Transitioning from the fully remote to a hybrid office set up has not been smooth for many companies. Leaders are struggling to maintain healthy productivity levels among the workforce. Some are quick to blame workers for being habitual of remote work, but the problem may lie in the way they allocate their space inventory.
A cramped, unorganized and crowded work environment leads to disturbance and loss of focus reducing productivity. But with some smart space allocation decisions, you can create an agile workplace where workers can perform at their best. So, let us see five ways you can improve productivity with proper space allocation.
- Practicality over Aesthetics
Ask workers, and most of them will tell you they want their office to have a lounge, cafeteria, decorations, and comfortable furniture. These additions make a workplace appear aesthetically pleasing but do not always improve productivity.
So, make sure your space allocation prioritizes practicality, and aesthetics can come second. Allocate spaces for work, socialization, storage, and amenities. Then decide on accents, artworks, and decorations around your workplace design. Also, leave room for personalization and allow employees to decorate their workspaces.
Furniture is another important aspect of space allocation. Follow the same principle of practicality, and avoid bulky furniture, so the space is not crowded. At the same time, prioritize work desks and chairs as they improve posture so employees can be productive and avoid fatigue.
- Balance Between Individual and Collaborative Workspaces
Workplace productivity greatly depends on workers’ ability to collect together as a team and collaborate on tasks. So, you must consider the need for social and collaborative spaces like conference rooms and lounges.
Your space allocation strategy must strike a balance between common and individual spaces, so neither comes in the way of productivity. Space allocation must be such that employees get dedicated space to focus on their work. But at the time, there should be social spaces where employees can gather to collaborate.
Create separate spaces for individual workspaces and common spaces. Although, make sure that employees get easy access to these spaces whenever necessary. This ensures employees can work in an environment where they feel most productive.
- Create Opportunities for Movement
Sitting at a desk long periods leads to mental and physical fatigue. And this hinders productivity. Your space allocation strategy must encourage employees to move.
Getting up from the desk and strolling to the other part of the office breaks the monotony of being cooped up in a cubicle. And studies show that such movement helps generate new ideas too.
Allocate part of real-estate inventory to spaces like breakrooms, kitchens, and cafeterias. Or simply add common water coolers to promote more water cooler conversations. Small chats over water breaks can be great refreshers.
You can also encourage movement by creating dedicated spaces for amenities like copiers and printers. These space allocation techniques will not only increase movement at the workplace but increase interaction among employees, and it promotes a sense of shared culture and space. All of this positively impacts productivity.
- Easy Access to Documents and Amenities
Employees need amenities to complete their tasks. However, most employees waste 25% of their total looking for documents, equipment, and stationery. And this reduces productivity dramatically. So, make room for dedicated storage spaces in your space allocation.
Create centralized spaces for storing files, equipment, and other amenities employees need to complete their tasks. It ensures that employees know exactly where to look for the supply they need.
At the same time, space allocation must also ensure that these storages are easily accessible. Install multifunctional cabinets for storing different supplies. Also, invest in adjustable shelves so employees can access them with ease.
- Visual Space Planning
Workplaces constantly evolve, and your space allocation may run its course when your organization expands. Spaces that once produced results may reduce productivity. But visual space planning can help you keep track of space usage trends before they can affect workplace productivity.
Visual space planning helps facility managers track the effectiveness of their space utilization using detailed reports. Visual planning tools give facility managers a bird’s eye view of the entire office. It helps them identify optimal space allocation for different office resources, so they make the workplace more efficient.
The same tools provide in-depth insights into how employees use the available space. So, you can analyze forecast space requirements in dynamic workplaces and make effective space allocation.
Final Words
Space allocation directly impacts how your employees perform at the workplace. So, plan your space usage around workplace productivity.
Provide ample room for collaboration and individual workspaces for more focused work. Use necessary tools to your aid for optimal space allocation.
WorkInSync space management software is an all-in-one solution that caters to all of your needs. It equips you with interactive floor plans to help you manage your space inventory efficiently. It can integrate with other hybrid workplace tools to help you optimize your space allocation for your core operations.
To know more about the space management product, schedule a demo today.
