6 Ways to Turn Less Space into Greater Productivity

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

A downsizing trend is sweeping offices across the country--but this time, we’re talking about work spaces, not payrolls. From New York to Palo Alto, businesses are cutting back square footage to make way for efficiency.

It’s a phenomenon in which employers are realizing people don’t need huge corner offices to feel important and valued. Instead, they need collaboration, camaraderie, and maybe a splash of color. And when it comes to changing office environments,  it’s firms like MyOffice that are planning and executing the projects to make it all happen.

Freedom to Roam

In a January New York Times article, author Kristina Shevory tells us about Intel’s journey to a more efficient workspace. After years of row upon row of cubicles and grey walls, Intel execs concluded that employees needed to be more mobile, have space to get together to work in groups, and dedicated comfortable spots for downtime (where impromptu meetings might also occur).

As businesses like Intel are realizing the benefits of a fluid workspace, the average space per employee in the US overall is dropping rather drastically--from 450 square feet in 1985 to under 250 today--and dropping still. MyOffice has been seeing this trend for years—and has worked with clients including San Diego based PetCo to make it happen. “We’ve mastered the art of the ‘restack’ which is what we call it in our industry,” says MyOffice President, Ron Harrell.

Once we’ve put a plan in place, our team can get the whole reorganization done in as little as a weekend.”  

The customer gets more efficiency out of the current space and the team experiences better workflow and communication due to the changes.

Space to Work With

According to CoreNet Global, about 60% of an office’s desks are vacant at any one time. That’s a lot of unused, dead space. Putting people closer together, eliminating walls, and allowing movement all tend to create more energy within an office, and reduce costs.

Some ideas that Intel, AT&T, Deloitte and more are using in their offices today to be more efficient, more collaborative, and to save money:

1. On-Demand Desks
   Have desk space available for people who typically work off-site-- but make it a common space. Or consider having 2-3 employees share a particular desk if they are often off site or telecommute regularly.
2. Video Conferencing
   Does everyone need to be physically present for that meeting-- or would video conferencing some people in save time and money?
3. Work at Home Days
   For people with long commutes or heavy strategy work, scheduling days to work at home can save time and open up space in the office.
4. Flexible Walls
   Many offices have large common areas that go largely unused. Flexible walls can help you create meeting spaces where there weren’t any before, potentially even eliminating the need for multiple conference rooms.
5. Long Desks/Tables
   Studies have shown that when people work side by side, they are more energetic, creative and collaborative. Consider ditching cubicles in exchange for long tables and placing open workstations along them.
6. Kitchen Areas with Coffee Bars and Bistro Tables
   Encourage people to walk away from their desks to hold conversations or to do their work. Doing so improves energy, mental health and encourages creative thinking. In MyOffice’s corporate headquarters, the addition of a free standing table in an open area has created an outlet for impromptu meetings and discussions that otherwise would have occurred during some later “planned” meeting.

To create a more efficient workspace at your business, you don’t need to completely renovate. Take a few tips from the points above-- and consider some flexible desk space, telecommuting or other solutions that might help you do more with less space. The goal is to get employees working together more, thinking differently, and being more productive overall. It’s amazing what a little flexibility and freedom can do!