The open office plan is the popular template for today’s modern office. In theory, it offers occupants the perfect mix of privacy and collaboration. In reality, it is a complex ecosystem that is not always executed well. It requires a collaborative team that is willing to foster an environment that celebrates the collective and the individual in the one setting. Here are just a few tips on how you can promote the perfect open plan office so everyone gets the most out of their open plan working environment.
Lay down the ground rules
Establish clear rules and boundaries for your team. Make sure you are all on the same page in regards to what kind of office space you want to achieve. It is definitely worth a scheduled staff meeting (or several meetings) to discuss how everyone wants to move forward. It may also be worth commissioning an interior designer. Respect each other’s quiet time and know that there are instances when you need to perform as a team or think in isolation.
Set times and spaces for individual and group work
Set particular hours of the day for quiet work and meetings. Mark out zones in the office that are for working on your own and having group discussions or client meetings. These zones may be in different corners of the office, different desks or different floors of the building. It really depends on the space in which you work, what is practical and what feels right for everyone.
Use Moveable Furniture
Having moveable furniture in an open plan office allows for the option of privacy or collaboration. This can be as simple as retractable dividers or tables and chairs with castor wheels; or it can involve highly customised ‘collaborative furniture,’ specifically designed for open plan offices. Mobile pedestals, mobile caddies, high-backed lounges with break out chairs, or sectional lounges with media consoles are the kind of popular collaboration pieces popping up in modern offices around the world. The addition of collaboration furniture and contemporary office setups turns the traditional workspace into something completely new, a relaxed environment where team members can come together for the next regular staff meeting or impromptu brainstorming sessions. Conversely, quiet workers can find an unused corner with furniture and buffered rooms or cubicles that allow them to focus and be productive with less distraction.
Use Signs
If you don’t want to set specific hours for people to work quietly, you can still encourage team members to set hours for themselves. If someone is working on a project and doesn’t want to be interrupted, have them put a sign on their desk so others know not to approach.
Invest in Headphones
When it comes to blocking out the sounds of an open office, you can’t beat a good pair of headphones. There are plenty of noise cancelling headphones on the market. Use them to avoid distracting sounds while also letting others know you’re busy.
In short, a little planning and the expressed buy-in from everyone to support a diverse work environment is what guarantees the success of an open plan set-up. This, and the understanding that it is not one particular thing but the intricate balance of everything, working together, that ensures a workspace that is inclusive of the group and respectful of the individual.