A business’s most important resources are their human resources – its people. It is no secret that there is a direct correlation between a company’s productivity levels and the positive well-being of its staff. People are more proactive when they are motivated and have a positive mindset. So, in a nutshell, a happy workforce makes for a happy boss!

But how does the workplace achieve and then more importantly maintain these content individuals? For what makes one person happy, could cause anxiety for another…

I asked my team at ITERATE how they feel about their own personal work life balance and the factors that they value in the workplace. Interestingly, many of the same comments kept coming up…

• People in particular valued autonomy. Having control and responsibility over their own projects and workload, within realistic expectations, immediately creates an appealing sense of trust and value between yourself and your employer.

• ITERATE works with a diverse range of products that span a variety of industries, so two projects are never the same!

• A panoramic view is never a bad thing. We have an open, relaxed working environment, in a light, clean space, so even though the hybrid option to work from home is available, the office is an appealing change of scenery.

• Flexibility. Life can be busy, whether it’s working your job around family commitments or additional activities, the option to have flexible working hours is always useful. With more control over their time, individuals feel a greater sense of freedom to complete work tasks whilst still carrying out personal responsibilities.

• It is not an expectation to work over contracted hours at ITERATE, therefore having the ability to switch off and engage in hobbies and life outside of the workplace, is a real factor in creating that balance we all strive for.

So although achieving a work life balance means different things to each of us, there are some factors that remain consistent for lots of us. It’s a combination of taking steps to help your own needs, along with the strategies your company can put in place, in the way ITERATE has done to support its own employees.