The Chinese believe that the practice of Feng Shui has an impact on the success and productivity levels of small businesses. Everything from where desks are positioned to the type of lighting used is considered important, according to the masters of Feng Shui. Read on to learn more ...
Learn how the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui can help you have a more successful business.
What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui (pronounced “phung schway”) is a study of the environment, specifically the spaces of home and work. It is part of an ancient Chinese philosophy of nature and put simply means, ‘Wind and Water.’ The Chinese believed that there was a type of underlying essence of forces that tended to be banished at the chance of wind while checked at the chance of water.
What Is It All About?
Feng Shui relates to all that people consider of importance in their lives- that is their environment, people, places, time and the interaction between these factors. The notion behind the practice is that our lives are deeply affected by our physical and emotional environments. If we surround ourselves with elements that symbolize death, such as contempt, indifference toward life and nature, violence, noises and different forms of ugliness, we will in so doing, corrupt ourselves. If on the other hand, we surround ourselves with beauty, gentleness, empathy, happiness, thoughtfulness, music and various expressions of the joys of life, we glorify ourselves and the environment in which we live and work.
Masters of Feng Shui
Masters of Feng Shui are those who understand the “Five Elements” (Earth, Fire, Metal, Water and Wood), which lay the foundation for the balance that characterizes the practice, and the two energies, Chi (universal life force/ positive energy) and Sha (hard, negative energy, the opposite of Chi). These experts are often employed by homeowners and small business people to consider landscapes and/or buildings and use their metaphysical sensors to detect the flow of both good and bad energy in the air. These “masters for hire” are helpful in determining which way doorways should face, where bathrooms should go, where mirrors should hang, which room needs green plants and which one needs red flowers, etc. Their decisions are based on their feel for the flow of Chi, electromagnetic fields or whatever other kinds of energy the client is concerned about.
How can Feng Shui Help My Business?
When considering an expansion of a business or the best way to utilize space within the business, the practice of Feng Shui should be taken into consideration. It is important in order for small business owners to create a sense of harmony and balance and to encourage clients to want to come back time and time again.
The Goal of Feng Shui
The goal is to minimize the negative effects of certain areas and by doing so, to improve upon other more productive areas. Having a working knowledge of Feng Shui helps when it comes to this. It is particularly important in regards to the entrances to the building and offices; the sales and marketing areas; and the rooms where important decisions are made. By promoting good Chi in these areas, business owners can avoid making mistakes that can lead to the failure of the business, discord among employees, high turnover and the decline of sales. A simple manipulation of office space can lead to better morale, higher productivity levels and greater prosperity.
Some Basic Feng Shui Principles for Business Owners
Consider the immediate landscape
A business that is situated near the base of a hill with elevated land on either side and facing open land is considered to bring good fortune. Partway down a slope would be better than at the very base but placed at the foot of and facing a big hill would not be a wise idea. There will be many obstacles ahead for the business. It is best to avoid having a business whose location is directly in line with the elements, such as on top of a hill, or a property facing the beach. The ideal scenario would be to face a small to medium sized lake.
Reception areas should be open and well lit
Both of these elements encourage the flow of Chi. However, the reception area should not be so wide open that it allows traffic to pass by too easily. If this happens the solution is to place a divider or some sort of screen or rectangular planter box in the area to slow the flow of Chi so it doesn’t become erratic.
Provide direct views to an entrance
Don’t allow an employee’s back to face the entrance of a cubicle or office. Symbolically this leaves a person open to attack. Also never have an employee’s desk positioned in a way that their back is to a window as it lacks support. The best placement is with a person’s back to a wall that is decorated with an earth element such as a picture of a mountain. This helps lend support. Another option that is wise to consider is to angle away from the doorway or have the desk facing a wall featuring a water element such as a fish, a lake or even art work containing wavy lines.
Avoid placing an employee in the direct line of a door
Doing this sets the employee directly in the rush of Chi, which can have negative effects on health and productivity levels. Also it takes away the sense of privacy that most employees need to feel comfortable in their workplaces. It creates a feeling of always being watched by management, which does not bode well for staff.
Use warm lighting (as opposed to harsh, fluorescent lighting) whenever possible
An atmosphere of a room can be changed completely by lighting. Try to keep a balance. Lighting that is too bright can result in an irritated staff that suffers from frequent headaches. On the other hand, lighting that is too low can create a lull and a sense of sluggishness that makes work output slow.
Desks need objects that promote good luck
Desks can be energized with objects that symbolize the Five Elements. They should be strategically placed which helps to attract good luck to the workplace. Here are some examples of objects that could be used:
North: A cup of coffee or tea
Northeast: A crystal paperweight
Northwest: Computer terminal
East: Fresh flowers
South: A desk lamp or something red
Southeast: A small green plant
Maintain a pleasing environment to all the senses
Color matters, smell matters, how a place makes you feel matters. How clients or customers feel when entering a business is as important as how the employees and management feel when they are at work.
Balance the Chi
While the business environment is of great importance, so is the importance of balancing the Chi. A qualified practitioner of Feng Shui can aid business owners when they are searching for a good location to open up shop or to relocate their business. Once a site is found, the Feng Shui master can determine the building’s unique orientation by analyzing the environment, both from the inside and outside. He or she can make recommendations on whether the building would be a smart choice, and if it is, how best to balance the Chi. Balanced Chi uses the five natural elements to create an environment that is in line with the universe.
Other Important Points
Feng Shui, as mentioned previously, is very important when it comes to the positioning of seats and desks. Every staff member has an association with one of the eight directions. These directions can be positive or negative depending on the person. Workplaces will run more smoothly when employees are positioned in a way that they are oriented to their most productive direction.
Feng Shui can improve many aspects of a small business by enhancing the flow of energy and creating efficiency within the surroundings. Business owners or those industrious individuals interested in starting a small business, would benefit from learning the basics of the Feng Shui practice which the Chinese have applied in their culture as a way of life for thousands of years.