Collaboration is a big buzzword in the business world, and for a good reason. Collaboration is the key to creating innovative ideas and to achieving the best results in a work environment. A team that collaborates well achieves its goals faster and efficiently. The people must be comfortable in the environment and enjoy the experience. Collaborative spaces are an answer to this. The results can be astounding when the right people are in the room with the right tools.
Many businesses have collaboration spaces, but some struggle with making the space not just an office but a collaborative office. So, how to create a collaborative space in an office? Here are some steps to follow:
Invest in creating collaborative spaces according to the culture
Providing a collaborative space for your employees is one of the most important things you can do to improve employee morale, create an environment that fosters creativity, and improve overall productivity. Since they are a physical representation of your business and brand, you should make sure they are conducive to productivity and creativity. It’s important to consider the behaviors of your employees and the culture of your business and then design your spaces accordingly.
For example, if you have a business that is growing fast and has a lot of young and social employees, you may want to design an open concept space that encourages collaboration. You may want to consider putting up walls for privacy or adding a few private rooms for meetings or for phone calls. On the other hand, if your business is more professional, say a law firm, then you may want to design your spaces with more private offices and some wellness rooms.
Find appropriate collaborative furniture
Finding the right furniture for your office is not just about fitting all your employees or fitting your company’s budget but also about how it will help encourage collaboration within your company. There are many things to consider, including how comfortable each chair is, how much space you will need, and how much you are willing to spend. The most crucialsuccessful furniturecollaboration piece is the collaboration table, a central spot where meetings can be planned or a gathering can happen spontaneously. these days. It’s quite an effectivequite effective and easy solution to saving space.
Create separate smaller spaces instead of a large one
Creating a collaborative space in an office should not be taken lightly. It is a decision that can make or break morale at work. If you’re a small company and you already work in close quarters, you might think that adding a dedicated collaborative space to your office would be a great idea. But in fact, you may be better off with multiple smaller spaces. One of the biggest problems with adding a collaborative space to an existing office is that it can become the go-to place for all kinds of activities, from eating lunch to holding a meeting. If you have one large space, it can’t be used for anything else, while a series of smaller spaces can be used for multiple purposes.
Make them flexible and practical
The key to creating a successful workplace is to have everything in the right place. A flexible workplace is a source of productivity, creativity, and an opportunity for the whole team to be creative and have fun at the same time. Creating a space that is practical also means creating a space that allows people to work better and more efficiently.
It is important to create rooms that are flexible and practical in the office. That way, the employees will not feel stifled but will know that they have enough room to do their job properly. The spaces should also have all the technology needs. This will ensure that employees are comfortable and will not suffer any outdated technology problems and get done quicker.
Add motivation to these spaces
In order to create a collaborative space, you need to make sure that there is motivation. Make sure that every employee has a chance to voice their opinion and make their opinion heard. By letting your employees have a voice, they will feel like they can contribute something to the company. They will feel like they helped create the company and feel like they are part of something special. They will be more motivated to work harder and to work together as a team.
Plan different rooms for different purposes
1. Huddle rooms
There are many kinds of rooms that your employees will need to use in order to be productive. It would help if you planned the layout of your office to make sure you have a room that can be used as a huddle room. The huddle room is a place where people can meet and discuss things in private. This is useful when people need to discuss sensitive information like financials. Having a huddle room will allow people to talk about things away from prying ears and eyes.
2. Idea room
Where do you write your great ideas, and where do you do your best thinking? If you’re like most people, you probably write your ideas down on sticky notes or a post-it and then lose them, forget about them and never go back to them. Or maybe you have a journal that you write in but end up reading it like a novel, losing the purpose of writing it in the first place? Collaborative workspaces can be very inspiring places, especially the ones that inspire. These are called idea rooms.
3. Break rooms
If you want to build a collaborative space, you should plan different rooms for different purposes. Here’s a list of some of the rooms you could create:
- Wellness room: A place where employees could come to relax and take a break from the hectic pace of the office.
- Party room: A place where employees could come and celebrate after a job well done — it can also be used for weekly meetings.
- Training room: A room where employees can learn new skills and educate themselves about something that interests them.
- Cafe: A place where employees could come to eat and drink during their breaks.
- Library: A place where employees could come to read, work and relax.
4. Company meeting room
It is important to design an office in a way that encourages collaboration. By providing a variety of meeting spaces for different purposes, employees will be able to choose the room that best meets their needs. It is also important to make sure that meeting rooms have the necessary equipment for meetings.
Your collaborative meeting space should have an open office with large tables, comfortable chairs, and over-the-shoulder whiteboard walls. You can use this space to brainstorm new ideas, work on projects and host monthly company meetings.
