Springtime has everyone beginning to dust off the old and make our spaces clean and fresh.  When it comes to creating a new environment for the workplace making it clean and efficient is a critical  step you take in improving team work.  The processes we put in place to build a streamlined and clean workspace definitely help in opening the doors to creativity.  Workspaces that are designed to improve workflow and productivity can have the opposite effect.  Take your desk. Does your desk face the door and does your computer face the outside world?  Or, when you work on your computer do you have your back turned to the door so you cannot see anyone who approaches?  Just a simple reconfiguring of your work space or a team’s workspace can build a new attitude in the environment.  How do you help people feel welcome the moment they step inside your space? And how are you prepared to “get to work” the moment you begin? Do you have the tools that lend to creativity?  Clean white boards and fresh white board markers, post it notes, sharpened pencils, working pens and crisp notepads.  These tools at the ready can help bring immediate “begin!” attitude to teams and your own work.  I have a clean whiteboard that I use every day.  I place a great quote that I find from a twitter post and write it on the board so It invigorates my day.  It makes me feel like I have a fresh start every day.  Getting “stale”  out of your work is part attitude and part aptitude.  Attitude to “stay fresh” and aptitude to “learn and develop”  fresh new ways to work.  There is no place for mold and mildew in the business world. (unless you sell products to make that gunk disappear!)  But there is a place for saying “let’s try this today!” or asking “why?”  While there are times a good spraying down of clients and co-workers seems like a good idea, the fact they may think you’re “all wet” should be enough of  a deterrent!  Instead of “spraying down,” let’s “build up” morale and “freshen up” the places we work! That’s the best deterrent for mildew and mold in any space!