| Businesses around the world have used flowers | | | | more welcoming and create a sharing |
| and plants for office decorations, client gifts, and | | | | atmosphere." |
| employee recognition for as long as anyone can | | | | Another study conducted at Texas A&M |
| remember. Sure, flowers are a quick and easy | | | | University found that workers' creative |
| way to thank top customers, send holiday | | | | performance and problem solving skills improve |
| greetings, or recognize special employee | | | | substantially in workplace environments with |
| occasions. But, do flowers still make sense in | | | | flowers and plants. "Our research shows that |
| today's fast-paced, high-tech business world? The | | | | adding flowers and plants can be important in the |
| research may surprise you. | | | | most meaningful way to businesses in the modern |
| According to a behavioral study conducted at | | | | economy," said Dr. Roger Ulrich, lead researcher |
| Rutgers, the presence of flowers triggers happy | | | | on the project. |
| emotions, heightens feelings of satisfaction, and | | | | During the eight-month study, both men and |
| affects social behavior in a positive manner far | | | | women demonstrated more innovative thinking, |
| beyond what is normally believed. Study | | | | generating more ideas and original solutions to |
| participants reported feeling less depressed, | | | | problems in the office environment that included |
| anxious, and agitated after receiving flowers, and | | | | flowers and plants. The research lends weight to |
| the study noted a long-term positive impact on | | | | the growing scientific evidence that flowers, as |
| their moods. | | | | well as other aspects of nature, have a beneficial |
| "Common sense tells us that flowers make us | | | | impact on our state of mind and emotions. |
| happy," said Dr. Haviland-Jones. "Now science | | | | Another study at Harvard confirmed that flowers |
| shows that not only do flowers make us happier | | | | have an energizing effect on people at work. So, |
| than we know, they have strong positive effects | | | | if your business depends on positive morale, team |
| on our emotional well being." In other words, | | | | spirit, creative problem solving, and happy |
| flowers really do boost workplace morale well | | | | customers, you might just want to send flowers |
| beyond their initial delivery. | | | | a little more often. Remember, something as |
| Flowers make guests and customers feel more | | | | simple as adding flowers to the environment |
| welcome, too. "Flowers bring about positive | | | | actually enhances moods, improves social |
| emotional feelings in those who enter a room," | | | | interaction, and boosts productivity. And, that |
| said Dr. Haviland-Jones. "They make the space | | | | makes good sense for any business. |