In Humantech’s November 2015 e-newsletter, the company
provides tips for designing an ecological workspace that will help maximize
employee work output. Here are the tips:
- Designate quiet zones for focused work. Employees should have a private, quiet place to work when big projects or tight deadlines are due. Humantech suggests a closed-door office area or an area where phones are not allowed to let employees focus.
- Establish relational zones for small-group cooperation. Provide an area where small groups of workers can sit next to each other to discuss a project and “level the playing field” between them.
- Identify formal zones. In situations where a leadership figure must host a client or interact with an employee, there should be a seating area that enables two people or groups to sit across from each other. This increases formality, eye contact and helps create a more dominant figure in the discussion.
- Create open spaces to promote group collaboration. Large projects require brainstorming and planning activities that require input from numerous people. A circular or horseshoe-shaped table (instead of a rectangle shape) is ideal for large group collaborations where workers can discuss in a more equalized and open space. Also, seating such as couches or lounge chairs might help increase creativity and discussion.
