Today’s business blogosphere has a tendency to scrutinize so many aspects of work-life that people can have passionate arguments about things most of us didn’t even know existed. Kind of like 24-hour news cycles, the world produces so much content that eventually we have to start talking about things without any direct reason or logic. Every so often, however, this practice can lead to some very interesting lines of thought that, if turned properly, can improve your company in a meaningful way. Today we’re going to be discussing one of those topics: the arguments against, and in favor of, having a “cool” office layout. [ibimage==39800==Original==none==self==null]
The environment in which you do your work has an impact on the work being done, that isn’t really up for debate. It’s easier for most of us to get work done in a library than at a Phish concert, a cluttered desk can make it hard to concentrate, and a boring, mundane office space can rub off on your employees. The question is: just how much of an impact does your office’s layout actually have?
If you put enough thought into designing your office space, your employees will actually want to be there. Some offices incorporate fun (but not necessarily functional) features like slides, treehouses, and lounges into their design. If it’s nicer than where your employees live, they’re probably not going to have a problem putting in a few extra hours a week. The goal is to design a space that people enjoy being in. You’ll get more enthusiasm, and many more hours of in-office productivity.
Make no mistake, humans are influenced by their surroundings, anybody who has been inside the Sistine Chapel can attest to that. While you probably won’t end up working inside one of the greatest artistic and architectural masterpieces of all time, it isn’t incredibly difficult to design something unique and great enough to affect the moods of your employees. Deep down, most of us want to work in an office that makes us feel like we’re a part of something special. Design will certainly have an impact on that.
What do you think the average human finds more inspiring, staring at a brick wall, or a classic painting? If you answered brick wall you probably work in construction, and that’s totally cool, but most people find art at least slightly more moving. Creative, thoughtful office design inspires better quality creative work, plain and simple. While not every department in your company relies on creativity to do their jobs, it’s not something that’s going to hurt.
You can also use your office design to inspire collaborations, even between departments. A cool communal work area brings people away from their desks, and gets them talking and sharing ideas. If you have the space for it, this is one of the best features you can add to your office.
You’ve probably heard of some cool offices, either locally or nationwide. Reputations grow, and people say things like, “Man, I would love to work at a place like the Googleplex.” Top talent in any industry is likely to seek out the best places to work, and if they’ve heard how great your environment is, you’ll move to the top of their lists. It also helps reel them in if they’re blown away when they come in for their interview.
Let’s be frank for a moment. Do we really need fancy desk chairs, post-modern art, and uniquely cool spaces to do our jobs? Of course not. I can write just as efficiently in a closet as I can anywhere. When did we become such prima donnas that we need a specially designed space? Sometimes you just have to suck it up and do the job you’re being paid to do.
If you want an especially interesting but functional space then you’re probably going to need to enlist the help of professionals, and you’re going to have to pay for all of the new fixtures. This stuff isn’t cheap, and it will have a significant impact on your bottom line, especially if you’re a lean startup or a smaller company. In all honesty, a lot of employees would probably rather have a higher salary and more benefits than sit in a $600 chair.
At the end of the day, we should all probably spend less time worrying about what our office looks like, and more time focussed on the product or service that our companies provide to the world.
It certainly seems like there are more pros than cons when it comes to creating a “cool” office layout. The key is finding the right mix of cool, functional, and affordable. Assign your company a budget and stick with it, then do the best you can with the resources you have available. Remember, the more successful your company becomes, the more time and resources you can devote to your office’s layout.
