Anne Gibson Nelson Worldwide Explore the importance of relationships in the workplace – no matter how much work you do actual at the company.
Switching to remote work during the pandemic has shown us how we can stay productive and engaged even when we’re not in the office. Hybrid schedules continue to dominate the workplace and are here to stay. While the execution of these hybrid work models varies by industry, coming together in person has a new meaning of human connection.
Microhuman interaction is scientifically linked to human development, but they’re fading from our daily lives as digital experiences rise, from food delivery apps to self-checkouts to endless Zoom calls. As we adopt the model, we must recognize how reduced human interaction has shaped the hybrid experience and seek solutions that give new meaning to the interpersonal side of the office. The Importance of Physical Experience and How It Can Contribute to a Strong Company Culture
Include employees in your design
Inclusive design is not only about creating spaces that consider the way we live and work, it is also a physical act. By viewing the office as a modular prototype that can be reconfigured and approaching it with a beta mindset that evolves after you move in, employees feel empowered to have a say.
Including employees in the design not only facilitates human interaction, but also creates space for the employees themselves and their needs. When employees are invited into interactions and processes, they can feel part of the experience, experiment with spaces to see what’s working and what’s not, It helps build company culture and trust. This physical collaboration ultimately brings teams together to solve problems.
Before creating spaces that support these modes of work, you need to understand how your team works together so that all employees feel productive and engaged. Being able to change the office environment on the fly, such as adjusting the color of the phone booth from orange to blue for a more relaxed and focused work, or turning up the heat to make the room more comfortable, is extremely useful. Easy adaptation. Being able to do this at home helps get your employees back in the office.
Introducing Wellness Amenities
Having design elements such as dimmable lights, daybeds, outdoor areas such as roof decks and terraces, mobile charging stations, and spaces to support religious practices and new parents is an important part of what workers are today. It’s something they seek out in the landscape and encourages them to gather and utilize office space more often.
Even in northern climates, we’re seeing companies adopt outdoor spaces, from reclaiming unused square footage to building full terraces of varying sizes with varying views. After the pandemic, outdoor huddle rooms and heated gathering spaces became commonplace as employees became accustomed to resting outdoors regardless of the weather.
Wellness rooms are also standard, with gender-segregated bathrooms, dedicated mother’s rooms, and spaces intentionally designed for decompression, meditation and relaxation, to encourage employees to take such breaks while at work. I’m telling you it’s okay to take. office. What I’ve learned from telecommuters is that their productivity gains often stem from working more efficiently. , or simply relaxing undisturbed may be the cause. show employees that they are transitioning to foot-washing inclusivity, empowering them to respect who they really are and show who they are .
encourage storytelling
As humans, we inherently want to belong. The new wave of hot desks and communal spaces has given us the ability to choose where we want to work, but it can make it harder for people to feel a sense of belonging because they don’t have their own desk to secure their belongings. there is. To combat this, it’s important to give people the opportunity to share their stories, listen to others, learn about the organization, and create new and unique experiences.
There are a few simple ways to amplify your employees as individuals while making them feel part of the collective. One of our favorite ways to organize around a theme is to solicit feedback from each team her members and incorporate it into their cultural work. For example, think of a place on your travel to-do list. People can leave their mark by sharing photos of their favorite places. The pictures are placed on a sort of “living wall” that changes regularly. Its walls become part of culture, unite people, and poetically repeat that everyone is valued and part of a greater mission. It’s no different than leaving gum. It becomes a story you share with others. The way you made your mark.
Create a space for learning
Flexible spaces that enable hybrid and in-person training unite the two in terms of culture, onboarding and building social capital at a time when many workers are changing jobs or even changing careers These various spaces can be created to foster collaboration and socializing, but unless carefully programmed they can remain unused. Gathering spaces, when intentionally designed for learning, can easily be enlivened by offering TED-style talks and roundtable discussions. When adopting a hybrid work model, it is important to develop programs that bring people together, either socially or educationally.
Similarly, communal spaces are flexible and adaptable enough to offer a variety of work experiences. In the morning, you may be tidying up your room so that you can concentrate on your work, but in the afternoon, walls and panels can be moved and opened to allow for more space, allowing you to meet with your colleagues. It can provide casual interactions. This is an experience you can’t get at home.
As the hybrid model becomes more operational, it’s important to make the most of people’s time together and commit organizational resources to spending time meaningfully.
