col·lab·o·ra·tion
noun 1. the action of working with someone to produce or create something.
With the increasing trend of “low and open” offices, collaboration spaces are becoming more common, but why? Why do employees need to work, and correspond together? Well, we are here to answer that for you, and further explain why open collaboration spaces can be so effective in the workplace.
ALLOWS A COMPANY TO FUNCTION MORE EFFECTIVELY:
When people are able to openly share content, they can then communicate seamlessly and effortlessly. When employees are provided with the right resources to be able to do this, they are also then able to work at their highest productivity level.
OFFERS FLEXIBILITY:
A collaborative space can add flexibility and contrast to your office layout. These spaces create a break in the typical repetitive workstation rows that may come to mind when you think of the standard office. It offers visual and physical flexibility. Employees can use collaboration space to generate new concepts and ideas that the restriction of their personal workspace may not provoke.
SUPPORTS TECHNOLOGY:
Collaborative spaces often tend to support technology needs. This is important to keep in mind as the millennial generation starts to make a more prominent presence in the workplace. Millennials gravitate to collaboration that is supported by technology. This technology can also help support remote, or work from home employees. Offering effective ways to video chat or conference call fellow employees or clients into a collaborative setting is a great way to make those people feel connected to the office and company.
FUELS PARTICIPATION AND INNOVATION:
Our last, and possibly most important point about collaboration, is that it fuels participation and positivity in the workplace. “Two heads are better than one” isn’t just a silly catch phrase, it’s true! When people openly express ideas with each other, innovation is born. Each person has a different thought process, different levels of knowledge, and different strengths. Therefore, when you “combine” people, the company is able to make the most of their knowledge resources.
As you can see, promoting collaboration in your office environment can hold many benefits. Feel free to reach out to one of our professionals today to find out how you can incorporate a collaboration setting into your workplace!