Office Space
As the new year kicks off, I’m finding myself thinking a lot about work environments.
When I talk with my former HR consulting colleagues about the future of work, I hear about the struggles large organizations have bringing employees physically together. Business philosophy and generational differences often come up, and the focus tends to be on willingness to comply and ways to encourage or entice staff to come back to the office. Real estate costs and profitability loom large. Plus there are certainly some roles that are task-focused, and workers who prefer to be remote or need to travel. Then there’s the opinion mill: “This generation just refuses to come to the office…. that generation is lazy… People will never want to go back to the office - why should we?”
On the other hand, I hear something slightly different in the trenches. The people I meet at live networking events are searching for in-person ways to consciously connect with others, collaborate and learn new things. Conversations with colleagues at my coworking space challenge the traditional assumption that professionals of different generations demand different things from their work arrangements. Increasingly, I’m seeing that even roles or industry don’t dictate preferences as much as they did pre-pandemic. It’s more personal now. There’s a desire to balance a paycheck with emotional wellbeing. Many people choose to pay a hefty monthly fee to work among other humans in an engaging place. Some coworking colleagues even work for large corporations, preferring the energy of a coworking space to their corporate office.
Employment is and always has been a relationship, not simply a transaction. The quality of any relationships is based on feelings, not logic. How people feel about the company drives more of their behavior than the paycheck does. And work environment plays a big part in how employees feel about their jobs. Open floor plans aimed at flexibility and efficiency resulted in cold, loud spaces that led to feelings of frustration and alienation. “Hotelling” meant no personal space and eroded a sense of belonging. When the pandemic drove people to the comfort of home, we felt safe and at ease. We could focus without struggling to tune out office banter.
I think the RTO (return-to-work) challenge is increasingly about a sense of place — one where employees feel comfortable, valued and connected. A place they want to be in. It's not about efficiency, complying to company rules or checking off the number of days onsite — the long game is about culture.
The big picture around work space is clearly evolving. A large number of people, regardless of age and profession, seem to gravitate toward work environments that provide more than their home office can – focus, social connection and inspiration. They want to connect with other people for impactful work and projects, not redundant meetings that can be done virtually. No one wants to waste time, energy or gas. Succession planning has eroded, and younger people are actually curious about business processes and recognize the need to be present to build relationships and opportunities to advance their careers. More senior folks long to share their knowledge and mentor people one-on-one. All of this is enhanced by communal spaces to gather in.
Leveraging the power of the work environment can be a powerful tool to build, foster and maintain a thriving culture. Brand strategy is key to developing an authentic culture that resonates with the right people for an organization, whether its employees or customers. Adding work space design to a robust brand strategy can be a key element to attracting and retaining key employees, which in turn improves innovation and profitability.
Office design is no longer a luxury — it’s a strategic business need. Coffee stations and lounge areas provide more than comfortable places to gather and exchange ideas — they create a sense of community and ease. Quiet spaces do more than block out disruptions, they set the stage for flow state and a sense of accomplishment. Windows do more than provide natural light — the views provide an expansive space for minds to wander into and distill information strategically. Color, lighting, and texture all affect the human experience and our potential.
How we feel matters, especially to the bottom line.