A business office is not an Ashram, but everyone who has ever worked in an office knows what stressful places they can be. It really doesn’t matter what the nature of the business is or who runs it.  When it comes to running a successful business, it is necessary to think long and hard about the main hub of that business – the office. With the application of a few simple practices, you will find that you can easily create a Zen office.

Culture, engagement and happiness

From the hiring practices to how engaged employees are in the workplace, cultivating a positive office culture is really all about creating meaningful work that employees are engaged in. Research has shown that the more meaningful work, employees are more productive.  Employees also report greater job satisfaction.  In turn, this creates better results and decreases costly turnover.

Fairness, equality and feeling valuable

Fairness, equality and feeling valuable are key components of a Zen office. Most of us have worked in the kind of environment where no two people were treated the same.  This inequality is incredibly disruptive to even the strongest of businesses. Your business should reflect your values in its product and in its internal culture. That means not just treating people equally, but showing your employees you value them. By doing this they will reward the company in kind by producing quality work.

A focus on clear communication

Effective communication is essential for a successful office. This should be something that you champion above all else. Doing so is likely to encourage a forward-thinking working culture that will benefit both the people and the business.  This means talking about it with your colleagues and employees honestly, meeting with them about issues and learning and changing from mistakes.

Expect success and avoid fear

There is a saying in business, too much is a good problem to have. Too much can be managed, but there is nothing quite so disruptive to the working day as a stressed-out office. The truth is, excessive business is not necessarily a sign of success. More often than not, it is a sign that something has gone wrong. If you want to create a Zen office, everybody should be working with purpose, and that doesn’t mean running around like crazy.

When an office loses its sense of calm and decorum, the business really does suffer as a result. Don’t be afraid to have the appropriate amount of staff hired. This can trigger a fear of spending or that new hires might cause future firing, but his mindset operates in the realm of scarcity and fear. Running your business to succeed not only improves the possibility of success but creates a more positive office culture along the way.