The technology industry is often at the forefront of office design trends today, but creative industries such as marketing and advertising aren’t far behind. The collaborative, open workspace trend is booming, and all different types of businesses are beginning to adopt this trend. The open office layout increases collaboration and conversation while giving employees the ability to be in an environment that makes them feel relaxed yet productive.
This trend isn’t going anywhere, but it’s important to remember that not all of your employees will benefit from an open environment. If you ask your employees what bothers them about an open office environment, chances are they’ll tell you that they can’t concentrate or focus on their work.
Just because a few employees aren’t fans of the open office concept doesn’t mean that you can’t make it work for everyone. Regardless of whether an employee is introverted or extroverted, you can turn your office space into a place where everyone can be productive. Here are some ways that you can create an office space that works for all of your employees:
Encourage quiet times
If your company has chosen to adopt an open layout, make sure you encourage silence at certain points during the day. Although the open office space can give the impression of a casual, collaborative, go-with-the-flow company, it can actually hurt the productivity of some of your employees. This isn’t to say that it needs to be quiet all the time, but encouraging employees to be quiet when collaboration isn’t needed can be incredibly beneficial for many of your employees.
Offer breakaway spaces
If you’re looking to increase creativity while still encouraging collaboration, create breakaway spaces for your employees who are looking for quieter, less stimulating environments. This is especially beneficial for your more introverted employees as well as employees that spend time doing creative tasks like writing.
Embrace natural light
Productivity and creativity are often dependent on natural light. Find ways to incorporate natural sunlight into the office, such as keeping the blinds open during the day.
Incorporate color
For people who work in marketing, the importance of color is obvious. Even if you’re not a marketer, color should still play an important role in your office space. Color selection is often seen as a subjective choice, but there are certain colors that elicit universal reactions from people.
Countless studies have shown that there are cultural associations with colors that can send us cues about how we should feel. For example, the color blue is associated with water and often signals feelings of calmness. Yellow and orange are often associated with happiness and excitement while purple suggests feelings of dominance and power. Adding color to your office’s walls or furniture can have a positive influence on your employees’ moods.
Creating a space that works for everyone may seem like an impossible task, however the little things you do will make a big difference to your employees. Encouraging quiet times, creating breakaway spaces, embracing natural light and incorporating color into your office area all ways to make your office a better place for your employees.
