What does your desk space say about you?  

We all have that co-worker with the pristine desk, full of neat folders where every stray scrap pf paper is  organized and tidy. We also know those with the messy desks, more creative types with pens and  notebooks everywhere.  

While you may catch some flack for being the messy type, the truth is that productivity isn’t  about the neatness of your desk, it’s about office design.  

“North Americans overwhelmingly highlight design and physical environment challenges to productivity,  like nomad seating arrangements, noise and distracting open-concept design,” explains Kane Willmott,  founder and CEO of IQ Offices, a co-working company featuring workspaces designed for productivity.  “This is ahead of other workload-related challenges, such as excessive email or unexpected work.”  

Instead of focusing on organizing your workspace, Willmott suggests making it more relaxing  and connected to your well-being. For example, adding some potted plants, using an exercise ball  instead of a chair or switching to a desk with more natural light can all boost your performance and  productivity.  

Beyond individual workspace changes, Willmott says companies can have a positive impact with the  overall design of the office. His top recommendations are elements that focus on health, noise reduction, privacy, connecting with nature, and beautiful design. It’s all about an open approach that is  more sensitive to younger generations and employee priorities while building closer workplace ties.  

“I find wellness features like sit-stand desks and nap rooms are much better investment than  noisy recreation is when trying to improve productivity of teams and business performance. A mix of  closed and open areas is optimal. The reality is people generally prefer this to open-concept