It’s Important to Align Office Space and Office Culture
Office space and office culture, when deeply intertwined, can immensely affect employee attitude towards their company.
A 2014 study entitled ‘The relative benefits of green vs lean office space’ found that while the minimalist look might be the height of fashion, it was making most employees feel pretty low. Just adding some small personalized elements can hugely improve morale and productivity.
There was a time when a cubicle represented not drudgery and sameness, but freedom and individuality. As a reaction to this office environment, Herman Miller originated the first panel-based office plan, then called the “Action Office.” Designers Robert Probst and George Nelson intended the Action Office to be a space where efficiency and productivity could reign, without trampling the needs of the individual.
Thus, changing times have given way to changing needs. One’s office design influences two of their biggest assets – their property and their people. Over 96% of respondents to a recent survey by Management Today magazine said that they regarded their office space as a symbol of whether or not they were valued by their employer.
As convenient as it is, it would be wrong to not mention Google as an example of companies with an amazing culture. Google has been synonymous with culture for years, and sets the tone for many of the perks and benefits startups are now known for. Free meals, employee trips and parties, financial bonuses, open presentations by high-level executives, gyms, a dog-friendly environment and so on. Googlers are known to be driven, talented and among the best of the best.
Adobe is a company that goes out of its way to give employees challenging projects and then provide the trust and support to help them meet those challenges successfully. While it offers benefits and perks like any modern creative company, Adobe’s is a culture that avoids micromanaging in favour of trusting employees to do their best. At their office, for every “seat” devoted to solitary activities, there should be one “seat” devoted to collaborative work. Adobe and their highly creative staff wanted to achieve equal parts of concentration and collaboration. Read more about their office space and their award-winning company culture here.
Just like Google, Facebook has been one of the game-changers when it comes to that perfect alignment between office space and office culture. Facebook’s campus is laid out like a little city. It’s true. A paved road runs down the middle of the campus, inviting employees to pop into the candy shop, the bank, the dentist’s office, the doctor’s office, the gym, the bike repair shop, the barbershop, the dry cleaners, a coffee shop, sushi restaurant, video arcade, barbecue shack, Mexican restaurant, pizzeria and burger place. Shiny communal bicycles are parked under every tree.
Not just corporate offices, coworking spaces are also making sure that their office design emanates the flexible and collaborative culture that thrives in their spaces.
It’s becoming increasingly important for the employees to be provided with an environment that encourages collaboration, creativity, flexibility and openness. Research shows that employees are more productive in environment where they are more comfortable and that enables them to derive inspirations from the surrounding as well as other people in the space. InstaOffice, through its vibrant color scheme, regular events and a layout that encourages collaboration, makes sure that it’s members have a productive and more importantly a happy day.
Be it little things or grand gestures, creating an office space that reflects your company culture can be hugely valuable, both for uniting employees and for creating a welcoming and unique space for visiting customers and clients.