How to Create An Office That Suits All Personality Types

The majority of offices today are open plan, and there are many good reasons for this. As well as representing an efficient use of space, this style of workspace can help to promote effective communication and collaboration between colleagues. However, typical office designs do have their drawbacks – and one problem is the fact that they are not suited to all personality types. While extroverts often like the buzz of open spaces, introverts can be distracted or stressed out by these environments. If you’re keen to create office that appeals to all of your workers, whether they are loud or quiet, single-minded or multitaskers, it’s worth paying attention to the following tips. Take activity-based design a step further Activity-based office design - which involves creating distinct areas within workspaces that are suited to particular tasks - is becoming increasingly popular as businesses switch onto the benefits associated with creating a dynamic, flexible working environment for their employees. For many companies, this approach means including breakout zones in their offices where people can go to have discussions with colleagues. This design feature can encourage creativity and collaboration, and it can be an effective way to keep noise levels down in your main work area. However, because many breakout zones are large and open, they can be off-putting to more introverted workers who prefer to collaborate with their colleagues in smaller groups. To ensure you cater to everyone’s needs and preferences, it’s a good idea to take the idea of activity-based design a step further and create a range of different spaces where your personnel can spend time and get on with their tasks. For example, as well regular breakout areas, you could create a few smaller meeting spaces that people can use to have discussions in twos or threes. These areas could be as simple as a sofa or couple of comfy chairs that are sectioned off from the main office with some carefully positioned acoustic screens, meaning they needn’t cost you much money. Think carefully about the design of your break areas Break areas can play a big role in helping employees to control their stress levels and in maintaining high levels of morale. If your employees have somewhere stylish, comfy and fun where they can spend their breaks, they should find it easier to relax and unwind in between important work tasks. The extroverts in your company might enjoy the chance to catch up with colleagues over a game of ping pong or table football, so it’s well worth including design features like these in your break rooms. However, make sure you don’t neglect your quieter workers. They might feel unnerved by big, noisy break areas, so make sure these spaces are also set up to accommodate quieter activities like reading. The point is that everyone should feel welcome and at ease in these environments. Include quiet zones In general, the hubbub of office life can take its toll on introverts and over time, the noise and distractions can cause their stress levels to rise. To help those in your company who may find the constant interactions of the workplace a strain, you could include quiet zones where people can go when they want to focus on their individual tasks without being disturbed. Some companies now provide small rooms, enclaves or pods where employees can go to get on with their work in peace. Again, these design features don’t have to cost a lot of money, but they can make a big difference to employees. Some companies are taking things a step further by introducing silent areas or nap rooms where people can go to shut themselves away for short periods of time. Harness technology to unleash creativity and flexibility It’s also important to make sure your staff members have the technology they need to take advantage of a more flexible office space. For example, by equipping them with laptops or tablets and ensuring there is a reliable Wi-Fi signal throughout your office, including in breakout areas and quiet zones, you can free your staff members up to be more mobile. As well as allowing your personnel to find work areas that suit their mood at any given time, this can help you drive up morale and promote creativity. After all, people tend to work more efficiently and produce better outcomes when they have greater control over the environments they are based in. Get the basics right Of course, it doesn’t matter whether people are extroverts or introverts, everyone needs a comfortable and practical working environment. This means that to create an office that suits all of your staff, you need to ensure you get the basics of office design spot on. From choosing comfortable, supportive seating that helps to promote healthy posture, to providing plenty of storage, to ensuring workstations are correctly set up and are a suitable size, there are various essentials that you’ll need to focus on. Ask your personnel for their feedback. Even if you follow tips like these, there’s no getting around the fact that designing an office that’s tailored to meet the needs of all personality types can be difficult. However, one way to know if you’re on the right track is to ask your staff members for their feedback. By encouraging them to identify things they like or dislike about your office as it is and asking them for suggestions as to how it could be improved, you should get an accurate picture of the things you’re doing right and the areas where you may need to up your game. As well as asking people for their input in person, it can be useful to give employees the opportunity to provide anonymous feedback. Sometimes people hold back on saying what they really think because they’re worried it will reflect badly on them, so by providing them with a chance to be more candid, you can be confident you’re getting honest responses.

June 2, 2017 | View: 492 | Categories: ROOT