Your place of work is not the same place it used to be a few years ago. Technology has deeply affected the way businesses were managed – from remote working to sharing the information, and virtual conferences to offshore manpower management; it has also in effect the physicality of a traditional set up as well. You can easily see the workforce around yourself which is a mix of different generations and a greater participation of women in leadership roles.
But, how do all of these affect the workplace design and you and millions of others as modern workers? As you go deeper into the understanding of creativity and productivity, a workplace design becomes far more important in creating better growth opportunities whilst nurturing an employee’s productivity with the assistance of the right technological support. And, that’s where the amalgamation of workplace design changes the way how you perform.
In a Leesman survey where over 27000 people were questioned, only 37% people felt that their work environment enabled them to work productively, leaving about 43% dissatisfied people. That’s a huge number of unproductive people with a lot of pending work!
So what are the major changes in a workplace design which contribute more to productivity?
(More women leadership can be seen today in organizations.)
The changes in the modern workplace design involve office planners to think from a different vantage point. Previously, where the office spaces were designed keeping in mind the 20-60 years old male population, it is not the similar case now. It was designed to serve the ageing lot, and more for the male than the female workers, just because of the fact there weren’t as many women workers as there were men. Because of the norms, changes were ought to come. And thus, features like improved office design, height adjustable chairs, comfortable seating areas, activities filled work schedule etc. were introduced to change the demographics of a traditional office space.
Another change that we are seeing is the rise of the introvert. Whereas previously offices were geared around the extrovert, attitudes are now changing towards the needs and want of the more reserved workers. Susan Cain’s book ‘Quiet’ highlights the differences in the ways that different personalities like to work, and now workplace designers are looking to include areas where the more introverted workforce can excel.
Another major change that helps in the working of a modern work is the possibilities for the introvert. Previously offices were built to polish the extroverts, but the office managers and entrepreneurs are giving equal opportunities to the less talking members in their team. In the book by Susan Cain, aptly named “Quiet” (check the video below), one can learn about the differential thinking introverts have, and now modern workplace design is bringing out areas to highlight their potential. Take a co-working space for example; most of these spaces conduct weekly networking meetups where the participation of every community member is a mandate. Through activities like these, even people who were earlier shy can open up to newer faces and make new business contacts. This has only become a possibility with the changes in the modern workplace design.
Employee wellness has come out as a major change in the workplace design. There are lot of benefits attached with having a fit and healthy team and companies are taking due notice of it. The less are the sick days in any organization, the more are the positive aspects of a healthy work environment. While you might have experienced the minimum movement of people on the floor, companies are now focusing on the movement of both the body and mind. Agile working that reduces stress, enhances creativity and clarity of thought, improves well-being and expedites healing, well as comfort and well-being is greatly welcomed.
The psychological wellbeing is another aspect companies are focusing on. Since not everyone works in the same way – some like working in private cabins while others enjoy the bustle of a busy office – the psychology is at play in all of these scenarios. The goal of a workplace designer is to be able to satisfy all of these different needs, to ensure that all of the employees can find themselves in a place where their productivity will be at a maximum. A diverse workplace is thus needed for a continuously changing workforce and for that everything from building the structure, office, furniture and interior design, needs to be re-imagined to make the efforts count.
Technological changes help remote workers considerably, and according to a research, about 30% works from home at least once a week. This puts up fresh challenges for workplace designers – to create an environment that rivals their homes and highlighting a community feeling when they are in office to foster better relationships. Modern workplaces have also begun taking into account cases where employees work experience are enhanced with the devices and technologies they use. With the addition of facilities like conference rooms with screens, virtual meetings across multiple locations etc. have further strengthened the need for technological changes.
(Open office layouts produces great results when communication is important.)
In terms of personal workstation changes, there have been major changes too. In a co-working space, the idea of “hot-desk” is highly popular. Though meant to serve the freelancers even bigger companies are adopting this idea to avail the best places for the team members when not everyone from their office is present at one time. Some companies are even coming up with unique ways of giving their workforce the feeling of a personalized space. A common practice that you can see around yourself – employees displaying their artwork and personal photographs on the office walls.
While these progressions are essential for the smooth running and advancement of a business, there are still few things that you can draw from a traditional setup. At times a pen and paper are considerably more viable than a PC, and this thinking can likewise be applied when working on the changes in a working environment plan.
The world is changing at a quickening pace both in innovation and the comprehension of individuals. There are various variables to make a gainful workplace today, and these working environment changes assume a noteworthy part in accomplishing this.