We’ve lived a significant chapter of our lives in a world where the line between our dining tables and our office desks has blurred. After such a prolonged digital liaison, persuading teams to happily embrace the office environment again requires a work-space that understands and caters to their evolved needs. So, how do we create such office spaces? Spaces that beckon us out of our comfortable home-office cocoons and inspire us to work and innovate together? Let’s delve into it!
Understand the Return-to-office Concerns
Before you grab your magic wand to redesign your office space, it’s crucial to understand the concerns holding back your team from returning to the office. Remember, your office space is a reflection of your company culture, one that should nurture camaraderie and instill a sense of belonging.
What are the key concerns about returning to the office?
- Working in close proximity
- Inefficient use of time due to commuting
- Possibility of a rigid work schedule
- Lack of adapted office facilities to meet the newly developed work habits
Reimagining Office Design for the New Normal
An office isn’t just about workstations and conference rooms. It’s about creating spaces that inspire, uplift, comfort, and foster collaboration. So, let’s reimagine our spaces in a manner that respects the new normal without compromising on the serendipity of human interaction.
How can office spaces be optimized for the new normal?
- Design for Distancing: Use floor plans that facilitate social distancing without alienating co-workers. Arrange workstations in a manner that encourages interaction without violating safety norms.
- Foster Collaboration: Large, open areas that allow for safe in-person meetings can help rekindle team spirit and drive innovation.
- Flexibility to choose: Create zones that cater to different work styles – silent corners for deep focus, vibrant co-working spaces for brainstorming or communal spaces for social interaction.
- Embrace the Outdoors: Incorporate elements of nature- indoor plants, courtyard workspace or natural lighting to create a calming ambiance.
Embed Wellness in Workspaces
Health and wellness are no longer ancillary considerations. They’re central to your team’s productivity and happiness, and therefore should be central to your design philosophy as well.
How can you integrate wellness in the workspace?
- Invest in Ergonomics: Chairs that support posture, desks at the right height, keyboard layouts that prevent strain – little things that show you care.
- Promote Movement: Encourage your team to stand, stretch, and move around. You can do this by adding standing desks, or simply by placing the printer a short walk away.
- Spaces for Mindfulness: Create quiet spaces that encourage meditation or relaxation breaks. Silence is as crucial for rejuvenation as chatter is for ideation.
From Inspiration to Action
Transforming your office into a space that welcomes, inspires and adapts is not a small task, but it’s a worthy one. As we unlock our doors to invite the world back in, let’s make sure we’re opening up spaces that truly feel like coming home. Ready?
Sounds exciting, but where do I start?
Start by talking to your team, understanding their needs, their concerns. Play with the space, sketch it, live it. Create a multi-disciplinary team, bring in design experts if needed. And most importantly, enjoy the process. For you’re not just creating a workspace, you’re creating a testament to human resilience, adaptability and our undying need for meaningful connections.