A study has shown that 62% of so-called “high performance employees” find their workplaces too distracting. Of these employees, 58% noted that they would find private spaces for thinking useful. This study shows why companies find it so hard to find a balance when it comes to office design. Historically, businesses would use a cube as a haven for their employees, but many employees and indeed employers found this to be problematic. In recent years there has been a huge shift towards more open plan offices. This is not surprising; we are naturally sociable creatures and being in a cube feels like the human equivalent of a playpen! But have we been far too quick to move out of the cube and into an open plan free for all?

Tough Balancing Act

There is little doubt that finding the perfect blend between an open environment and space for thinking can be an issue. With phones constantly ringing, emails arriving and chatter between staff, a workplace environment can become an incredibly distracting place for those who prefer to work in peace and quiet. The trouble seems to lie in the fact that many people have a preference for one or the other. Some people cannot concentrate in a loud environment, while others thrive in it. So what’s the answer?

It seems clear that modern office design will need to keep in mind the different needs and preferences of staff. One of the options available is to ask staff what their preference is. You may be surprised at the results. By bringing your staff into the fray, you are also indicating to them that their opinion is important and encourages them to have “skin in the game”. Many companies struggle to retain staff as it can be easy for them to feel forgotten about and undervalued. By bringing them into the decision making process, you can gain a real insight into the needs and thoughts of your team, and also highlight their importance to the business.

Hybrid Office Design

It seems clear that as time moves on we will begin to see a more hybrid style come to the fore. Office spaces with open areas that encourage teamwork coupled with the addition of quiet spaces that help those who work better that way. This is why custom office design will become ever more important. Custom design allows for a design team to get a real feel for the needs of the business. They can bring the ideas of the businesses staff to life and help to create the ideal environment for them to do their best work. This process ensures that your business not only gets an amazing new office environment, it also empowers the staff and makes them feel more valued.

Your staff feeling more valued and being given a work environment that they played a part in creating can be a huge boost. Coupled with the fact that the space better fits their needs will create a huge upsurge in productivity. Often staff can thrive in new surroundings and the addition of some quiet spaces may also help to produce astonishing results for those who much prefer that environment.

Spaceway Office Design

If you like the thought of creating an office space that fits the needs of your staff and business then please get in touch. Our in-house design team can help to create remarkable customised office spaces that are built to the specific needs and requirements of your team. We have more than four decades worth of experience creating offices and can use all of that experience to create the ideal office for you. For more information or to speak to our team, please call 0800 085 1022 or use the form on our contact page and someone will get back to you.