Thoughts on Workplace Productvity and Morale South Africa Style

Gayla said it at one of our leadership retreats……. that I am a voracious reader. I didn’t used to be one, that’s for sure. Ask my dad. I remember when I was a freshman in high school and he was reading the newspaper one day. He said that I should read the paper too. “Its important to to know what’s going on in the world”, he said. I replied that kids my age didn’t worry about those things. He still said I should read the newspaper. I picked it up and went straight to the comic section and began to read. I don’t think that’s what he had in mind.

Luckily this sunk into my head finally. Perhaps what my dad said those many years ago did it and perhaps adding what one of my favorite graduate school professors said, “you need to keep reading everything you can get your hands on about your field” cemented this concept. Either way you look at it, I can’t read enough about my field and about the world in general. I am blessed to live an age that gives access to and makes available more information than anyone can read.

One of my favorite readings these days in flipping through local papers from various newspapers in Africa. In particular, one from South Africa called The Citizen. What’s funny about reading these international newspapers is that your never know what you will read that will be really interesting and useful. Recently, I read one that I thought would be great for “Simply Lead”- this blog.



A local Johannesburg office designer offered some great tips to improve the work environment which ultimate improves productivity and morale.

1. Provide natural lighting. Studies show that natural light pushes up productivity by 21%. Open blinds and plan offices with lots of windows.

2. Mix up the seating arrangements. Introduce non-traditional seating areas so senior and junior staff can interact freely.

3. Go virtual. Encourage staff to work from in mobile environments or from home. We have the technology and not all suburbs are load-shedded simultaneously.

4. Save energy. Motion sensors can be set to switch power off when the staff has left the building..

5. Go green. Plants and artifacts increase productivity by 15%.

6. Encourage discussions. Have conversations not meetings. Don’t print something you can email, don’t e-mail something you can talk about, and switch your computer off when you to to a meeting.