making these minor adjustments to your desks will save your employees hours and hours each week. To review:

• Fit desk divider clamps to split shared desks
• Raise screens to eye level
• Create quiet, team and call zones
• Clear the clutter
• Measure before and after

Select one change, implement it and measure outcomes. Then proceed to the next change.

Rinse and repeat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are desk divider clamps?

Desk divider clamps are brackets that clamp a screen panel to the edge of a desk. They tightly grip onto the desktop, so there’s no need to drill holes. Desk divider clamps are therefore easy to fit, move and remove.

Do desk dividers really improve productivity?

Yes, they do. Dividers reduce visual clutter and aid in sound dampening between workstations. There will be less distractions which allows individuals to concentrate longer.

Will desk divider clamps damage my desk?

Most clamps are designed with cushioned pads to protect your desk surface. The only thing you need to ensure is that the clamp will fit the thickness of your desktop.