The importance of culture
Company culture is sometimes overlooked in the grand scheme of business, but the positive effect it can have on your staff cannot be stated enough.
A lot can go into the way you form your company culture. Everything from management style to working hours can come into play. But an often-overlooked element of company culture is the office itself. Your office has the potential to be an extension of your business, projecting the values and beliefs you want to share with everyone that walks in, not just employees.
Revitalizing your office design can truly strengthen your business and culture. It can attract new talent and really give a positive boost to those who work there, often increasing productivity and morale levels in the office. Take Airbnb’s London office for example, their goal was to increase employee collaboration. So, to do that they made 35% of the office kitchen space with the goal of making employees feel like they could collaborate freely without the usual mental constraints of the corporate office environment.
This is why elements like a breakout area are vital for a modern business. As humans we all have an innate awareness of our environments and subconsciously gravitate to environments with certain qualities. Retailers have been playing on this for decades recreating positive atmospheres to boost customer experience and increase purchases. The same concept can be applied to your office, to create a positive atmosphere and increase staff morale.
An insightful piece of research conducted by Haworth looked at the most important factors to take into account when designing office spaces. There are various elements that go into a successful office design, as this quote explains “The critical achievement of workspace design is to integrate the various – and sometimes competing – cultures, values and behaviours of people to meet company goals,”. Creating a successful office redesign can be a difficult task without the clear direction and goal for your business. However, the research goes on to conclude that organisational culture is the most important thing when it comes to office re-design.
The affect your office can have on your company culture is huge, so Spectrum want to give you all the tools to make the best decision for you and your business. Check out our free resources below to give you the inspiration to change your companies culture for the better.
