Biophilic design

Studies have shown that connecting building occupants closer to nature helps increase productivity. It makes sense, right? Surrounding yourself with natural landscape features, which is known to stimulate the brain and so allows for creativity to flow is a no brainer. A study by Exeter University revealed that employees were 15% more productive when workplaces were filled with just a few houseplants. Nature incorporated into workplace design can create a positive mindset which will lead to more positive interactions amongst colleagues, improving collaboration. Time to get those fingers green.

Different zones

If we asked you to imagine a typical old school of**ce, we can bet you’d picture one big shared area with desks, a kitchen, and maybe a reception. Gone are those days. Workspace design needs to take into consideration different ‘zones’ that support the many different work modes, whether that be social, collaborative, ideational, focused or anything in between. For example, having a social zone where colleagues can eat and drink together is such a simple piece of workplace design that creates a social glue, humanising the work atmosphere, generating strong bonds and improving workplace happiness. Stronger relationships with team members and a happier workforce means people are more inspired to get their teeth stuck in at work.

People work in different ways, and the workplace needs to not only cater to this but celebrate it. Prefer to be surrounded by others to be inspired? The collaboration zone is for you. Need to concentrate in complete silence? Then a private booth is the one. Adapting environments to cater for every person in the business means everyone can be their most productive versions of themselves.

Flexible working

The future of the workplace is hybrid, and that’s a good thing. Hybrid work gives employees the flexibility to work in ways that are most effective for them. Let’s say somebody’s social battery has hit 0% after a long week, having identified that they need to stay home and recuperate in order to stay on the ball, they work from home. They know their own boundaries and work styles and thus can increase their own personal productivity.

As important as WFH is, nothing screams productivity more than being immersed in the environment you work in. If a company’s workplace design mirrors what they stand for, encapsulates its brands’ look and feel, then how could people not feel inspired? Real life interaction is sacred also, being able to build relationships or just grab someone for a quick 10 minute brainstorm is simply not the same as through a computer screen. A mix of WFH + on site = the dream combo. In fact, a study by PwC found that companies which adopted hybrid models during the pandemic resulted in a boost of productivity, with 57% of companies reporting that they had surpassed their targets over 12 months thanks to hybrid working. Hybrid for the win.

Benefits

This is simple really – invest in your people and your people will invest in you. Creating a positive environment by supporting your employees will in turn mean they’ll be happier to get stuck in. For example, offering something like private healthcare that includes access to therapy will help employees’ mental health and can lead to not only improved personal wellbeing but higher productivity and employee commitment.