Evidently, the workspace of larger companies is changing not only its' appearance but also its' functionality. In addition to the previous posts about 'flexible workspace' and 'office design before and now', this article emphasises some further interesting details about office design by the Insititute of Leadership and Management (ILM) on how to suit the needs of the workforce within network of spaces with a combination of functionality and flexibility. It is clear that open plan is not always the best option for everyone, thus the combination of different types of space design is being applied to provide the balance between concentration and collaboration.
So what factors should we consider in creating an engaging work environment:
So what factors should we consider in creating an engaging work environment:
- The power of colour - People who require a lot of mental work to be done prefer work in a relaxing and energizing environment. Thus places that are not very saturated and have bright colours are the best choice. In other words, working space should only include a few patterns and colours as well as carefully selected decorations. It is also advised to avoid decoration that have sharp corners.
- Opinion from outsiders - Find someone outside the company to find out what employees think about their working environment and how their interpret it. Although, workspace design is based on national, organisational and professional culture, many organisations fail to consider the interpretation of the space by their main source - workers.
- Control of your workers - Show that you value your employees and give them some control over the physical space, especially where spaces can be easily reconfigured. Factors such as lightning and temperature is something that employees must be able to control, however acoustics and visual privacy is something that employees needs and in many organisation they only find it in the bathroom. See more about why you should give some control to your employees on www.i-l-m.com
- Security - furnishings, especially chairs might be something that provides the sense of security in a work environment. Also architecture, with slightly darker colours compared with the rest of the space will help to create a more safe environment for humans.
Even small changes in your organisation might increase engagement level of your employees. Workspaces that reflect at least some degree of employees' needs will not only by noticed from employees and will motivate them as they will be a part of organisation but also increase the level of engagement that is crucial for modern organisations.