For decades companies, both startups and established companies, have been operating with one simple rule: Workers must go out of their way in the name of customer satisfaction.
And though the idea is not necessarily bad — after all, all of us are clients at one time or another, and we want to be served well — sometimes, businesses prioritize the client’s needs but entirely forget about the needs of their own employees.
Since when did company owners get the right to decide what is good and what is bad for their employees? Truth be told, they have always done so.
But is this approach justified in the 21st Century?
The rule of thumb in the business world is, when you sign the contract of employment, your human relationship with your boss comes to an end. From that moment on, it is guided by the “I get my job done and you get paid” principle.
And that’s it.
In any business it is OK to place a heavy emphasis on keeping our customers excited about our brand. We create unique content, we update our apps and ads, we strive to get that content amplified as much as we can. We keep the well-being of our site’s users at the forefront of our minds. Taking care of your employees, though, is fundamental to making your business a great place to work. A place where people are appreciated, engaged, and productive.
Over the past ten years the idea of creating workspaces free of walls has taken off and spread from tech startups up to businesses like media and advertising. An open office environment is intended to support collaboration, increase productivity and boost employee well-being. But the data on how well this design works for business is mixed. The new concept may actually reduce the efficacy of the creative process for some, promoting small talk and creating distractions that interrupt focus.
The truth is, neither closed-plan nor open-plan offices are perfect for all situations or individuals. We need to find the right balance. Let’s discuss two types of people who may benefit from different work conditions.
Staunch intellectuals are a very concentrated type, usually morning workers who sit silently at their computers, enjoying their introverted comforts. Some people concentrate better in a calm and quiet environment with minimal distractions.
The second type of people are creatives. Whatever they do, their approach is artsy and inventive. That is just how their brains work. They get inspired easily, and need to feed their minds accordingly. Creative workers want the autonomy to decide where they work, how they work, when they work, and the option to choose work they find fulfilling.
Creativity needs a balance of extroversion and introversion. Most creative types do not always want to be isolated, but neither do they want to be distracted by other people all the time. Both isolation and distraction can nourish the creative process.
Practically any co-working area can provide a variety of solutions for artistic-natured individuals.
Why Co-working Is a Preferred Option: Scientific Perspective
There is a consensus among psychologists that unhappiness and stress can undermine your health. Unhappy, stressed-out employees work less, take more sick leave and are less effective overall.
Daniel Angelini, Founder of MOVIE Workspace, reflects on the topic of a worker’s welfare in his article. He notes, “When your employees’ health is at an optimum they are more engaged, can think more creatively, and make better decisions.”
Relaxing the restrictive climate of an organized office space will cater to people of an artistic mindset. You hired that specialist because you saw their artistic talent peeking through. Provide an inspiring environment, and get ready for that talent to bloom.
By providing your artistic employee with a bright, spacious, airy workspace where they are relaxed and self-governed, you will set their spirit free to create:
-
workers will feel better about coming to work
-
they take less sick leave because they are happier and less stressed at work
-
their overall well being increases, as does their productivity
-
they have better work-life balance, and are therefore more engaged.
From the entrepreneur’s perspective, the idea of abandoning the traditional office space in favor of an open workspace may seem a bit daunting.
But here are a few things to consider:
– most co-working companies offer workspaces at reasonable prices
– you are not locked into a long-term leasing contract, you just add a few workspaces as needed
– co-working areas have everything a business needs, already set up for you
– they provide a variety of memberships that include workspaces in public areas, private offices, and areas with projectors for networking events. You pick and choose, depending on what you need
– in a co-working area, your staff is constantly exposed to new businesses, people and experts of all kinds who can provide inspiration and expand creative boundaries
The bottom line here is that we ought to be willing to embrace workspaces that foster creative productivity, in ways that work best for individual employees.
Namaste.