The design of a workplace has the potential to improve the overall productivity of the company, says Samantha Giam
The human mind is incredible. Consider for a moment that everything you see around — all the tools and services you use, every experience you enjoy is the result of someone’s imagination brought to life.
From companies in the shared economy, space to manufacturing, tech and e-commerce, leaders across industries are talking about innovation for that is the only way to get ahead.
For several years companies have been able to thrive through smart financial management and efficient workflows, ways to bolster the bottom line through cutting costs and ensuring conformity. While still important, these tools are no longer adequate.
As work becomes more fluid and flexible, employees no longer find the need to go into the office unless they have to meet people and share ideas. Remote work and co-working spaces are fast overtaking the staid idea of an office with inspiration and purpose quickly becoming a priority over a stable income and job security. This change in mindset is why it’s essential that brands create spaces that inspire teams in ways that continuously offer a sense of purpose, meaning, and impact.
Companies today understand that customers shift loyalties based on experiences and not just products or services. Employees are no different. Fair wages and flexible working hours are par for course. Not offering these options is a death knoll for firms looking to grow. In spite of competitive salaries and benefits, attrition rates are high across industries. The workplace you create, on the other hand, can be a powerful tool for both retention and innovation. By creating spaces that mirror your organisation’s identity and the mission you need your teams to serve, you can develop an ecosystem that thrives on creativity.
Mirroring the social behaviours of your teams, primarily made up of millennials and Gen-Z, is a crucial aspect of this process. Naturally inclined to crave collaboration, frequent feedback, and compelling experiences, these generations need more from their workspaces. The workplace should offer dedicated outdoor areas for natural social interaction in addition to traditional conference and meeting room setups. The ability to move around the office and utilise amenities based on the task at hand can reduce stress and free up headspace for creative work.
Another meaningful way that spaces can help you further creativity is through the integration of technology. The ability to book desks, view data on the most-used areas, use furniture linked to apps, and even block meeting rooms through touchscreens are just some ways in which you can use tech to create a workspace that feels intuitive. From a design standpoint, it makes sense to offer a wide variety of options, those that reflect the diversity of your teams and the work you expect from them. Modularity is one option where people can rearrange furnishings to create interactive settings based on their preferences and requirements. Privacy pods for some peace, technology-free zones for work that requires zero distractions, and dedicated collaboration centres are just some of the other ways to build workspaces that fuel creative thinking.
Your workspace is the nucleus of your organisation so prioritise its design accordingly. Committing to this strategy, tracking its performance, and then making changes based on inputs will transform your workspace from an operational expense to an investment in creativity, one that unlocks the real potential of your business.