Does your office foster collaboration?

It’s official, 2023 is not only here – it’s well underway, and it bears all the markings of an exciting year ahead. From all of us at Greenferd, we wish you health, happiness and prosperity as we collectively step into this next chapter. 

Of course, for many, January represents new beginnings; a fresh start, a blank slate, and an opportunity to reflect on what has been, while at the same time imagining and planning for the future.

As we reflect on the last two years, which were undeniably unprecedented, many of us are left with the same, lingering question: What does the future look like with respect to work, and the return to the office decision?

In a previous post, we discussed the emergence – and the expected tenure – of a hybrid model of work. The post-pandemic world, it seems, is well suited to this model, as we now know that many of the functions performed by staff can be completed remotely, while some tasks are still more effectively completed in the office environment. 

But why does there appear to be so much resistance to the ‘return to the office’, despite that being the routine practice for decades? Can this be attributed to employees’ desire to take advantage of more freedom and less supervision, or is it because employees legitimately don’t feel their office environment provides enough benefit?

At Greenferd, we believe it is the latter. More importantly, we believe that smart employers who take the time to communicate the benefits of working in the office will have more people return willingly, have more engaged employees and better overall business performance.

To get employees to willingly return to the office, employers need to properly communicate the benefits that an office space can provide. Communication, collaboration and building culture are some of the benefits of working in the office environment.

According to a survey conducted by Harvard Business Review, face-to-face communication is still the most effective way for teams to communicate and collaborate. The survey found that teams that communicate in person are more likely to have higher levels of trust, more positive relationships, and superior communication compared to teams that rely on remote communication. In addition, a study by the Stanford Graduate School of Business found that remote workers are 13% less productive than their office-based counterparts.

Furthermore, a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 72% of employees believe that in-person collaboration is essential for the success of their teams. This suggests that the majority of employees do, in fact, value the benefits of office collaboration and see it as an important aspect of their work; that is, as long as their employer provides an office space designed to cultivate great work.

So, the question becomes – what can employers do to ensure their office space promotes collaboration and facilitate effective teamwork? 

First and foremost, it is essential to seek out the guidance of a reputable design firm that will work with you to understand optimal workflow in your office, and the best ways to foster collaboration with functional design. Key office attributes that are proven to provide benefits include, but aren’t limited to:

1. Open Floor Plan: An open floor plan empowers easy communication and collaboration among team members. When team members are accessible to each other and able to see what others are working on, it can facilitate the real-time exchange of ideas and resources.
2. Collaborative Spaces: Collaborative spaces, such as conference rooms and break rooms, provide places for team members to come together and work on projects or have meetings.
3. Technology: Technology, such as video conferencing tools and online project management platforms, can facilitate collaboration and communication among team members.
4. Flexibility: Offering flexible work arrangements, such as the ability to adjust work schedules, can help team members find a balance between their work and personal lives and promote collaboration among team members.
5. Culture: A positive and inclusive company culture can foster a sense of community and teamwork among team members, which can encourage collaboration and effective teamwork.

As a company with almost 30 years of experience creating these spaces, we have seen first-hand the benefits a well-designed office provides teams, from enhanced communication, to an increase in collaboration, a more positive team culture, and more. The time we’ve spent working with our clients in their newly constructed spaces to ensure everything is working optimally has also given us a unique perspective on how the desired layout and office attributes are being utilized for the overall performance of the business.

By ensuring that your office environment is properly designed and structured, the battle to get people back into the office can, in fact, be won – and will provide undeniable value to everyone including employees, employers and shareholders.

So, does your office space foster collaboration? If not, isn’t it time to change that?