老板秘技：六招提高工作效率

 　　1 Sound Design

　　When it comes to creating a productive office environment—it’s more than just four walls. According to a Cornell University study, even low-level noise in open-style offices can result in higher levels of stress and lower task motivation. If you’re going to go with an open office plan, be sure to think about where you place employees who operate at higher decibel¹ levels. Also keep in mind placement of loud appliances such as copy machines.

　　想要打造高效率的办公环境——那么办公室就绝非只是四面墙而已。据康奈尔大学研究表明，在开放式的办公室中即使是非常低的噪音也使得员工们的工作压力变大，完成工作的动机降低。如果你准备打造开放性的办公室的话，那么你就要好好考虑一下在大分贝噪音影响下的员工们应该如何安置。老板们好好思考一下打印机这样的噪音制造者应该放在哪吧。

　　2 Watch That Dial

　　Room temperature can directly influence productivity at work. Cornell University studied the effect of increasing temperatures in the workplace from 68 degrees to 77 degrees. Errors at the company fell by 44 percent and typing output increased 150 percent with the increased temperatures.

　　办公室里的室内温度对员工的生产效率也有着直接的影响。康奈尔大学研究表明，当办公室内的温度从华氏68度（20℃）升高到华氏77度（25℃）时，公司出错率降低44%，而打字速度也会激增150%。

　　3 Tech Intrusion

　　Nearly 60 percent of work interruptions are—you guessed it—thanks to the Internet. Yes, you can blame Fail Blog for not getting your work done. And don’t forget the time spent on social media, e-mail, and switching back and forth² between on-screen applications. According to a survey by market research firm uSamp, while social media use can encourage coordination³ among employees, there’s no denying it’s a huge distraction⁴.

　　你猜60%的员工工作时会因为什么而走神？没错，答案是上网。你可以说都是Fail Blog（社交网站）的错，让你流连忘返没完成工作。但是别忘了你花在社交媒体、电邮以及屏幕上各种应用程序上的时间。据uSamp调查公司统计，社交媒体的使用对员工之间的合作关系起到很大的促进作用，虽然这样的确也很耗费时间。

　　4 Social Butterfly

　　Telephone calls, walk-in clients, that talkative colleague across the way: Unplanned conversations can have a dramatic affect on productivity in the workplace. Phone calls, talking with co-workers, and impromptu⁵ meetings make up 43 percent of work interruptions, according to a market research survey.

　　电话、上门的客户以及和同事聊天——这种非计划性的谈话对员工的工作效率有着戏剧性的影响。电话来电、和同事聊天以及临时会议会造成员工43%的工作中断。

　　5 Sitting Pretty

　　The design of office workstations is often linked to health, comfort, and productivity in the workplace. Chairs that are not adjustable⁶ and desks that are too small can cause sore backs and contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome⁷. A study coordinated⁸ by Health and Work Outcomes, an independent health research and consulting company for office furniture manufacturer Steelcase, found that individuals who received office ergonomic training and sat in a highly adjustable chair increased average productivity by 17.8 percent after a year.

　　办公环境的设计对健康、舒适度以及公司生产效率都有着很大的影响。椅子不合适或者办公桌太小可能会导致背部酸痛和腕管综合症。由“健康与工作产出”调查公司对Steelcase的家具做的调查显示，受过办公室人体工程学培训和坐在舒适度较高的椅子上的员工每年工作效率可以增长17.8%。

　　6 Space Matters

　　The Wall Street Journal recently published findings from a number of worldwide studies suggesting the space around your workstation could affect not only your productivity, but the style of work you accomplish. Low ceilings encourage analytical⁹ thinking, while high ceilings can encourage abstract thought and creativity. Color and light can also change the way we think. Surrounding workers with red walls could stifle¹⁰ creativity, but fuel inside-the-box thinking for tasks that call for small details and accuracy.

　　《华尔街日报》近日发表的一篇文章中提到员工所处的办公室环境不仅会影响员工的工作效率，还会影响其完成的工作类型。较低的天花板能够促进员工的分析思维，而天花板较高则会促进员工的抽象思维和创新能力。颜色和亮度同样也能改变我们的思维方式。办公室里红色的墙壁会扼杀员工的创新能力，但是会让员工对于特定框架内在细节和精准度上有很大提高。

1 decibel   

n.分贝(音量的单位)

参考例句：

• The noise pollution reached a high decibel level.噪音污染达到了很高分贝。
• In sound we use the decibel scale.在声学中我们采用分贝标度。

2 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

3 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

4 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

5 impromptu   

adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地)

参考例句：

• The announcement was made in an impromptu press conference at the airport.这一宣布是在机场举行的临时新闻发布会上作出的。
• The children put on an impromptu concert for the visitors.孩子们为来访者即兴献上了一场音乐会。

6 adjustable   

adj.可调整的，可校准的

参考例句：

• More expensive cameras have adjustable focusing.比较贵的照相机有可调焦距。
• The chair has the virtue of being adjustable.这种椅子具有可调节的优点。

7 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

8 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 analytical   

adj.分析的；用分析法的

参考例句：

• I have an analytical approach to every survey.对每项调查我都采用分析方法。
• As a result,analytical data obtained by analysts were often in disagreement.结果各个分析家所得的分析数据常常不一致。

10 stifle   

vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止

参考例句：

• She tried hard to stifle her laughter.她强忍住笑。
• It was an uninteresting conversation and I had to stifle a yawn.那是一次枯燥无味的交谈，我不得不强忍住自己的呵欠。