Work Place + Work Style = Work Smart

Working smarter is a key objective for most organisations. Doing more with less and not compromising the service or product is often top of the list.

So what part does the place we work in play in the equation?

A vibrant work environment where people want to be inevitably leads to better results.

There is plenty of research that links work environment to people being both engaged and more productive at work.

But a great work environment is about a lot more than bricks and mortar and the latest fit-out. It needs to reflect the work culture and match the way we work.

Good design for layout and fittings is important, but essentially setting a working style that fits with how people relate to each other and how they spend their time has got to be a priority.

I once watched an organisation’s shift to an open plan office fail terribly, simply because it had been done to cut costs. When the team started working in the new office, they were hugely unhappy and felt they were being spied on. The unspoken message about the shift had been one of penny pinching, which led to a lack of trust and people constantly looking over their shoulder.

On the other hand I worked on a project for an insurance company in Wellington where a new space for coffee and socialising was set up, with bar stools and high tables. It created a space where different teams would congregate and mix.

It got to the stage that people stopped going out for coffees, preferring the social space, even though it didn’t have the best coffee in town. The outcomes led to better results for the company, less absenteeism, and better dialogue across teams.

Ultimately, a smart organisation thinks through how it’s working style can form part of its property and location strategy.

Working out the different spaces where people can focus, can socialise, can learn and can collaborate is key.