10 Ways To Make Your Office More Like Google

Everybody in the tech sector has heard of “The Google Way” so here are 10 way to make your office as fun and productive as Google’s.

1. Use exercise balls as chairs.
   Pictures abound everywhere of colorful balls being used as chairs and playthings in almost every Google office across the country. Not only are they bright and colorful, they may help your back.
2. Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down This Wall!
   I understand having an office is not only a right-of-passage for many young executives on the career ladder, but some of the best environments are those in which you and your coworkers are all out together in an open area. Get out of the office and high-walled cubicles and create an open workspace
3. Get Up And Get Movin’
   If you don’t already, offer your employees a gym membership. Getting the blood pumping outside of work can help bring up the energy level at work. Plus it may cut down on the corporate health insurance rates.
4. Have a Quiet Place
   You don’t need your own company masseuse to give your workers a nice, quiet place to relax. Take one of the offices that are now vacated and turn it into a “quiet” room – complete with adjustable lighting, massage chair, and a good old-fashioned lava lamp. Throw in one of those gurgling fountains if you are really daring.
5. Brighten Things Up
   The old off-white colored walls are out, bright colors are in. Go crazy with pinks, reds, bright blues and more to create a striking and creative workplace. Think of the ultimate child’s playroom and you are closer than might think.
6. Water, Water Everywhere
   You don’t have to cater in three meals a day like some Google offices, but providing bottles of water in the company fridge is a nice gesture. Some companies even provide diet and regular soft drinks – in moderation. A well-hydrated employee is a productive one!
7. Air Your Dirty Laundry
   When working long hours for a company, sometimes the first thing to go is personal hygiene. Set up a washer/dryer in an area of the building to be used if employees just can’t find the time to clean their duds at home. Even better, arrange a discount at a local laundromat for the iron & fold help
8. Promote, Don’t Squash, After-Hours Play
   Don’t underestimate the need for employees to blow off some steam after hours, or even during the day. Nerf-gun battles, air hockey, ping pong, and other avenues of stress relief can help “detox” after a stressful day.
9. Provide Time For Personal Projects
   During the course of the day, everybody usually does what is expected of them, but there may be one certain project they really want to finish for the company. Allow a couple of hours a week for people to work on projects – for the company – that they really think could benefit the organization.
10. Simply The Best
    Always look to hire the best people, never settle on someone because they can do the minimum expected of a given job. Look for the superstars. If there aren’t any, don’t settle – keep looking. There are plenty of talented people out there, you may just need to wait a bit more.

Do you have other ways to decorate or motivate your employees “The Google Way?”   Let me know below.