Unique office designs are now more accessible than ever, and businesses and companies are taking great advantage of it. The trends in office designs that are practiced by industry giants, are usually the ones that dictate change. However, today, the trend for large office spaces, is no longer in the limelight. Businesses are more focused towards smaller office footprints today, given how quality can be achieved through a smaller office footprint. For businesses and enterprises that have smaller office footprints and a restricted budget, don’t have the luxury to move towards large office spaces or cutting-edge technologies, but today, even large corporations are making a shift towards smaller offices. Several different factors, including affordability, leveraging technology, digital transformation, and retaining top talent, is encouraging businesses to focus towards smaller and more sophisticated office designs that focus primarily on quality.
Adaption of Modular Design
A Human-Centric office design, characterized in smaller office footprints, represent an agile workplace, one where break out spaces and desks are being reconfigured to adjust with the changing dynamics and needs of the business, especially amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic, where remote working is being practiced at large. Smaller offices allow for modular components, and modular components are only there to fit functional needs, while retaining quality. In a fast-paced time like this, modular office components in small offices are able to achieve agility at work. At the same time, modular office components also evokes collaboration and comfort. Just take a look at Google’s comfortable sleeping pods, which are the prime example of Human-Centric office design, but the same level of quality may be achieved with smaller offices, and modular designs allow for efficient utilization of workspace, with focus on quality.
Retaining Top Talent
The Covid-19 Pandemic proved to be very distressful, especially for organizations. With employees being forced to work from home, companies could only do so much, to ensure mental well being of employees. Not only that, but when it came to retaining top talent, the task proved to be the most difficult of all. Since top talent do not emphasize about tangible benefits alone, they also care about the intangible benefits that an organization brings to them. Having said that, smaller office footprints are primarily focusing on quality design, keeping in mind, the focal points of employees preferences, to foster an environment of growth, serving well to the employees, especially top talent. The accessibility of great design is enabling businesses with smaller offices to support top talent or high quality personnel or staff with flexibility, innovation, and seamless processes.
Cultivating Change Management
The engagement between the leaders or top management with staff, is crucial, in light of design change. It is not only important to inform the employees about the design change, but it is equally crucial to excite the employees about the associated change, and how the new office footprint or design will be advantageous for the employees, empowering them even more. Having said that, small offices are focusing on quality design, in an attempt to cultivate change management, set out by Covid-19, where hybrid work structures are being practiced. Companies foster a successful office design, are usually the ones who’s leaders establish emotional and cultural objectives, beforehand, while articulating the same objectives towards the employees. These objectives also coincide with the operational and technical needs of the business. Since smaller offices are focusing on quality design, network and collaboration, along with cultural and emotional empowerment is something that will be achieved through smaller office footprints, with company leaders articulating the change.
Key Takeaway
While many companies are shifting towards smaller and more Human-Centric offices, it is important to note the role of technology in this situation. Technology is the driver of this change, as companies are now focusing towards smart offices, with prime objective to foster growth of employees, leveraged through technology. With smaller offices focusing more towards quality design, technology will continue to foster the element of quality. With more and more smaller offices being setup and established, companies are finding different ways to create the experience unique for the employees, catering to high quality standards, focusing both on functional aspects and emotional aspects.