Leon Festinger, Stanley Schachter and Kurt Back have raised the question “how friendship is formed?”, why some people build friendships that last for years. Some experts, including Sigmund Freud, argue that friendship formation can be traced back to childhood, when values, beliefs and attitudes are formed that later are the deciding factors in creating friendships. But Festinger, Schachter and Back have come up with another theory, which contemporary prophets such as Steve Jobs, Sergey Brin (Google) and Lary Page have come to implement. These experts believe that physical space and the time spent in it are the elements that create friendship.
Research shows that an employee is happiest when collegial relationships are elevated to the level of friends, given that we get to spend a good part of the day at work.
From the right colors to spaces for phone calls or quiet offices, workspaces should be a combination of structure and fluidity. So, we have compiled a list of 5 elements to consider when creating workspaces:
- Design Matters
When choosing vacation accommodations, do you choose a room with fluorescent lighting or one with drab gray walls? The answer is obvious. The same goes for offices, design matters, given that employees end up spending 9 hours a day. - Customizing
Family pictures, plants or wall-stickers, items that employees can bring to the office, and their impact is huge, employees end up creating a community. What's more, „they end up behaving more naturally, which is good for innovation and creativity. The moment you add trust and comfort to a relationship, people end up taking responsibility.” (Kevin Kuske, General Manager Turnstone). - Organize the office by zones
Just like a city, the office should be organized by zones, for example if you want to have a conversation you go to the kitchen or the terrace, if you want a more private place or to have a private conversation you can go to an area where there are sofas or if you want a relaxing break or a refresh from what you are doing you can go to the terrace or the courtyard. - Branding and organizational culture
It is very important to align your office space with your organization's brand and culture. From plush mascots, to gadgets, to objects that the company creates, paintings painted by employees during teambuilding events, anything! Innovate! - (re)creative spaces
Plants, light and all the elements of nature are small changes that are good to adopt in your company. Studies show that natural light is good for your health and even helps boost creativity. Also, we all like to be playful from time to time, maybe for some it's closer to a lifestyle, that's why a games room or recreational space is more than welcome in an office space.
Allow your employees to be creative in their own way, whether they personalize things on their desks to their liking, some prefer to write in pencil and others prefer a digital component. All of this helps create a community within your company, and a community can aim so high that the results end up being more than great.
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