Adding collaborative workspaces in the office to boost productivity
Gone are the days when employees sit at their desks from the moment they clock in until they're done for the day. Over the past years, more and more ventures are seeing the pros of collaborative workspaces and how they boost productivity.
If you’re yet to explore this workplace design innovation, it’s high time that you do. In this article, we’ll talk about collaborative space design and how you can apply it to your workplace to reap the benefits
The Rise of Collaborative Workspaces
But before we dive deep into the matter, let’s discuss the meaning of collaborative space. In a nutshell, these pertain to areas in the office that foster interaction. Some believe that its origins root from the influx of digital nomads over the past decade. After all, remote workers can do their tasks just about anywhere - in a home office, a busy cafe, or even a surf shack at the beach.
Today, ventures have started to the most out of every nook in the office, turning them into communal zones. Lobbies and open-floor rooms, for instance, offer the perfect place for synergy and teamwork.
Collaborative Workspaces Benefits
Here are some of the pros that push ventures to adopt this trend:
Improved team dynamics. When people aren’t blocked apart by cubicles, they can talk more freely to one another. This results in more open communication lines and better teamwork.
Enhanced productivity. Not being caged in a desk allows people to be more creative and engaged. Google,
, for instance, provides some of the best collaborative workspace design examples many ventures strive to match. The tech company is known for making their offices a place not just for work but also for play.
Health boost. Research published by Harvard Heath says inactivity can pose health risks, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, among many others. Unlike old-school desks, an open workspace urges people to get up, move, and switch places. As a result, it prevents people from being stagnant and helps them avoid the risks that come with it.
Building a Collaborative Workspace
It doesn’t require a full renovation to build these workspaces. With only a few add-ons, you can turn just about part of the building into a hub where people can work together as a team.
For instance, mobile presentation boards can turn a space into an instant nook where teams can huddle and discuss. Having mobile whiteboards or glassboards within reach can also make it easier to translate concepts and ideas into visuals, thus helping ensure that everyone is on the same page.
If you’re thinking of sprucing up your lobby or any common space, you may want to consider adding tack panels. These panels come in various hues and can provide a pop of color to any room. But decorative purposes aside, these panels are also functional as they provide a tackable surface perfect for brainstorming sessions or for use as bulletin boards.
Creating a collaborative workspace isn’t hard. And for all the benefits it provides, making room for it at the office is surely worth the effort.
