After the pandemic made us all adapt to a specific style of working, it’s now more prevalent than ever that not every employee thrives in the same environment.
However, this doesn’t have to be an obstacle when striving for a productive and positive workplace. At Glenside, we believe that it is our differences that lead us to be successful, which is a philosophy that many of our clients share. With this in mind, here are the main factors to consider when it comes to designing a
varied and adaptable environment, no matter what your working style:
Open Office Spaces vs Closed Office Spaces
Working throughout lockdown gave many of us an element of privacy at work; a novelty which a lot of people experienced for the first time. This was considered a win for many introverts, who often find louder environments overwhelming. So, now we’ve returned to work, a more closed office space could be a perfect way to accommodate this. Private rooms or phone booths are both great examples of these, which can also be the perfect setting for those who prefer privacy when making phone calls. No matter who puts these closed style spaces to good use, allowing an element of privacy in the workplace will never go unappreciated.
On the flip side, working from home may have caused some employees to feel isolated from their team and so they may require a more open space. Extroverted people often are most productive in noisier environments in which they can interact, so shared workstations and
a variety of breakout areas will be more beneficial for this personality type.
No matter your personality type, providing your employees with a range of workspaces is a surefire way to, not only help boost their productivity, but also help your team feel comfortable in the workplace
The Impact of Colour
When considering different zones for your employees depending on their preferred working style, colour is very important. Surprisingly, it’s also often overlooked. By nature, humans are visual creatures and so we’re often psychologically impacted by the colours in our environment.
For example, the calming effects of blue have led it to become the world’s favourite colour; representing efficiency and logic. Therefore, using it to create ‘calmer zones’ or decorating a boardroom with blue accents may be a great way to boost productivity for those who thrive in a less stimulating environment. You can find out more about the effects of colour on your employees
here.
Themed Meeting Rooms
This is a slightly bolder approach, however when a client recently came to us with this request, we couldn’t help but love it: a ‘Forest Room’ featuring lots of biophilic design; alongside a ‘Beach Room’ containing lots of sandy neutrals.
This is perhaps a very obvious way of catering to different personality types, however it’s often the simple concepts which are the most effective–by creating an immersive environment full of lush greens with a plant wall feature, you’re bound to help those entering the Forest Room to feel calmer and more relaxed. (Side note: this may also be helpful in meetings with some tricky negotiations, but you didn’t hear that from us.)
Meanwhile, those who value collaboration and a more stimulating environment may gravitate towards the Beach Room, in which they can toss around the creative beach ball and brainstorm to the fullest.
By making these varied environments available, you’re bound to impress both the people in your workplace and those who come to visit; catering to
different personality types and working styles.
In conclusion, those are the factors that we believe are important to consider when designing a varied and adaptable workplace for all the personality types in your office. Whichever of these methods you gravitate towards,
Glenside are here to assist you from the initial design all the way through to the fitout.
At Glenside, we have decades of experience in designing and fitting out contemporary workspaces across a range of sectors, catering to a wide variety of working styles to help your business thrive.
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Glenside Commercial Interiors is a trading name of Glenside Commercial Interior Projects Ltd registered in England with Registration Number 14000423. VAT No. 408 5792 72