What is flexible office space and how can it benefit your company?
Flexible office spaces are increasing in popularity for businesses all over the world. As the perspective on what the workplace means to employees and communities shifts, so does the office layout that supports it. Leaders know that the value of the workplace is far beyond just productivity, but rather community, collaboration, and camaraderie.That’s where flexible office spaces come into play. These office spaces are designed to be as versatile and dynamic as the humans who work within them. Many companies are opting to create more flexible office spaces instead of traditional office layouts because they’re much more suited for today’s work needs. In this blog post, we’ll first define what flexible office space means and go over the benefits that make this model so popular. Let’s get into it.
What is flexible office space?
A flexible office space is a workplace layout that supports employee and business flexibility. It offers employees options for where and how they work onsite. In a flexible office space, employees have the freedom to choose their preferred workspace based on what they need to get done. They can book desks on the fly or book an impromptu space to chat with a colleague. Unlike traditional offices, where employees have assigned desks and limited meeting rooms, flexible office spaces allow you to choose a space best for the task at hand.These dynamic work environments can be easily altered to keep up with changing economic conditions, business needs, or new return-to-office policies. Businesses have been gravitating towards flexible office spaces in the last few years because they support new ways of working. Plus, they’re adaptable. Due to their nature, flexible office spaces can support many working styles, such as hybrid work. They can adapt to changing headcount, desks, rooms, open areas, and more. The key is Picture an office with a mix of desks, pods, and lounge spaces that employees can reserve for work. Those spaces are designed for different intentions like group work, focus time, or business calls. This kind of flexible environment helps employees have multiple options for where and how they want to work. It also lends to creating a much more vibrant and positive workplace.
4 benefits of a flexible office space
1. Agility and adaptability
The economy is constantly evolving, and so too are businesses. Since businesses operate in a constantly evolving landscape, a flexible office space allows them to adapt quickly to changing needs. Whether it's a shift in team size, a new project requiring collaboration with external partners, or the need to incorporate hybrid work arrangements, flexibility in the workplace offers the agility to accommodate these changes seamlessly. Being able to rearrange and reconfigure the workspace layout allows offices to stay aligned with business objectives and enables organizations to optimize their space more efficiently. This adaptability translates into cost savings, reduced downtime, and increased operational flexibility.Pro tip: A flexible office space pairs well with workplace analytics. It’s helpful to know what areas of the office are being used or underused. So be sure to incorporate a workplace analytics tool to support your flexible office space.
2. Enhanced productivity and focus
In a flexible office space, employees can choose to work where they deem best for their needs. For example, if your employee needs some heads-down time to write, they may not be able to get that work done in a chatty open floor plan. So instead they can book a sound-proof pod for a few hours. On the other hand, maybe your employee needs to conduct a client call or lead a webinar. They can choose a phone-booth for total privacy and focus. Whether they need a quiet area for focused tasks, a collaborative space for brainstorming sessions, or a comfortable lounge for informal meetings, the flexibility of the office layout ensures your people can work in an environment that increases their productivity and concentration. With a variety of spaces catered to different work styles and preferences, flexible office spaces empower employees to do their best work.Pro tip: With a space management platform, you can optimize your space to flex the ways your employees need most. See the pods are booked up more than large meeting rooms? Convert that space into better use!
3. Enhanced collaboration and creativity
A flexible office space is dynamic in nature, which means that it can support people’s different working styles in a variety of ways. This kind of environment is the best for promoting collaboration and sparking creativity. If a team needs to break into groups to problem-solve and ideate, they have options of what space best suits their needs. The magic of a flexible work space is the ability to support teams coming together, exchanging ideas, and working collaboratively on projects. A flexible office space enables a more free flow of ideas that leads to opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and more fun at work.
4. Improved employee well-being
Productivity? Check. Creativity? Check. What about employee well-being? A flexible office space also prioritizes the well-being and satisfaction of employees by offering a range of work options and environments. The ability to choose where and how to work promotes a healthier work-life balance and reduces stress levels. For example, employees who use a hot desking tool can choose to sit next to their work bestie. Or employees who want to power through their to-do list so they can enjoy their upcoming vacation might choose a quiet area in the back to sit and work undisturbed. The power of choice and the flexibility to change your work environment contributes to a healthier work environment Plus, employees can select spaces and amenities that fit their preferences, such as standing desks, cozy corners, or natural light-filled areas. By catering to employee well-being, flexible office spaces contribute to higher job satisfaction, increased engagement, and an improved employee experience.—A flexible office space isn’t for every industry, but those who do implement one can be guaranteed benefits. By offering a variety of workspaces for different tasks and work styles, flexible office environments enhance productivity, foster collaboration and creativity, prioritize employee well-being, and allow for agility and adaptability. As modern work trends continue to evolve, embracing the concept of a flexible office space can position your business for success in the dynamic and ever-changing workplace of today and the future.Curious if your current workplace is missing any key elements to flexibility? Check out our Office space flowchart.