How to Accommodate Different Working Styles in Your Office Design?
Instead of fitting out the traditional office layout in which employees sit at a desk all day, companies are embracing more flexible workspaces these days. You must consider the different personalities involved in the work when you manage an office. Providing employees with a diversity of workspace that matches their work style can bring higher productivity, morale, and retention.
It is important to differentiate work styles and personalities. Some people like to work solo. They find it difficult to work with other people and can’t work well under direct supervision. They like to follow their ideas and see where it takes them. This is usually common in visionary and entrepreneurial personality types who enjoy an independent working style. You can find such people in creative fields such as writers who focus on their work or engineers who like problem-solving.
Some prefer to be a part of a group. They are diplomatic and good communicators. They are usually found in relationship-based job roles. For example, HR managers and project managers have cooperative work-styles. They are organised, collaborative, and a good communicator.
Activity-based Working Styles
Activity-based working styles means employees have different spaces to complete various tasks throughout the day and can choose when and how they work. Space should offer employees to work in a diverse setting away from their fixed desks. This might include common areas to connect with other teams, conference rooms to present new ideas, and quiet spaces to focus on. By analysing how people work, you can attribute certain spaces/office fitouts to such groups to achieve the greatest productivity levels.
Quiet Spaces
Many employees require a quiet space to be productive. They can easily get distracted by having people around them or by hearing noises. In an open office environment, it is difficult for people to block distractions and focus on their work. Quiet spaces are ideal for detail-oriented employees to focus on complex work.
Collaboration Spaces
Employees who like being around other people won’t enjoy their work if they spend the whole day by themselves. Collaboration spaces are useful when you need to brainstorm ideas together with a team. You can easily create such space by adding round tables and placing them in the shared areas.
Breakout Spaces
A comfortable workspace works a long way towards employee retention. Adding a few cozy chairs, comfortable bean bags, and a coffee machine will let your employees relax and take a break. These can also work well for informal meetings or casual conversations.
By incorporating work style differences in your office design, you are more likely to position your team and your company for innovation, growth, and sustainability.
