If you haven’t heard the exciting news, we’re moving!
Before making this leap, our team gathered to discuss the
pros and cons of our current office. We talked about what worked, what didn’t
work, and what could improve our work flow and productivity. The cons ended up
outweighing the pros, hence the decision to move. The process of designing a
new office entailed a lot of work and thought. However, we found the most
important step was first talking with all team members and getting their input.
Each job has a
different set of tasks associated with it. Some employees may have work that
takes extreme concentration and close attention to detail. They need a quiet
space, clear of frequent interruptions where they can fully concentrate. Others
may need a space where they can brainstorm and generate ideas with others on
their team; they need an area that enhances creativity and allows them to write on walls,
lay out concepts, work collaboratively, etc. An employee in Human Relations may
frequently have private conversations and access to confidential information. They
would not work best in an open-office type of layout, but rather in an area
that is clear of frequent foot-traffic. These are just a few examples of how
the work area needs to be conducive to the type of work the employee is trying
to accomplish.
Having a meeting to
discuss the type of environment employees work best in was extremely beneficial;
we believe it will ultimately aid in creating a more efficient and productive
team. We know it can be difficult to accommodate all requests, however working together
to develop solutions that are advantageous to all is ideal in creating a team
that runs like a well-oiled machine. It’s proven that engaged employees are
more efficient and their happiness levels at work are greatly increased when
they feel their opinion is valued… win-win!
- Have you changed your office layout recently? What tips can you share with us?
- How do you make your office conducive to the type of work you do?
LM
