Shared office spaces are becoming increasingly popular – in fact, in some commercial districts the sharing environment is becoming the norm.
The open plan layout and convenient facilities offered by shared workspaces are designed to increase collaboration and appeal to younger office users. Nonetheless, when it comes to productivity, office layout and facilities alone may not be enough. They need to be tailored to specific employees and their workplace needs.
What are the best conditions for productivity?
Organisations have evolved over the past few decades – and so have office layouts.
Modern management approaches call for team work, collaboration and the free flow of ideas, and open plan spaces are the perfect environment for that to take place.
In reality though, even the most collaborative workers need quiet time and private spaces to think, strategise, and focus on complex individual tasks. The challenge for a shared office space is to strike a balance that works for everyone and ensures productivity.
- Boosting productivity has everything to do with giving employees the right environment to do their best work.
- For this reason, an office layout that provides open plan, private and semi-private spaces is ideal.
- When collaboration is the main focus, team members can gather in public areas for informal discussions and brainstorming.
- Team-based projects and creative tasks can be carried out in semi-private spaces, while important and confidential meetings can take place behind closed doors.
Flexibility and variety are essential elements of a productive modern workplace, and office layout is the key to realising them.
Boosting productivity – how your shared workspace should look
An ideal shared workspace is open and inviting while providing a degree of quiet and privacy when needed.
A comfortable seating area, which can be anything from a few couches to a fully-equipped business lounge should form the central hub of a shared workspace. Semi-private meeting areas could take the form of work pods or glass-walled meeting areas with sliding doors that can be closed if necessary.
Finally, private meeting rooms (or a board room or presentation area) provide secluded spaces to meet with clients or discuss sensitive issues.
If you’re a building owner looking to optimise your shared office space and market it to tenants, our team would love the chance to advise you.
To view our portfolio of properties in the greater Cape Town area, contact us today.
