It’s no surprise that The Sundance Company is a commercial real estate leader as well as a strategic link in providing quality and desirable office and industrial space in the Boise metropolitan area. Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs in Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and the greater Treasure Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.5 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime Boise and Meridian locations.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The decision to leave an organization doesn’t just happen overnight. Usually, the conditions have been around for a long time, slowly draining the employee’s enthusiasm and desire to bring their best selves to work every day. As Phil Johnson, founder, and CEO of The Master of Business Leadership, says, “The drama, chaos, and conflict experienced in these toxic work environments leads to low levels of employee engagement.” Here are issues that slowly drain a person’s desire to work for an organization:
Lack of appreciation
People spend a great deal of time at work, and if they get the feeling that they’re not being appreciated, it will slowly drain their energy and desire to give their best. The lack of appreciation can show up in various forms. Lack of recognition for their accomplishments is a key example. When we are working hard, and doing good work, and nobody seems to notice, it kills our desire to continue to do more. Another area is a lack of caring or taking an interest in our special interests, talents, and life outside of work. When we spend so much time at work, we expect others to take an interest in us as unique individuals, with special talents, needs, struggles, and home situations. And we want the people we report to support us when we are going through difficult times.
“When employees feel a genuine connection with their leader, their role, and the organization, they are stronger collaborators and communicators, and are more engaged,” explains Debbie Muno, managing director of Genos North America.
Unfairness and criticism
While there are different levels of talent and responsibilities within organizations, we expect the standards for promotions and rules of conduct to be applied equally to employees in the organization. Few things are as upsetting as when organizational rules they’re expected to follow are not adhered to by the higher-ups.
Another sore point that really drains performance is when people perceive that promotions are given based on favoritism rather than meritocracy. The resentment and anger resulting from these actions, or just the perception of them, create a toxic culture that causes good people to leave.
Allowing no autonomy
To feel fulfilled in our work, we need to have some say in what our work looks like. Whether we have a choice on what we work on, have a say in company goals, or have a say in work-related decisions, we need to have choices to feel fulfilled in our careers.
The best work happens when leaders trust us to know what to do and can count on us to do it well. Managers who act as guides and coaches—and are approachable when employees have problems—will see their staff perform much better than those who micromanage and allow their people little discretion over how their work is done.
Showing no interest in employees’ passions
Organizations that expect employees to do their jobs without considering what they are passionate about not only miss out on harnessing those passions, but also alienate their people. It takes work, effort, and getting to know people to find out what their passions are. Unfortunately, many workplaces don’t have the desire to find out. As a result, those who believe employees are hired simply to fill a position and should leave their passions at home will find significant turnover among their teams. After some time, these team members will be looking at other companies known for an employee-first culture.
On the other hand, those organizations that do make the effort to find the connections between their people’s work and their passions will see an increase in productivity, higher rates of job satisfaction, and a happier workplace overall. To that end, author Debbie Peterson recommends utilizing psychometric questionnaires. “[These] can ensure employees are in roles where their skills and personalities can shine and ensure the longevity of the employee and their employment as well as the performance of the organization,” explains Peterson.
One size fits all approach
Many organizations have an Employee Appreciation Day once a year when everyone is acknowledged and treated the same. The problem is that not everyone has the same skills, contributes equally, or regularly brings the same effort. Receiving the same recognition as someone who does the least work possible upsets those who go above and beyond, bring extra enthusiasm to their work, and give their best every day.
Not only should people be recognized for their achievements, but they also should be able to communicate how they wish to be recognized. In my book, The Other Kind of Smart, I talk about how important it is to get to know people to appreciate them in a way that powerfully connects with them.
Lack of meaning
One thing millennials have become known for is wanting their work to have meaning and to feel that they are making a difference. Previous generations have wanted this as well but settled for less as they believed the workplace was not the place where this was possible. Now, millennials are a major part of our workplace and are rising to leadership positions. Finally, organizations have started to pay attention.
Organizations must create a vision and share it with their people in a way that ensures everyone understands how their contribution makes a difference. Everyone wants to feel pride in their work and in the organization, they work for. This will become increasingly important as younger generations, crucial to an organization’s success, demand this.
Lack of fun and play
In previous decades, the idea that we should have fun at work would have left leaders aghast. Work was work, and people were expected to have fun outside of the workplace. We have since come to understand that having fun at work is a great way to invigorate people, and give them something to look forward to even alleviate stress and boredom. “For instance, [some] high-tech firms now encourage employees to take table tennis breaks,” says Peterson, “with the added benefit that it promotes physical and neurological fitness.”
When people are not only allowed, but encouraged, to have fun in their workplace, they are more relaxed, are able to build camaraderie with their colleagues, and are motivated to perform better.
Portions of this article originally appeared on the Cresa website.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
We live in a chaotic world. Between work, family obligations, personal life, volunteering, and the dozens of other responsibilities you may shoulder, there’s a lot to juggle!
In this article, we will offer five techniques to help you reorganize and reprioritize your personal or work schedule. In doing so, you may also reduce feelings of disorder and mental clutter.
What leads to scheduling issues?
Lack of boundaries – It is so tempting to say “yes” to every opportunity that comes your way. Coffee with a client? Yes! Meeting with colleagues? Yes! Drinks with old friends? Yes! Helping at the kids’ school? Yes! And since virtual work has blurred boundaries between home and work life, these struggles have become increasingly common. You may find yourself over-committing more than ever. (“Well, it’s just a virtual meeting. I can make that work!”) But “yes” after “yes” will start to add up, leading to a calendar with no time to recharge and inevitable scheduling conflicts.
Lack of attention to detail – Failure to properly fill out your calendar with the full details of an obligation—such as the time of the meeting, the frequency, or what exactly the meeting is—can also lead to scheduling issues. Even more dramatically, failure to write down the meeting at all can lead to forgotten responsibilities altogether.
Digital overload – Feel like you are on screen all the time? You are not alone. That feeling of needing to be always connected to your phone or computer, even as your mental health suffers, is digital overload. Taking your scheduling offline, such as through a desk calendar or planner, offers plenty of advantages and also reduces the risk of digital overload. For instance, physically writing down a task requires you to pay more attention, which may help you remember your appointments better.
What happens when I overschedule?
Simply put, overscheduling negatively impacts your health—both emotionally and physically.
When you feel too busy, you may start feeling anxious or stressed. You may feel inadequate or overwhelmed. Especially as you start missing obligations or being unable to fully do what you’ve committed to do; you may feel incompetent or guilty. These symptoms may be particularly acute for those who derive a sense of self from managing a packed calendar.
You may also experience physical effects. This can come from a few sources. First, you may be so overscheduled that you simply don’t have time to take care of yourself. You may drop exercise to fit in your obligations. Or you may grab fast food on the way from one appointment to the next instead of sitting down for a home-cooked meal. Or you may skip meals altogether.
Second, your packed and overwhelming schedule may result in physical manifestations of stress. You may start feeling muscle tension and headaches from stress. You may have trouble sleeping, leading to fatigue and even more stress. You may start experiencing stomach issues. You may even be put at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Overscheduling also impacts your productivity. Multitasking, or trying to do two or more tasks simultaneously, takes a beating on the brain. Your brain really can’t do it. Instead, it must switch quickly from task to task, leading to inefficiency, lack of focus, and distraction.
Finally, overscheduling can take a toll on your personal relationships. When you leave little time for those you care about, they may feel left out, lonely, or angry. Eventually, your relationships can suffer.
Techniques to help declutter your schedule
Feeling ready to tackle that appointment book? Below, we offer five tips on how to declutter your schedule and get you back on track.
Start Fresh. If your old calendar system isn’t working for you, it may be time to start fresh. Consider pivoting back to paper. There are plenty of ways paper planners have advantages over digital, including reducing distraction, aiding memory, increasing motivation, and lowering stress. Having a clean page can also be just what you need to assess your commitments and feel good about the days ahead. You may also want to consider getting your physical desktop and your computer desktop organized, which helps to banish mental clutter as well. When your overall office is organized, you’re more organized. You just might find that with a fresh desk organization system and fresh planner, you’ll feel ready to conquer the world (and your schedule)!
Don’t forget to eat. Although there are 24 hours in a day, you don’t have 24 hours to devote to work and personal projects. There are some “fixed expenses,” as Elizabeth Grace Saunders writes for Harvard Business Review. These fixed expenses are the most basic of self-care. They are wellness activities that you do every day and include sleeping, eating, and personal grooming (like showering and brushing your teeth). Let’s say this is how much time you need for each of these:
Sleeping: Eight hours Eating: One hour Personal grooming: One hour
When you add these all up, you get 10 hours of fixed expenses that you need to factor into every day. Subtract 10 from 24 and you get 14 hours left to play with. If your work, hobbies, personal activities, commuting, volunteering, and other activities add up to more than 14 hours, you’re overscheduled. You can’t really get it all done. Being realistic about your time will help you learn when you need to say no.
Color-code or categorize your events. If you have commitments from many aspects of your life – such as work, social, and volunteering-it can be hard to keep track of what’s what. Whether you have a digital or a paper calendar, try color-coding your events to make it easy to read briefly and give you a sense of where your time is going. If you’re sticking with a digital calendar, you can either create different colors for events or add them to different calendars. If you’re on paper, a simple highlighter will do the trick.
Don’t forget the details. All the color coding in the world won’t be helpful if you don’t accurately write down your commitments. Add the commitment to your calendar as soon as you can. Be sure to include what the commitment is when it is and for how long, and where it is. If it’s an online commitment, add the online meeting info so you can easily get to the meeting when it’s time without sorting through your inbox. The key is to have all the information at your fingertips so you know exactly what it is you are committed to doing and can get there on time and be ready to participate.
Do a commitment audit. Take a hard look at your (newly color-coded!) calendar. To borrow a Marie Kondo phrase—do your commitments spark joy? Do they further your goals, whatever they may be? Personal success? Deepening relationships? Giving back to the community? If they don’t, maybe it’s time to trim down. Sometimes it’s hard to let something go. But when your overscheduling is affecting your physical and mental health, it needs to be a priority. Try going through your monthly calendar and taking out three commitments. You may find that the extra space brings you much more joy than the stress of over-commitment.
Portions of this article originally appeared on the Quill website.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
Many companies have rolled out hybrid work strategies as part of the widespread ‘return to office’ taking place. While any degree of remote work would seem to lessen the strain on urban roadways and infrastructure, the data tells another story. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday have emerged as the most popular days for workers to commute to the office, which has driven congestion on those days back to pre-pandemic rates – sometimes even higher.
In the meantime, long commute times don’t have to be wasted. Bus, train, and car commuters can use their travel time to reflect, refocus, catch up on email to jumpstart the day, or even squeeze in some professional development. For those looking to hone their work skills, here are some of my favorite podcasts to make the most of my commute:
Each week, former consultant and professional coach Pete Mockaitis interviews high performers and business leaders about their proven strategies to boost productivity and maximize impact.
This long-running, beloved podcast brings listeners stories that celebrate diversity and the human experience.
Portions of this article originally appeared on the Cresa website.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
Here’s all you need to know about the benefits of plants, their potential impact on job performance, and some of the best office plants for sprucing up your workspace.
Benefits of Plants in the Office: Why Are Plants Good for the Office?
After more than two years of remote work, many employees would probably appreciate coming back to a homey atmosphere. This is where office plants come in, which are perfect for evoking a sense of calm and comfort and making a space feel more inviting. In fact, psychologists at the University of Surrey found that biophilic design (the use of natural elements indoors) can promote stress reduction and enhance overall mood.
That’s because looking at natural scenery activates the brain’s pleasure center, explains a study in the PLOS One Journal. According to the researchers, “Natural elements and sunlight exposure related positively to job satisfaction and organizational commitment, and negatively to depressed mood and anxiety.”
Just looking at a real plant, reveals the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health “can induce physiological relaxation and reduce stress, tension, and anxiety.”
Not only can office plants improve morale, but it also turns out they can have an impact on your organization’s bottom line: As research from the University of Exeter points out, enhancing a space with office plants can lead to 15 percent more productivity by boosting employees’ physical, cognitive, and emotional investment in their work.
What Are the Best Plants to Keep in Office?
Looking for good office plants? When picking a plant variety for the office, look for species that are:
Low maintenance enough to thrive indoors with minimal access to direct sunlight
Mostly green — this color relieves stress and anxiety, whereas plants with red leaves or flowers can be draining to look at for long periods of time, note the University of Surrey researchers
Natural air purifiers — as plants that remove toxins from the atmosphere boost overall immune function, reports Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, which means less absenteeism
Best Office Plants
Here are the 10 best office plants to consider:
Snake plant
Lucky bamboo
Zanzibar gem
Peace lily
Bird’s nest fern
Spider plant
Monstera
English ivy
Neon pothos
Jade plant
Caring for Office Plants
Fortunately, taking care of office plants like the ones listed above doesn’t have to require a huge time commitment. Here are some basic tips to keep in mind:
Don’t forget to “feed” your office plants. Plants don’t just need water — they also need key nutrients to thrive. Look for a plant food best suited to your species of plant and their stage of life and follow directions carefully on when to feed them — as it’s possible to both overfeed and underfeed plants.
Know how much light is needed. All the plant varieties listed above can grow in a moderate to the low-light environment, but they’ll need at least some access to light to remain healthy. Natural light is the best option, so situate your plants close to a window, if possible, but a grow lamp with about a 4,000–6,000K bulb will work too. You may want to experiment with a few different locations around the office until you find just the right corner for your plants to soak in the light.
Strike the perfect watering balance. Some plants need water several times a week, while others only require it once or twice a month. Research the correct water frequency and amount for your species; too much water damages the root system, while not enough causes the leaves to wilt or droop. One way to find out if your plant needs water is to check the soil. If it’s damp, hold off on watering and allow the moisture to absorb entirely, but if it’s parched, this is a sign your plant could use some more H2O.
Portions of this article originally appeared on the Quill.com website.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction, or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
Here are five tech trends that Allwork.Space predicts will alter the future of work in 2023.
1. Workplace tech will become more accessible
Workplace tech will most likely become simpler to use and accessible for all and should be intuitive in the ways that it supports a team’s collaboration and work.
Organizations are beginning to consider, more and more, how they can make work more accessible in a way that fosters productivity.
Jeff Lowe, EVP, and HR Head at SMART Technologies shared his thoughts on tech in the new year.
“Overall sentiment when considering workplace tech for 2023 should be how the three legs of the stool need to align: Facilities, HR, and Tech,” Lowe said. “It’s not just tech in isolation that’s going to solve anything. It’s how workplace design, flexible policies, and collaborative tech align that will define if the workplace tech provides value to remote, hybrid, and in-person workers.”
Tech investment will increasingly be made with flexible policies in place, and companies should address what it looks like when colleagues come into the office and need spaces for collaborative, connected work.
2. AI/automation will prove that it can make employees’ lives easier
“As we head into 2023, we are seeing renewed efforts to provide an excellent employee experience, which includes access to technology that makes employees’ jobs easier,” Jennifer Kraszewski, Vice President of Human Resources at Paycom, told Allwork.Space.
Artificial intelligence such as Siri and Alexa will become more common in the work sphere. Voice search technology has rapidly advanced in the last decade, and 41% of adults and 55% of teens now use voice search daily.
This type of AI is faster than typing, and voice tech might make its way out of the home and into the workplace in 2023.
“Greater integration with emerging technology will afford more automation and AI assistance that improves efficiencies, saves time, and reduces redundancy frustrations, creating better work-life harmony,” said Kayla Lebovitz, CEO, and Founder of Bundle Benefits.
The technological revolution that is underway will continue to uproot how people work, showcasing more effective work options in the digital space.
According to Lebovitz, the emerging technology convergence will deliver more opportunities to connect people remotely — with as much as a 40% increase in virtual collaboration and communication.
“Technology trends for 2023 will be all about consolidating what we all learned during the pandemic, namely prioritizing technology solutions which not only engineer connections between employees in a remote-first world, but that also reduce the burden of unnecessary admin with automated workflows,” added Melinda Veeder, Chief People Officer of Xplor Technologies.
3. Organizations will increasingly upskill their workforces with learning technology
With the Great Resignation shifting into the Great Reshuffle and rattling the labor market, companies can’t afford to ignore the missed opportunity of upskilling.
“Organizations must invest in learning technology as an essential retention strategy and prioritize making training and development an alluring part of the employee value proposition,” John Peebles, CEO of Administrate, told Allwork.Space. “Boosting employee retention rates will remain top of mind for business leaders, and a great way to accomplish this is by upskilling employees.”
With the right learning technology, company leaders will be able to easily understand where the skill gaps exist within their organizations and provide tools and data to fill those lapses. The ability to rapidly identify these gaps and coordinate that with employee development is already happening in our current workforce.
For example, over the next four years, PwC is committing $3 billion to upskilling. This will primarily be invested in training their workers, as well as in technologies for supporting clients and communities.
4. Employers will utilize tech to show appreciation for their employees
Employee appreciation is not only good for morale, but also for business. Employers are using technology to ensure employees feel seen, heard, and appreciated as many of them continue to work remotely.
In 2023, virtual recognition alternatives will come in handy when managing remote or hybrid employees, especially since connectivity has historically been built through in-person relationships.
Workplace recognition might become one of the top ways to curb “Quiet Quitting” and increase retention, and it can all be done virtually with the use of workplace technology.
“Managers are desperate to improve employee satisfaction in the workplace, so through implementing appreciation initiatives (thank yous, work anniversaries, birthdays, and more) they can ultimately create a sense of belonging that is not only beneficial to an employee’s feeling of connection to the company but also imperative to employee retention,” said Aaron Rubens, Co-Founder, and CEO of Kudoboard.
Some examples of this technology that is increasingly being utilized are Bonusly, an employee appreciation platform that helps employees give small bonuses to colleagues.
Praise is most effective when it’s public, which is why so many employers use the team communications platform Slack to show employees that they appreciate their hard work, usually in channels especially for congratulating staff.
5. Organizations will decide where they stand on the metaverse
In 2022, the idea and popularity of the metaverse proliferated. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg said he wanted Meta to be used for virtual work meetings (among other things), but it’s unclear when this will come to fruition.
Individuals, as well as organizations, invested billions into the metaverse…only for the hype to dramatically die down toward the middle-end of this year.
Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, has said it will likely take 10-15 years before its investments fully pay off and the technology behind both the metaverse and its headsets reach their full potential.
Tech-savvy organizations might not want to wait that long to implement the metaverse and VR into their workplaces, and 2023 will bear witness to how the metaverse will fare in terms of social popularity and utilization.
Portions of this article originally appeared on the Allwork.Space website.
The Sundance Company Established in 1976, The Sundance Company has the experience to help you with your commercial real estate needs throughout the Boise Valley. If your requirements include property management, leasing, real estate development, project planning, construction or space planning then look to us. The Sundance Company has more than 1.6 million square feet of office and industrial space available in prime locations in the Boise metropolitan area. More information is available at www.sundanceco.com or 208.322.7300.
The Sundance Company 