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Podcast: Allow us to reintroduce - the modern office

Podcast: Strategies for creating the ultimate workplace experience

A shift to the modern 

Let’s take a look back: It’s safe to say that since the 1950’s office life has undergone seismic changes. Workplaces of the past, designed for a traditional 9-5 workday, conveyed hierarchy, and corporate uniformity, -they featured large corner offices, rows of cubicles, and a small kitchen area.  

Today’s workplaces look vastly different. Open concept offices have emerged to accommodate economic priorities, evolving work styles, technological advancements, space allocations, and cultural shifts. However, companies often jump into, or try to replicate, office designs they think their employees want or are visually appealing. Actually understanding your teams’ needs and then implementing a space around those traits can lead to a much more useful office space. 

IMG_1130.jpg-300x200Matt Xavier, our own Senior Associate of Strategy recently appeared on Technori’s podcast channel to share top tips to consider when moving or redesigning your space, how strategy plays into creating the ultimate workplace experience for your team, and how technology has changed the way offices are designed. 

Technori is a Chicago-based media company with a mission for building the largest and most inclusive tech community in the world through its blog, podcast channel, and live radio show. Through its platform, they have created one of the nation’s largest entrepreneurial networks. 

Podcast highlights:

Understanding an organization – their goals, their behaviors, and voice 

As workplaces have shifted in design, so has the role the workplace plays in enabling a company’s goals;  attracting and retaining talent, achieving and sustaining results, and being financially responsible. When designed correctly, the workplace should act as a community, fostering culture and connection, and providing resources for higher productivity. 

“When we first start working with a client, we dive into the customer experience and what we’ve found is that clients’ main takeaways are cultural: the voice, the vibe of the office, and the way in which employees engage. 

Fun, Functional, and Feeling 

Understanding how different teams work, the spaces that are used, and adding the right personalization and resources are important when considering your next office project. Involving the right people is key – different departments can present different insights to help create an environment that increases collaboration without diminishing productivity. 

“Understanding how employees are engaging with their workplace and understanding their work habits helps us design an office that's best suited to achieve our clients' business goals 

Creating the ultimate experience 

Like malls, stores, and restaurants, framing your workplace as a destination of choice for your employees, potential investors, and customers encourages them to come into the office. Each of your audiences’ journeys may be different, and it’s important to consider features like path of travel, hospitality/concierge, and sense of belonging/partnership for all groups. Creating this memorable experience can help nurture brand and culture, recruit talent, and foster future partnerships with customers and prospects. 

“We spend a lot of time developing a client's, or investor's potential journey through the space using technology to simulate how a workplace will look, the different spaces and features, and behaviors and protocols, so when the space is designed it's exactly what the client wants 

With the continuous evolution of how people work, companies will have stay ahead of the curve, creating workplaces that build a foundation for business success. 

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If you are interested in learning more about our unique process and approach to workplace, or have a project in mind, get in touch with us.