Do Up Your Workspace Without Over-Doing It

Even though we may get the urge to decorate our workspace just like we do our home, a line must be drawn in the workplace in order to maintain a professional demeanor. Whether you have your own private office or a small workstation, the appearance of it speaks volumes of you as a business professional. Adding your own personal touch can make you feel more at home, but it’s important to not over-do it. Here are some tips:

• Keep it neat and clean. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people brush this off. Wiping up the dust and keeping everything in order can make you seem more reliable to your co-workers, and help you feel and appear more organized.
• Keep personal items personal. Clothing, hygiene products, and other personal items should be tucked away if they’re not work-related. For example, a spare drawer in a HON pedestal works great when I want to store my snacks, shoes, or purse.
• Add a personal but professional touch. Moderation is key. Adding a few framed pictures of you and your family on vacation last year and other tasteful décor is a great way of displaying your personality and balanced life. Too much of this can make your space seem cluttered and give the impression that you’re not concentrating enough on work.

• Represent your company with class. Hang up that award you earned for being “Employee of the Year” with pride or anything else that your place of employment has given you. However, it’s important that your workspace represents a humble personality by not having too many of these items around to make it seem like you’re bragging.

What are some other ways you decorate your professional workspace?

HON “Furniture Fair”

In Iowa, mid-summer brings exciting, inviting, sunny, fun, fried-food-filled fairs.  At HON, this mid-summer is bringing some hot new updates.  Let’s take a walk through HON’s “furniture fair” and see “what’s hot with HON”:

1. Sit to Stand Solutions: Whether it’s our new Height Adjustable Tables or our new 10500 Series standing height desk shells, a standing workstation has never been easier or more cost effective.
2. New Fabric Offering: HON has ramped up its selection of fabrics and finishes by adding 4 new graded-in fabric cards with Momentum Textiles (Color Card, Vision, Perspectives, Performance) as well as the CF Stinson Reliance 2 card.  All of our available fabrics and finishes can be found on hon.com or by downloading HON’s Digital Swatch Card Binder.
3. New Laminates: Open for orders now, we have 3 new laminate options: Pinnacle, Mocha, and Cognac!
   
4. 10500 Series™ Refresh: Our popular 10500 Series laminate desks have been updated to fit in the contemporary workspace.  Open o-legs on worksurfaces and new storage capabilities, including the work wall, are just a few of the new solutions available.
   
5. Healthcare: HON introduced its new Soothe® collection in April, offering a complete solution designed specifically for the healthcare environment. From patient recliners to guest seating, Soothe maximizes comfort along the patient’s road to recovery, enhances functionality for the caregiver and provides the versatility necessary to deliver a higher level of care. Learn more about the unique features on the Soothe patient recliner and other healthcare furniture solutions from HON.

What has been your favorite new product or update from HON recently?

The Power of Glass

Light scale and open concept designs have definitely made an impact on workplace trends. While collaboration has a great story and allure for many employees, there is still a need for office space conducive to “heads down work”. So, how do you keep this open work environment appeal and increase productivity at the same time? Glass!

Below are 3 ways to use glass to help enhance productivity in open workplace applications.

Product: Voi®  Glass Privacy Screens
Benefit: Space Division and Visual Privacy

Benching applications are a great space and money saver compared to panels, but make communication extremely easy. Use Voi privacy screens to help bring seclusion to these stations while still encouraging collaboration when needed.

Product: Frameless Glass on panels
Benefit: Fewer Interruptions

When using 50”H panels for seated privacy, some issues may arise. The panel height can block light from entering your workspace and provide a natural resting position for co-workers to easily stop and visit when you’re trying to work. Adding Abound® or Accelerate® frameless glass to the panels is a great way to access natural light, while still providing seated-height privacy without unwanted interruption.

Product: 7.5” Frameless Glass
Benefit: Visual Privacy

Utilizing low panels for benching type applications is a great way to provide more privacy and power needs, but inadvertently making eye contact with the person at the station across from you all day can be distracting. Adding the 7.5” frameless glass to Abound or Accelerate can give you that needed visual privacy.

What strategies are you using to help increase productivity in an open office environment? How have you incorporated glass into your workspace?

Fight the Office ZZzzzs by Trying These

Fight the 2 o’clock, post-lunch fatigue with these 5 energizing stretches that you can easily do at your workspace without having to throw down a downward dog or another yoga pose in the middle of your office.

1. Take a Lap: No, I didn’t say nap – lap.  It’s recommended to get up and walk around for at least 5 minutes every hour. So, go refill your water, say hello to a coworker, or just take a walk around your department.
2. Shoulder & Upper Arm Stretch: This is one of my favorite stretches.  You may not realize how much proper posture has depleted over the course of an hour, so stretch out your back and re-adjust.
3. Neck Roll: You may be holding more tension in your neck than you think.  Slowly roll your neck from side to side and front to back.
4. Flex those Digits: Give yourself a quick hand massage because, let’s face it, most of our day is spent on the computer typing and clicking.  Don’t overlook those little speed racers.
5. Ankle Rolls: This may sound silly, but it’s a sneaky way to wake up your legs.  And you can do it under the privacy of your desk!

*Bonus Stretch:  Do you have a height adjustable worksurface?  If so, lucky you! You can stretch whenever you like. Don’t have a height adjustable worksurface? Never fear! HON is here with our new Height Adjustable Tables. Finally, a workspace that moves with you.

Ready. Set. Stretch!  What helps re-energize you during the work day?

7 Facts About Muscatine, Iowa—The Home of HON Headquarters

Since its founding in 1944, HON has been headquartered in Muscatine, IA, a small city located along the Mississippi River. If you’ve had the chance to visit us in Muscatine, you may have had the opportunity to view a beautiful sunset (or sunrise, for the morning people out there!) over the river. In fact, Mark Twain, who briefly lived and worked in Muscatine, described the sunsets as follows: “I have never seen any, on either side of the ocean that equaled them. They used the broad smooth river as a canvas, and painted on it every imaginable dream of color, from the mottled daintiness and delicacies of the opal…to blinding purple and crimson conflagrations which were enchanting to the eye, but sharply tried at the same time.” Mark Twain was just one notable visitor to Muscatine, and the sunsets are just one of many things for which Muscatine is known.

Here are some other interesting facts you might not know about Muscatine, Iowa:

1. There are no other cities in the United States named Muscatine.
2. Muscatine is known as the “Pearl of the Mississippi” in reference to pearl button manufacturing that was once the central economic focus of the city.
3. A wide variety of crops are grown in Muscatine, but arguably the most notable is the Muscatine Melon.
4. HJ Heinz Company has a location in Muscatine that is the largest outside of their headquarters in Pittsburgh—check your Heinz products, you may see Muscatine as the producing location!
5. Max Allan Collins is from Muscatine. You may know him as the author of Road to Perdition.
6. Muscatine’s two national historic districts, Downtown and West Hill, are  listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
7. Maxwell Stanley, co-founder of HON, was also a founder of Stanley Consultants, the Stanley Foundation, and was a delegate to the United Nations.

Muscatine may not be all that big, but The HON Company is proud to be headquartered in a city that’s home to a variety of industries, historical significance, and notable residents. If you haven’t had the chance to visit us at HON Headquarters, please do! If you have been here already, what was your favorite part about Muscatine?

Four Tips to Reduce Fear of Public Speaking

Glossophobia is defined as “the fear of public speaking, or speaking in general” and is often referred to as speech anxiety.  Fear of presenting is experienced by many, and affects individuals of all ages and in all positions. While many of us do not fall into the category of a diagnosable medical condition, it is estimated that 75% of the population experiences some kind of anxiety when it comes to public speaking. Let’s examine a few ways to help relieve this all too common fear.

 

1. Know your stuff!

Everyone has occasional moments of apprehension. It’s only natural and it can present itself throughout all stages of life. When we experience fear and anxiety before an event, whether it is a new job, an important meeting or a presentation, a great amount of our unease stems from a fear of the unknown.

The higher the level of expertise on the topic you’re presenting on, the better, so it’s a good idea to try to master your topic and content as much as possible. A helpful tip when preparing a presentation is to anticipate any questions or points your audience may bring up. I recommend analyzing your content and identifying any logical questions or clarification points, and prepare how you want to answer those prior to your presentation.

However, it is unrealistic to think that you can prepare for every possible question, so don’t get tripped up if there’s something you cannot answer. Simply let them know it’s a great question and you’ll have to look into it. An audience will always appreciate honesty over the alternative.

2. Don’t equate nervousness with negativity

Something to keep in mind when the anxiety starts to set in is that it is perfectly normal to feel this way. Remember that 75% of the population experiences some sort of anxiety in public speaking situations, so don’t let this get you down. In fact, experiencing some level of anxiety prior to an event shows that you are personally invested in what you are doing and that you care about the outcome.

A tip for calming the nerves is to try and start your presentation off with something interactive to ‘loosen up’ the room. Think of some relevant conversation topics to get things going. This will take the focus off of yourself, and you’ll be amazed at how much more comfortable you feel once your audience has had the chance to contribute. So, embrace those nerves, take a deep breath, and have confidence in your preparation and skills to make it a great experience.

3. Avoid memorizing your content

A common mistake made by those who are trying to control all aspects of their presentation is attempting to memorize the entirety of their content. It is hard to touch on all types of public speaking experiences, as they vary greatly in nature, but one way to easily mess yourself up is to try and go word for word from memory. We’ve touched on how nerves are a common part of public speaking, and even with adequate preparation, nervousness can interrupt the brain’s normal flow and ‘take over’ in the heat of the moment.

If you rely exclusively on reciting a presentation word for word, you’re operating only on memory. Nervousness can cause a mental disconnect, and all of a sudden you’ve forgotten what comes next. A nice tip to avoid this ineffective method is to try and speak in ideas. Know the main points you want to cover and allow yourself to naturally expand on them.

4. Have a structure in place

As we discussed previously, preparation is key to a successful and worry-free presentation. In order to stay on track, it is essential to take the time to organize a consistent structure with your main topics outlined. Having an outline of your presentation is sure to make you feel more calm, relaxed, and confident. It also never hurts to have an agenda prepared to go over prior to diving into the details. This overview will keep everyone informed and involved.

HON offers training to its internal members through HON University to equip people from all areas of the organization with tips and tricks for stronger presentation skills and effective public speaking.
What has helped you stay calm during a big presentation?

 

4 Things to Keep Handy as the Weather Heats Up

The summer months mean many things: cookouts, pool parties, camp fires, vacations, and all sorts of fun. They also mean you might want to be sure to have a few things in your backpack, purse, suitcase, or car.

1. Sunscreen

Sunscreen really should be utilized all year round, but particularly so in the summer months as people tend to spend more time outside. Pack your favorite sunscreen in a backpack, laptop bag, or purse to have on hand when you need it. If you are a frequent flyer, make sure to add a small container of sunscreen to your liquids bag. And most importantly- apply and reapply the sunscreen as directed.

2. Water

Water is essential as the weather heats up. It keeps you hydrated and can help cool your body down. The more you sweat the more water you should consume. As the heat increases, opt for cold water over room temperature water for the cooling effect. Carry a reusable bottle around with you wherever you go. Or, if you need to be in a car for long periods of time, pack a cooler and stay hydrated as the sun beats through the windshield.

3. Bug spray

Being outside is a great way to enjoy the summer season, but bugs area nuisance. Keep bugs bug spray handy at all times in order to keep bugs away. Tuck one in your car and bag. Be sure to spray yourself, your family, and your pets! Caution- be sure to read the labels on your bug spray before using on your furry friends. Also, remember not all bug spray is created equal. Read the labels to ensure your favorite repellant will actually repel the pests you are trying to avoid.

4. Light jacket or scarf

It might be a scorcher outside but the air conditioning is running full blast indoors. Pack a lightweight jacket, cardigan, or scarf to use when you transition from the outside to the inside.

What other items do you keep especially handy in the office during the summer months?