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February is commonly the time of year when New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside and we forget all about the goals we wanted to achieve due to our busy work schedules. If you resolved to stay healthy in the office this year, we have plenty of standing desks and tables to help.

1. At Work Standing-Height Desks

The At Work standing-height desks are a National Business Furniture exclusive that will help you stay healthy. The collection includes standing desks in several different sizes and color options, including espresso and warm ash. The sleek, streamlined look of these desks sets them apart from the competition, and they also come at an affordable price.

2. Statesman Standing-Height Desks

If you prefer something a little more traditional in style, then the Statesman standing desks could be right up your alley. Available in 2 different sizes, the Statesman desks are finished in a chestnut cherry wood veneer. These desks even have a pencil drawer that you can flip down for use as a keyboard tray.

3. EZ Lift Adjustable-Height Tables

EZ Lift adjustable-height tables are aptly named for their ease of use. With the touch of a button, you can move these units up and down until you find your ideal standing or seated position. Remember, standing all day is as bad for your body as sitting all day, so be sure you put in a good mix of both.

4. Bestar Adjustable-Height Tables

Adjustable-height tables from Bestar are easy to use and designed to match many of Bestar’s other furniture collections. You can select from a variety of colors to choose the one that’s right for you. Match your selection with a corresponding Bestar look—like those found in the Connexion Collection.

5. Efficiente Whiteboard Tables

Efficiente whiteboard tables are another collection of standing tables loaded with special features. These tables are height-adjustable and feature a flip top and 4 rolling casters that make them easy to move and store. On top of all that, these boards also come with a whiteboard top. That’s right—you can write on the tops of these tables just like you would a whiteboard, and it’ll wipe clean when your meeting is over.

5 Tips for Holding Successful Meetings | NBF

5 Tips for Holding Successful Meetings

If your company meetings haven’t been as productive as you might like, the problem could lie in a number of common mistakes. Consider these tips before, during, and after your meetings to ensure that all participants get out of each meeting what you put into them.

1. Make Sure the Topic Warrants a Formal Meeting

Most of us have seen those blue ribbons floating around social media that read, “I survived a meeting that should have been an email.” Sitting in conference rooms eats up huge chunks of an employee’s day, so make sure the meeting you’re planning actually requires a formal get-together before you schedule it.

If you only need a short answer to a question, stop by your coworker’s desk and ask in person or send an email. You may also want to incorporate small, casual meeting spaces for impromptu chats between just a few employees. This will provide designated areas for coworkers to meet at a moment’s notice to discuss something that may only require 10 or 15 minutes of talking time.

2. Make Sure All Participants Are Relevant to the Topic

On the same wavelength, only invite relevant participants to your meetings. Filling a conference room with excess people will hinder productivity. Rather than inviting a whole team to a given meeting, you may want to invite one team member and have them relay action items to others in the group. Who you invite to your meetings will largely depend on the topic and who it affects, but remember that more is not always merrier when it comes to meetings.

3. Stay on Topic

It can be very easy to go off topic in a meeting—especially with many participants. If you are the organizer, you may want to set an agenda and distribute it the day before to prevent off-topic conversations. This will keep everyone on the same page and provide an easy outline for everything that needs to be discussed in the allotted time.

4. Keep an Eye on the Clock

The first step toward good time management during a meeting is scheduling it for the appropriate amount of time. Although you don’t want to waste time by scheduling a meeting for too long of a time slot, you also want to make sure your expectations for how long a meeting will take are realistic—don’t try to do too much in a small amount of time. Stay aware of what time it is throughout the meeting so you can cover everything you want to within the given time.

5. Wrap up Effectively

When you bring your meeting to a close, make action steps for each participant clear, ensuring that everyone understands what to take away when they return to their desks. For larger meetings, you may want to email participants a summary of what was discussed and what action steps are needed. Be sure to give clear directions, not suggestions, and provide deadlines whenever possible.

How to Style a Conference Table

Does your conference table look a bit bland and empty? If so, we’ve got a few tips to help you elevate your boardroom style, whether you’re hosting stockholders or just having a team brainstorming session.

Find the Right Chairs

Conference chairs are available in a wide range of sizes and styles. Your choice will be sure to impact the feel and tone of your room, so be sure to consider the best match for your table and what you want the overall feel of your room to be.

Center In

A centerpiece is a great way to add more pizazz to a conference room. This can be something functional, like a pitcher and a set of glasses, or purely decorative, like an artificial plant. Just be sure that it ties the look together without going overboard.

Keep it Simple

While you don’t want a blank table, which can come off as cold and unfriendly, you also don’t want to overdo it. Ensure that the centerpiece isn’t too tall or too busy – you don’t want your meeting attendees to be distracted or unable to see each other.

Incorporate Technology

Another aspect to consider when it comes to conference table styling is how technology is used in the room and how seamlessly your furniture supports that. Having built-in data ports and/or grommet holes can make it easy to use various forms of technology while cutting back on clutter and chaos.

Need more help furnishing your conference room? Consult our How to Set up a Conference Room buying guide for helpful, relevant tips on all things conference room.

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