The global giant Google is the undisputed king of innovative office design. It’s not just about looks, either. The epitome of Google’s success is that it knows how to keep staff happy. This is certainly true given its new American headquarters under construction. Truly ground breaking…
What’s the secret of creating an office culture which is second-to-none? In Google’s case, at the very heart of its construction are people – and how they work within a physical environment.
Of course, the physicality matters – but it’s how an office environment makes people feel which Google has mastered. After all, loyal employees want to do more than just ‘work.’ They want to achieve, push boundaries, excel.
An office culture which supports and values staff will be far more successful than a company-centric one which pushes staff down the priority list.
Creating a Company Culture
How do you establish a dynamic workforce which supports today’s working world? If the benchmark is Google, what can we learn? What can we apply to office design which emulates Google’s mindset?
A company culture could be defined by its identity, its values, its shared ethos. Stemming from this, every one of your staff needs to know about it, shout about it and be proud of it.
For them to do that, you need to recognise their needs first. That’s why great office design starts with people.
There’s little point in undergoing a fit out or office move in London unless it enables employees to grow, to contribute, to be happy. Establishing a people friendly office is the goal…
What Does a ‘People Friendly’ Office Look Like?
A typical office workforce is composed of different personalities – from extrovert to introvert. Some need peace and quiet to think, others thrive in collaborative atmospheres buzzing with activity.
By incorporating agile office principles into office design, you can create a better office culture where people feel valued. Give staff a choice of work settings so they can play to their own strengths, and watch their wellbeing and productivity levels shoot up.
Encourage movement rather than restrict staff to a single desk, also helps you combat a real threat to people’s health: a sedentary lifestyle. With 68% of men and 58% of women overweight, an agile office makes good business sense…
Consequently, when staff feel looked after, they’ll want to stay. Employee happiness leads to greater loyalty and less staff turnover.