Use the power of modern office design to improve your company culture
What exactly is company culture?
The short answer is that it is the personality and values that a company wants (or doesn’t) want to be identified for. Major tech companies embrace their openness, while other companies (big box retail, financial institutions, mismanaged companies) sometimes earn reputations for having negative corporate cultures (Uber’s poisonous culture being a great example).
Here are just a few examples of how big brands work hard to develop their own unique identities:
1. Twitter provides its employees with a relaxed work environment where they are encouraged to socialize, grab a free meal from the kitchen, and do whatever makes them happier and more productive.
2. Starbucks supports its employees by providing even entry-level workers with full health benefits and stock options.
3. Etsy has a diversity program that provides substantial grants to attract female engineers.
Adobe removed all internal rating systems and encourages managers to act as personal coaches.
Company culture has become a hot topic for businesses that want to prove they have more to offer than just a steady job. These companies want to prove that they are a great place to work, that they take care of their employees, and that they are committed to providing their employees with the same positive experience that their customers receive.
Here’s what we know:
The culture of a company is heavily influenced by a few important factors. These include:
1. Equipment
2. Management
3. Communication
4. Processes
5. Experience
Think about it like this.
A well managed company in theory will have employees who communicate, who have access to efficient processes, and the right equipment to do their job. In most cases, this leads to a positive experience and increased productivity.
Modern offices and company culture
One of the easiest ways to boost company culture is to tap into modern office design trends. The days of the grid-like cubicle prison are beyond us and companies that continue to cling on to outdated designs like that are missing out.
When all things are equal, top talent will almost always choose an office that is taking advantage of modern office design.
What would you prefer?
A boring office with standard grey desks, the same chairs, carpet that is older than you, an old Dell computer, and bright fluorescent lights?
OR
A modern office with vibrant colors, lots of natural light, updated furniture, employee lounges, and a cafeteria that you actually want to eat in?
The answer isn’t that difficult. And not surprisingly, the majority of people agree with you too. In case it wasn’t overly obvious, the second choice was the right one.
Why you should tap into modern office design trends
There are many reasons why you should tap into modern office design trends, and the benefits go far beyond the sight of sleek furniture and a trendy place to work.
Employee health
Bad office design is actually hurting the health of your employees. Research has shown that employees have reduced levels of stress and increased happiness when they have autonomy.
Here’s what Nila R. Leiserowitz, managing principal at major design firm Gensler had to say about it:
“Give them lots of options of places to work, so that they can choose where and how they work best. Gensler recently did a workplace survey to study the impact of workplace design on business performance, employee engagement and innovation. One of the big findings in over 11 industries was CHOICE. So, how does that relate? If you respect the person, give them choice, and they feel more in control, and less stressed. Less stress means less health issues.”
Future-proof your workspace
Future-proofing your workspace not only makes it a more attractive place to work, but it helps to save your company a lot of money in the long run.
The best companies know how important it is to attract top talent. Modular offices are much easier to update as trends change because of the flexibility and agility they provide to a business. Small changes can be implemented over time, rather than large-scale changes that require massive budgets and costly delays.
“Seen through today’s lens, the work environment is less about fixed items like walls, bricks, and mortar, but so much more about flexibility and agility. The furniture industry itself has really come to life from that respect. To be a designer today is to apply one’s creativity in concert with solutions that allow for change over time,” said Angie Lee, principal and global market leader at VOA.
Flexibility allows you to provide your employees with quiet areas, collaborative areas, social areas, and so much more. While these choices may seem distracting, it simply provides your office with the flexibility it needs. This allows a company to cater to whatever its employees need. The end result is an increase in creativity and productivity.
Increase employee focus and attract top talent
More companies should be focusing on improving their offices in order to boost the focus of their employees.
Not only will this boost your bottom line, but your overall workplace will be a more positive place. These kinds of big changes don’t go unnoticed in a competitive job market. Before you know it, you’ll be attracting top talent, scaling in new ways, and constantly building on your company culture.
Modernizing your office
We’re not going to shy away from the fact that we are big supporters of modern office design trends that are backed by real research. This is why we started Space Refinery.
Here’s the truth…
There is no such thing as a one size fits all solution for an office. Every company is different, has different values, and different employee needs.
But when you enable your employees to do great things, greatness is only a few steps away. And for that reason alone, modern office design is something that you need to start thinking about if you want to build a company culture that does your company justice.
The hardest part is getting started. Luckily, we’re here to help.
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