While companies often make headlines for splashing the cash and installing quirky features such as slides and treehouses, there are some low-cost things you can do to make your workspace work much harder.
Process
- Plan carefully at the beginning of the project. Changes on paper are easier and cheaper than changes once construction begins.
- Know what you want to achieve from the process; have clear objectives.
Project
- Centralise shared resources such as printers and recycling. This will encourage staff to remain active throughout the day and reduce duplicated hardware.
- Create spaces that have multiple uses. Think of the kitchen table, which has various functions in the home.
- A designated informal social or cafe area doesn’t have to cost mega bucks. It ideally needs to be near tea- and coffee-making facilities. Such spaces encourage collaboration and connectivity.
Post-design
- Teach people how to use their environment better. Most workers don’t realise the benefits of working differently or that they are allowed to do so.
- Have an environment you can vary constantly rather than going for perfect design. Perfect design costs a lot and therefore tends to be kept for too long.
- Give one person the job of making the office space work brilliantly and rotate this every three months. Give the role kudos and a small budget to play with. This keeps it fresh and exciting.
- Have insight. If 80% of the interactions held in your office constitute two or three people get rid of your big meeting rooms. Huddle spaces will be used far more than boardrooms.
- Encourage staff to personalise the space and make it more human. They will then own it and you will get a much wider variety of stimuli.
Further reading
