Office with a view...

What does your office look like? 

Peek-a-Boo. I am creating magic!

I was recently reading through some jobs descriptions online, and came across one that explained the physical requirements of the position (a desk job), which was explained as working in an environment without any windows at a small desk.  For a long second, I thought to myself, hmmm…this does not sound like a very stimulating or creative environment.  Maybe for some, this is the work environment in which they are accustomed and are comfortable in, however, I have worked from home, almost my entire professional career.  This got me thinking about how work, work habits, and work environments have changed and how they affect our productivity.  

How important is the physical environment in which you work?  How much does that physical environment influence your creativity or productivity?

I think that the physical environment means something different for different people and, of course, is primarily based on the industry in which one works.  For those who are sitting at a desk 8 hours a day, would a window help? Would natural light help? I, for a very short time, worked in an office where the space in which I worked did not have a window.  To say the least, it felt like a cave and did not allow for much creativity or motivation. I find that the freedom of working from home or from anywhere, in my pjs sometimes (at home!), allows me to be creative and be the most efficient in completing my work.  At home, I have a comfortable chair and desk, with windows and natural light along with plenty of food and a bathroom.  Major perks eh! 

Do we need to physically be in an office with our co-workers in order to produce the best quality work that a business is looking for? 

Maybe. I am a ‘millennial’ (can be positive or negative depending on what generation you are from!), but I feel that a physical place is not what fosters high quality work.  Rather, the values, energy and direction of the business is what motivates an individual/team to work hard and produce the best work.  In order to best work with our co-workers, positive relationships need to be created.  These relationships can be created online, through social media or other online platforms as well as through traditional forms of team building.  A physical environment might assist in the building of these relationships, however, in my opinion, with a little bit of extra attention, strong relationships can be built across oceans.  

What is your opinion of a creative work environment? 

Google, a home office, coffee shop, or co-working space?  Google has places in their offices where their employees can unwind, play games, even nap.  The ability to be connected wherever you are has changed the traditional office structure significantly.  Obviously not every job in every industry lends itself to the possibility of a home office, or working virtually...for example a nurse needs to be in the clinic in order to do their job.  However, for other professional positions, depending also on the personality/preferences of an employee, there are possibilities for major changes in the traditional office structure.  These changes don’t have to be virtual.  They can be co-working spaces within the office, with desks that move or no assigned working space.  Changes in the office hours.  Some people work best early mornings or late at night.  I work both in the morning and at night, but like to nap mid-day! So don’t bother me between 1 and 2pm!! But with the freedom to set certain hours, there may be an increase productivity as well as provide an employee with a better quality of life.  I think we should follow the Spanish work day, which allows for siesta mid-day – extra-long lunch break! Plus they have 30 days of PAID vacation. I am on board with that.  

As organizations look at creating more dynamic structures that will allow for the most effective, efficient, and in most cases (I hope) happy employees, it is going to be interesting to see the kind of innovations that will change how and where we work.  

How and where are you the most productive/creative/effective? I would love to hear about your work environment.  

Another discussion that interests me surrounds that of productivity.  When someone works hard to accomplish an activity in 40 hours, they are thanked for their hard work.  While another person completes the same activity in 20 hours and is given more work to do.  Working harder or working smarter?  A topic for another time and another blog post.  Check back soon.   

Best, 

MJ 

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