Offices are evolving and with this evolution comes a new way of understanding how to optimise your workspace. What do you now need to consider when designing your office and how will this affect the space? What is the best way to optimise the space and how do you do this? It comes down to one simple concept: customisation.
Customisation
In any office, you will have a combination of different personality sets and work styles. As such it can be a challenge for employers to create an enhanced environment for all the different skill sets. Creating an optimised or smarter workplace is about providing the flexibility for employees to utilise the space in different ways. Providing a choice on how to engage with the environment plays a big role in improving performance.
Open-space zones
Currently, most offices are opting for open-planned spaces with collaborative zones and meeting pods that inspire creativity and are perfect spots for idea generation. This works for individuals who are naturally seen as more out-going. Great for collaboration as well, but in some instances employees needing a quitter space to hash out tasks, these zones can seem overwhelming and counterproductive. What can companies do to accommodate such employees and ensure they reach their peak performance as well?
Calmer, quieter environment
The addition of quiet spaces, or different ‘rooms’ that employees can use to think or have some time to themselves to work on tasks can make a huge difference. A space that is carefully designed to be comfortable, but at the same time does not over-stimulate. A calming, quiet environment that provides a comfortable atmosphere to work through projects. By simply customising the space to accommodate such zones can make a huge impact on productivity. It provides choice ad allows individuals to select how they are going to approach a task. It removes the added stress of having to confirm to one set space.
Collaborative zones
Creating this duality of both collaboration and solitude means that there is room for whatever type of work that needs to be completed in the space. Customising the workspace to provide these different areas helps to create a level of flexibility that can be absent from other offices, which in turn can reduce performance. Customisation allows for choice, which enhances the space and how it’s utilised.
Technologically equipped
A key to this is also making sure that your office is technologically equipped. Ensuring that mobile connectivity is possible throughout the office, meaning that employees can work from various locations in the office and are not bound to their desk and chair. This flexibility is key in optimising the performance of the work environment.
Optimised workspace
An optimised workspace is about understanding that all employees do not work the same. To gain peak performance you need to provide office designs that will allow individuals to receive the right type of stimulation they need from the workspace to complete their tasks optimally.