In other words, you worked in an
AGILE way in your formative years because that way you were stimulated to get
more done, more efficiently. So, it really isn’t surprising that the confines
of a traditional workplace office in our adult lives can be stifling, and can
contribute to a decline in our mental health and well-being.
So, in today’s workplace, is
there a way we can reconnect with the freedom and capacity for work that we
once enjoyed? Could Agile Working be the answer?
IN A 'NUTSHELL’ – WHAT IS AGILE WORKING?
Sometimes referred to as ‘Activity Based Working’, this is a way in which an organisation empowers its people to work where, when and how they choose – with maximum flexibility and minimum constraints.
Workers, equipped with the right IT support, are given greater autonomy – they can work in different settings within the office, at home or elsewhere. They become dynamic rather than static, and meanwhile, businesses can find that they can need 15-20% less office space – meaning that they can grow within the space they already have or reduce costs by renting less of it.
Agile Working brings people,
process, technology, time and place together to determine the best way to
complete a given task. Agile Working puts the focus on the endgame, trusting
staff to be productive, in contrast to the traditional approach of being seen
to be sat at the same desk working. This doesn’t mean an end to supervision or
management, but a different way of doing it.
The aim of agile working is
simply to create a more responsive, efficient and effective organisation, which
ultimately improves business performance.
THE BREAK-OUT SPACE DESIGN
If you create great break-out
spaces staff will use them. By designing these spaces to be multi-functional,
i.e. they can be used for other purposes outside of lunchtime hours, they are
no longer wasted or expensive spaces. Designed correctly, they can turn a
traditional office cafeteria into a destination for connection, collaboration,
focus and innovation.
A break-out area needn’t be extravagant or even take up much space. Screens and furniture can be used to section and divide up spaces. Soft furnishings, such as lounge style chairs or sofas, can help employees feel relaxed and comfortable.
Booths incorporating laptop ports
or TV monitors can be a popular choice when designing break-out areas as they
provide not only a place to relax and eat, but also privacy for informal meetings
or quiet working.
THE AGILE WORK SPACE
By creating a variety of
workplace settings to support daily tasks within the office we can ensure staff
have complete freedom and flexibility.
These spaces can be traditional desks, but could
also include agile work benches, huddle spaces, quiet rooms, collaboration
zones, quiet work areas, well-being spaces, informal meeting spaces or
multi-functional breakout areas. Basically, the whole office becomes the work
area, not just the desk!
Businesses that have embraced agile
working report an increase in productivity, as individuals are able to choose
to work in the work space that most suits the task at hand. It means that when
they need to get together with colleagues, they aren’t limited to a few meeting
rooms and when they need to focus, they can find somewhere quiet to work.
Agile working doesn’t suit every
task, or every business, and where it is used, employers and employees
have to recognise that a true top-to-bottom culture-shift is needed to get
the best from it. But make no mistake, it does represent the future for many
organisations who haven’t yet woken up to its advantages.
Take a look at the how we
recently created an Agile Workplace for Orbit Housing...
CONCLUSION
Agile working is not just a fancy new term for hot-desking. Nor is it a covert way for employers to reduce costs. It is so much more than this. It is a revolutionary way of thinking about the way in which workers who would traditionally have found themselves tied to one office space can now be freed to complete their tasks more effectively and flexibly, benefiting both them and their employers. Recent studies have estimated that 65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don't yet exist…. That’s only 10-15 years away! Most companies take 5-10 years leases on property, so we need to be ready for change now. Surely workplace design needs to evolve and have fluidity to easily adapt to the future. Agile working gives you this. Get the foundations right and you can be sure that by the time your new office interior is complete, you’ll be well on track to get real return on your investment.
Hi Design ‘work spaces that work’
