It’s a proven fact that a suitable office layout will have a direct effect on employees’ productivity and morale. But finding the right office is much more than finding a space where you can fit all of your employees – it’s the backbone of your business. Right now, you may be wondering what type of office is best for your company. It’s only reasonable, as there truly is an abundance of them. Shared space, conventional office, open space – all of these choices may seem daunting at first. Here’s an idea – why not try to have some enthusiasm for the process? Whether you are moving your office to Japan or Europe, relocating it down the block or in the commercial building across the street, a new office is a fresh start! And here’s how to choose the best one for your business!
The five most popular office types
The right office for your company is the one that will allow the best business productivity. It’s the one that will provide enough space for all of your employees, as well as the one that will best suit the nature of your business. It sounds a bit confusing, but an explanation is coming right up. The right office can even help you maximize the profit of your business, so you needn’t take it lightly. That being said, there are five office types that seem to be predominant in today’s world.
- The open space concept
- Private rooms
- Shared space
- Team clusters
- Virtual or remote
Open-plan offices are on the rise
Once you think about an office as a concept, chances are you are seeing everything but an open-plan office. But this type of space has been taking over the business world by storm. It’s characterized by no partitions and with desks arranged in rows or clusters in a space that is really open. All of this sounds very modern and appealing. But before you start relocating computers and other office equipment into a space that fits this description, you should first make sure that it will be suitable for your company.
Open concept offices are great for start-ups and tech companies. This type of office will also enforce a tighter bond between employees and it costs less to rent. The only downside is that there isn’t any private space for meetings. Besides, at some point during the day, the atmosphere may get heated and noisy. So be very careful when assessing the needs of your company – this type of office is not the right choice for many businesses.
The private rooms are thought of as ideal
If open-plan offices didn’t cross your mind when thinking about the concept of an office, this type most certainly did. This type of office is best for your office in many instances, but it’s mostly perfect for companies where client confidentiality is important. In fact, you will find almost all of the legal firms and healthcare professionals to be working out of these offices. In a lot of ways, private rooms are ideal. The employees get their privacy, as well as a chance to decorate their own space.
But one has to remember that so much privacy might lead to feelings of isolation, which certainly won’t have any positive effects on your company. Luckily, this problem is easily solvable. Make sure there is at least one room where employees can hang out during their breaks. Even a brief conversation could improve focus and productivity, not to mention shatter any feelings of loneliness.
Shared space might be the solution to your problems
So your business has been growing and you now have enough staff to need an office but are still not certain you should sign a lease? This is precisely the situation when a shared space type of office is best for your company! Shared space is perfect for small companies, freelancers, and start-ups. Generally speaking, it’s great for all businesses that still don’t have enough office capital but need an office due to an influx in business.
What’s great about shared space is that you can usually pay rent on a monthly basis. And since you will be sharing a space with other people, you will also have great networking opportunities. But be careful – you won’t have as much creative freedom with a shared space. You won’t be able to affect the office environment and that could start to bother you in the long run.
An office divided into team clusters can be the right one
Whether it’s with cubicles or not, the concept behind an office divided into team clusters is a self-explaining one. By grouping teams into clusters inside the office, you would be contributing to better teamwork and improved communication inside the team. This type of office is great for pretty much any company that is divided into teams and holds a lot of international discussions, such as corporate companies.
If you do opt for this type of office, don’t forget to include a common room, as well as a few meeting rooms. The common room will improve engagement between employees that aren’t in the same team and a meeting room will give you some much-needed privacy for important conversations.
Virtual or remote offices are a characteristic of the 21st century
With the entire world going digital, it was only a matter of time before businesses decided to rely on the 21st century’s technology. Let’s say you have a team of people working for you from different countries, maybe even different continents. Bringing them all together in real life would be impossible. That’s why you decide to opt for a virtual or remote office.
The advantages of this type of office are quite clear. For starters, you don’t have to pay any rent. You will have staff that will work at their own pace which will certainly make them motivated to do a good job. Most importantly, people who work from home won’t call in sick when down with the flu. They will most likely be able to push through it and do their job from the comfort of their beds. Then again, people working in this type of office never get a chance to bond with each other. You also wouldn’t be able to keep close tabs on their work hours, and a slight internet connectivity problem can pose huge problems for your business. There is clearly a lot to think about.
How can you decide what type of office is best for your company?
It’s actually very easy to decide what type of office is best for your company. You just need to realistically assess the needs of your business and its employees. Then you need to take a realistic look into your finances and decide what it is that you can and can’t afford. As simple as that!
Author Bio: Laurel Wilson is a part-time writer and a full-time interior designer. She majored in interior design and has five years of work experience in the industry. Her passion is designing business spaces as well as contemporary condos. She currently resides in Miami, Florida.
