6 Ways to Make Your Team Feel at Home
Written By AD&V®
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | AD&V® is dedicated to advanced and energy-efficient sustainable architecture & interior design that enhances people’s experience of the world and improves their lives.
OUR WORKPLACE HAS TURNED INTO OUR SECOND HOME.
On average, we all spend about a third of our lives at work. That's a significant amount of time away from home and from loved ones. Since we tend to spend most of our days at work, it’s important to make the workplace a place where employees can feel good. Here are six ways to make your team feel more at home when at work:
1. PROMOTE HEALTHY TEAM RELATIONSHIPS
There's a level of comfort and support that comes from the trusted bonds formed among teams at work. Establishing open communication and a safe space for team members to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences is key to fostering team relationships. Psychological safety is imperative in the workplace.
Team building activities are also a great way to encourage teamwork and strengthen your team’s bond. By working together as a family, growing together, and protecting one another, you can bring a sense of belonging to the workplace, so your people can feel right at home.
2. FOCUS ON THEIR WELLBEING
A stressful work environment is detrimental to our health and wellbeing. Taking care of your team and looking out for their wellbeing makes good business sense. It will keep your team happy and healthy both at work and at home. At AD&V, we offer health insurance benefits, a wellness stipend, and mental health resources to encourage our team to stay healthy and motivated. A happy and healthy team that feels taken care of will consider their workplace an extension of home.
3. CREATE SPACES TO RECHARGE
Another way to make your team feel at home is to create spaces for them to recharge or socialize. Having designated areas where your team can meditate or take breaks just like they would have at home will provide them with outlets or environments to re-energize and stay focused.
4. OFFER A CUSTOM PERSONAL SPACE
Give your team the liberty to decorate their desk space with personal items that bring them joy. When people have a workspace with their favorite photos, accessories, or books, it helps them feel inspired and at home surrounded by the things they value and that make them happy.
5. PROVIDE COFFEE & SNACKS
Make coffee and healthy snacks available for your team to boost their energy. Ask the team if anyone has any dietary restrictions or food allergies so that everyone can enjoy their afternoon coffee or snack break just like they would at home.
6. INCORPORATE PLANTS
One of the best ways to make your team feel at home is to incorporate plants into their office space. Plants bring color and life into every space and are beneficial because they help reduce stress, clean the air, reduce noise levels, and boost creativity. Incorporating office plants will make team members feel right at home and help them feel better at work.
MORE THAN JUST AN OFFICE
The office should be more than a workplace; it should feel like a second home for employees. Providing your team with plants, their own space, opportunities to energize, wellness benefits, and open communication will give them the energy, peace, and joy they need to feel right at home. Having an office that feels like home will also make your team look forward to coming to work and feel like it is an extension of home and family. And just like family, you know you'll always be there for one another.
FURTHER READING: 5 WAYS GREAT OFFICE CULTURE BENEFITS EMPLOYEES