With a new creed of sparse startups gaining traction over the last decade, and workplace conditions continuing to see a steady rise, it’s quite clear that the business world is in a significant state of fluctuation and change.
With this slow upheaval being a definitive result of the information age, it has given companies and businesses the freedom to customise and adapt to circumstances in ways that have never been possible before.
Unfortunately, this trend has rarely shown itself in the designs of workplaces, with many buildings and spaces still being set up for outdated styles of collaboration that often prove detrimental to newly formed companies.
There is a considerable amount to be gained from strategically designing a workplace to suit your needs and preferences, and a lot to be lost staying with less-than ideal setups.
When developing a strategy for designing your workplace, it’s important to determine beforehand what it is you’re hoping to achieve, as this will be different from business to business. As to be expected for this integral piece of the productivity puzzle, there is a lot to be considered.
Social situations
While it may not initially seem directly related to productivity, the ability to interact with coworkers is a massive plus for workplace satisfaction, and will lead to higher productivity and lower employee turnover in the long term.
This can easily be achieved by having a communal lounge area for people to talk, or simply take a break from their daily routine. If this can’t be done on your own, commercial interior design packages are an excellent option for those hoping to stay in their current location for an extended amount of time.
Collaborative efforts
For a small team constantly working together to continue the smooth running of a business, being boxed off from each other is likely going to cause a number of issues with miscommunication, and lead to a sense of disconnection and isolation that will lower morale.
For these situations, an open-plan office with communal tables is the perfect way to boost productivity without making permanent changes to infrastructure in most cases.
While there are downsides to this structure, such as a clear lack of privacy, giving employees an adjustable option to enclose their space when necessary allows for the best of both worlds.
However, if you are hoping to give your workers the individual freedom of personal offices, ensuring ease of access to other employees is vital for the smooth exchange of information. This can be achieved by installing windows and openings so that, while disconnected, employees can still interact and exchange ideas when necessary.
On the topic of openings…
The boons of lighting
Strategic design does have a wide array of benefits for productivity, but it is predominantly for the wellbeing and support of those working within the space. To that end, natural light has been proven to boost mood and creativity in and outside the workplace, and aside from the possibility of glare as a mild irritation, has no discernable downsides to speak of.
Skylights and windows can bring new life to a space, and can immediately alter the feeling of a room from bleak to beautiful. In studies, employees that work with natural light boasted improved sleep, higher levels of physical activity, and an overall improved quality of life. Designing your space to best utilise the light available to you will have resounding benefits for health and productivity alike.
Allowing your work area to be altered as needs and priorities change is an important step toward improved office efficiency and productivity, and for those who are willing to take the time necessary to adapt their surroundings to their situation, there is always untapped potential in a space.