Optimise your office layout with three zones

The way your office is laid out plays a crucial role in enhancing productivity, teamwork and the sense of connection within your organisation. If you're keen to promote all three of these aspects, a carefully considered approach to your office layout can make a world of difference.  

Focus 

Creating an environment that enables people to focus is essential when it comes to encouraging performance and enhancing productivity. Working at home has taught us that many employees felt the quieter home environment enabled them to focus better. As such, it is up to us to offer this same sense of calm at the office.  

So, how exactly do you improve focus at work? 

• Quiet zones: Set aside specific spaces where employees can work without interruption, free from distractions and noise. Agree clear, internal rules on this point. In open-plan offices, soundproof phone booths or cubes can offer a solution.  
• Ergonomic workstations: Provide ergonomic office chairs and sit-stand desks further enhanced by accessories such as monitor brackets. Don't overlook the impact of lighting and the indoor climate either: make sure any possible physical inconvenience is eliminated.  
• Design: Check whether the actual design of your office might act as a distraction. Reduce the amount of clutter and unnecessary elements that divert attention. Furniture in natural shapes, materials and soft colours can help you do so.  

Teamwork 

Aside from focus, teamwork is an important element of many processes at work, whether that's exchanging ideas, creative brainstorming or making decisions. By offering spaces that support and encourage these processes, you can create a dynamic working environment.

So, what's the best way to improve teamwork at the office? 

• Team spaces: Create rooms or spaces where team members can easily gather to exchange ideas and brainstorm. These spaces can vary in size or functionality, from more informal huddle areas to formal meeting rooms.  
• Flexible furniture: Give employees the option to adapt spaces to the needs of their activities. Flexible furniture enables you to easily change the setup and facilitate teamwork. 
• Integrated technology: Use collaborative tools and technology to simplify remote teamwork and connect teams in different locations.  

 Connection 

A sense of connection within the working environment contributes to the wellbeing of employees and promotes a positive corporate culture. The best way to achieve this is to provide rooms that are not geared solely towards work, but that are also designed for comfort and relaxation, and to improve the connection between colleagues.  

So, how do you create a sense of connection at work? 

• Corporate culture: Integrate the core values of your business into your office layout to strengthen the sense of engagement. In fact, this is a core element of workplace branding: a concept that is all about supporting the connection with your business, but also between colleagues themselves. 
• Meeting spaces: Set up shared, often multifunctional spaces in which employees can relax, forge relationships or brainstorm in a more informal setting. Cafeterias, coffee corners or lounges are the perfect example. 

By striving for a balanced office layout, you can get your employees bring their best selves to work. Here at Pami, we are more than happy to help you find the perfect mix to suit the unique needs of your business and team.