The UK has twice as many open plan offices as the global average, and with productivity on the decline, it’s no surprise this recently trendy layout has been identified as the culprit.
Critics of the open plan design worry that they are distracting, too loud or too exposed for many employees, fostering a sense of disruption and increasing workers’ stress. But with the open office - or the next evolution - is going nowhere fast, how can we ensure we use the space in the most effective way?The intention of the open office design was to facilitate collaboration, open communication and equality between staff of all levels. With smart design, supportive tech and positive culture, this has been achieved. When done successfully, an open plan office:
- Increases transparency and the flow of information
- Generates a sense of camaraderie and community among staff at all levels
- Fosters social engagement and professional collaboration, discussions and innovation Encourages peer-to-peer learning and mentorship
- Promotes employee equality and increase office wide engagement
These benefits make it worth getting the open plan office right. Fortunately, successful open plan is easy to pull off when businesses are strategic about both their design choices and creating a supportive, authentic culture.
Incorporating smart design and supportive tech
Etiquette is one of the greatest challenges open offices face. Companies can offer guidelines, but employees won’t always follow the rules. Rather culture and design can inspire best practice, respect and productivity. Smart and intuitive design is a more effective way to help guide behaviours. Rather than one large open space, create “micro-environments” that employees can migrate through as their needs change throughout the day.
By creating and clearly marking zones for deep work or rejuvenation, as well as culture-building and collaboration, employees will intuitively follow appropriate etiquette based on where they are in the office. You wouldn’t go to a library to chit-chat would you? The same respect will be paid to designated quiet zones within your office space. These zones should be protected by incorporating acoustic dampening materials, so that noise doesn’t carry across zones or create an echo.
Within these spaces, consider altering visuals and acoustics. Colour, light and sound can have psychological and emotional impacts on employees that can either boost of diminish productivity. For example, neutral tones are said to enhance concentration and reduce anxiety while high contrast colours activate high stimulation zones. Wherever possible, maximise natural light to boost office morale and enhance productivity.
Across these zones, don’t forget to consider the use of technology. Employees will need the right tech to foster the flexibility to work across ‘micro-environments’, and they’ll need to power that technology with mobile charging stations and power outlets.