The Ideal Worskpace
By Nimbus Search Partners | August 10, 2016 | Insights
Recent Insights
When it comes to the perfect office set-up, balance is key.
However, finding the right balance between collaboration and
privacy can actually be a difficult task. Studies have shown that in
the past few years, on average workers have actually seen around a
15% shrinkage in individual workspace to make way for more
collaborative open space. Thus the trend seems so be a sacrifice
of privacy in favor of collaboration, in recent years. In spite of this
change, workers are reporting more adamantly than ever, concerns about privacy in the workplace. So you may ask, “What exactly is the ideal workspace then?”. To answer that question, we’ve compiled the most important factors of an ideal workspace and detailed strategies to help turn your office into one. Although these factors are research based, it is important to keep in mind that different people have different preferences, meaning an ideal workspace may differ from person to person.
Article - Nimbus Search Partners
Article - Nimbus Search Partners
Privacy and the ideal workspace
The defining characteristic of an ideal workspace is the ability to concentrate easily when working on individual tasks while still being able to collaborate effectively when working in groups. Under these conditions, privacy helps define where the border is between these two tasks. Survey results have shown that employees feel like they can work better when two conditions exist. The first is the ability to engage in non-work related tasks for brief break periods without the feeling of being watched or judged by peers or employers. The second is the ability to control the external stimuli around them when engaging in focus driven work. A combination of the two provides an individual workspace that promotes effective work when deemed necessary.
Collaboration and the ideal workspace
Private individual workspaces are a necessity but so too are open collaborative spaces. Workers need space to not only work together with their fellow co-workers on projects but also a space to simply engage with them. Designating this space allows co-workers to not only accomplish work and meet objectives but also facilitates the building of relationships between employees which creates a fluid environment for teamwork.
Strategies to foster an ideal workspace
Two of the best ways to improve a workspace are to establish protocols and plan spaces strategically. Protocols help establish rules for how spaces and time are to be used in order to optimize their use. For instance, a company can designate a space to be used for personal phone calls in order to ensure privacy or even designate specific times for quiet work. Essentially these give employees the privacy they need to work. Similarly, strategic space planning ensures the work environment is set up in such a way to minimize distractions. This means private individual space and open collaborative spaces are distinctly separated as the two separate entities should be. Creating zones helps distinguish these areas so that they can be used properly to maximize efficiency of both individual and collaborative work.
The Office Ecosystem
An office is a complex ecosystem that needs its many parts to work together to survive. Employees need privacy to accomplish what their job entails but also need space to work together with others. Keeping this in mind allows for the creation of a system that provides employees with the resources and space they need to be as efficient as possible in their work environments.
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