The long-term success of many organisations hinges on the creativity and ingenuity of their employees. It is no surprise therefore that bosses are eager to harness their workers’ imaginations to the full.
Traditional office design is not necessarily effective in this respect. Perpendicular rows of desks and cubicles, stuffy meeting rooms and dull decor are not great when it comes to spurring people’s inventiveness. To help boost the creativeness of their staff members, firms are increasingly turning to more unusual office designs, as well as an interesting and varied selection of office supplies.
Zoning
One hot trend right now is so-called ‘zoning’. This is when offices are divided up into distinct areas ranging from quiet spots filled with desks and chairs to informal breakout spaces complete with contemporary furniture. Companies can pick up all the seating and other products they need from suppliers such as Calibre Office Furniture.
These zones can be based around different themes. For example, certain areas may be made to look like gardens and other like libraries or lounges. As workers pass between the different spaces, their thought processes and moods can change, and this is a great way to stimulate creativity.
Also, informal, communal areas are a great place for employees to brainstorm and this can spark new and exciting ideas.
Lightening the mood
On a similar theme, a rising number of offices now feature relaxation areas complete with games consoles, ping pong tables and more . These design extras can help to lighten the mood, boost morale and make people more relaxed and better placed to think.
Creating a buzz
Silence may be great for certain types of work, but it’s not always right if people want to get in tune with their creativity. This means it’s important for offices to have the right level of background buzz. If this doesn’t happen naturally in offices, it’s possible to play so-called ‘pink noise’. This is less harsh than white noise and it resembles wind, waves or rain.
When there is enough background noise, people feel less inhibited to talk and interact.
Personal items
A really simple way for firms to foster creativity among their personnel is to allow them to bring in a few personal items such as photos and coffee mugs. These objects can really brighten offices up and they can help to put workers at ease.
When people feel like part of a community, they tend to act more naturally and this can boost innovation.
Quiet time
As the previous points highlight, much of the emphasis in modern office design is centred on an informal, social approach. However, it’s important to leave space in working environments for people to operate in peace and quiet if they wish.
Not everyone is the same and some people find it easier to generate ideas in the absence of conversation and general noise.
Getting workers involved
For the best results, it’s a good idea to involve workers in the design process. Their input can prove invaluable. After all, who could be better placed to know what will help them work best than the employees themselves?
