Workplace Design Conference 2020 Insights from six experts on the workplace of the future
How can we work better? How can we create better workplaces? What does the workplace of the future look like?
These questions have been explored at countless forums and events lately, as health measures and government regulations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have suddenly accelerated the disruption of the workplace.
So what did the Workplace Design Conference 2020 add to the conversations? A lot of clear, straightforward and practical answers.
Six experts from four countries took the stage to discuss workplace design through the lenses of architecture, research, psychology, organizational design and change management. The presentations touched on an array of highly relevant topics, and together they formed a logical and insightful narrative – a roadmap to workplace and business success.
1. It’s time to ask some big questions about the future
All speakers agreed that we’re experiencing a turning point. Despite the challenges and losses we have all been experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a great opportunity to tackle big questions and rethink how we live and work.
As confirmed by the results of the Slovenia Workplace Survey, people expect to spend more time working from home after the pandemic.
“How many days are you likely to spend in the office when you go back post-COVID?” – Nigel Oseland
Workplaces will continue to play an important role, but their purpose will be different. What the workplace of the future will be like is up to us to decide. We need to engage in real conversations, and use all the knowledge and insights we gained during this 2020 ‘experiment’ to make smart decisions.
How can we improve the way we work? What should we do differently? How should we move forward? How can we better serve our customers?
– Alenka Kragelj Eržen
Even if a business has been hugely successful until now, this is no time for complacency. Businesses may need to reinvent themselves to stay successful, and leaders will need to find new ways to lead in the new economy.
The workplace is continually changing and evolving. Although we’ve learnt a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic about how we could work better, we need to keep exploring and experimenting. With a curious and open-minded approach, we’ll also find it easier to understand the changes around us and to seize new opportunities as they emerge.
2. Whether they work in an office or at home, people’s experiences vary
We learned from Leesman’s extensive surveys that people working from home, on average, are doing well. They tend to feel happier and more productive compared to working in an office.
Having said that, focusing on average results could be a mistake. The truth is that people’s experiences vary greatly, wherever they work. For instance, when working from home, many employees have a fantastic experience, while approximately one in four actually struggle.
- The kinds of distractions and interruptions people are facing
- The technologies they use, and how well they can use them
- Who they live with (for example, with a partner, young children, older children, or housemates)
- Whether they have a suitable, well-equipped and comfortable workspace at home
- Whether they’ve worked from home, at least some of the time, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
– Kyle De Bruin
In Slovenia, most employees said they found it easy to communicate via digital platforms, and managed to organize their time better. They also enjoyed working away from the usual distractions of an office environment.
At the same time, they felt somewhat disconnected from their teams. Defining boundaries between work and life was another common challenge, along with dealing with the usual distractions of home life. What distractions? Think ’family, the biscuit tin, and cups of tea …’
The Slovenia Workplace Survey has also revealed unexpected insights. Typically, people prefer to work from home when they need to focus deeply. But some employees can actually concentrate better in the office.
Introverted personalities tend to find it easier to work in isolation. However, when working from home, extroverted survey participants felt more productive, on average, than introverts – which was surprising to see.
– Nigel Oseland
Interestingly, even different countries are responding differently to the necessity to work from home. Slovenian employees have a greater desire to see their colleagues in person, and are planning to spend more time in the office in future, compared to many other nationalities.
What’s the key takeaway? We really need to pay more attention to the individual’s needs.
3. The role of the office space is shifting, but remains as important as ever
Most of our presenters touched on the changing role of the workplace, and it was interesting to hear their different perspectives.
Nigel pointed out that employees want and need to get together in person to connect with each other, collaborate and socialize. They also seek a sense of belonging. Digital communication cannot replace face-to-face interactions, and people who spend a lot of time working from home often feel isolated and lonely.
Remote work also prevents impromptu interactions, which play a key role in innovation and workplace learning.
– Nigel Oseland
Workplaces will continue to play an important role, but their purpose will be different. What the workplace of the future will be like is up to us to decide. We need to engage in real conversations, and use all the knowledge and insights we gained during this 2020 ‘experiment’ to make smart decisions.
How can we improve the way we work? What should we do differently? How should we move forward? How can we better serve our customers?
– Alenka Kragelj Eržen