Getting back to work: Create a destination workplace

Remote working has grown 115% in the past decade (Source: State of Telecommuting) and by 2028, 73% of all departments will have remote workers (Source: Upwork). From coworking to coffee shops, third spaces, to Thursdays from home, flexible work arrangements have become popular recruiting tools and enable companies to tap into talent regardless of geography. Yet, just as the concept of the 'open office work environment' has both advantages and drawbacks, so does the idea of a team connected solely through technology. With teamwork, culture, creativity, collaboration, succession, trust, communication and productivity all in the balance, organizations of every size and in every industry are now campaigning to bring people back to work. Here are five keys to success for creating a workplace where people want to be.

Design for People: Create a space that provides choice and flexibility. Research shows people perform their best when they can move between a variety of applications designed to support the type of work they are doing. Leverage phone booths for privacy, if you have an open plan or incorporate social spaces for collaboration and furnishings intended to support different workstyles and functions. Encourage teams to take advantage of these different spaces throughout the day.

Focus on Culture: Organizational culture should be defined by leadership based on company values and they should hire people who fit that culture type. From colors and finishes, branding and messaging on your walls, digital signage and corporate communications on your displays, a workplace should be a powerful driver to communicate culture. Often, the most effective cultures are those that recognize and celebrate people.

Leverage Technology: Just as modern technology is enabling great work to be done outside of the office, there are a variety of new applications that greatly improve connectivity, productivity and employee experience at work. Conference room solutions now allow for full audio/visual integration, more affordably and practically than ever before. Consolidation of more features in fewer devices promotes ease of use and adoption. The rise of workplace sensors has ushered in new possibilities. Wireless power allows work to be done in more places and collaboration technology makes in-person meetings more effective. A workplace that provides powerful tools that helps teams do their jobs better will be a workplace people will want to come to.

Embrace well-being: Physical and mental well-being directly correlate to employee safety and happiness. Provide ergonomic furnishings like height adjustable desks and task seating with the support required for extended human use. Embrace the health benefits of natural light and outdoor working environments. Consider investing in community areas, especially those that involve food.

Center on Strategy: There are many investments you can make in your workplace, some of which will impact your team's love of coming to work more than others. To maximize value, be sure to incorporate a strategic plan that ties everything together and is capable of benchmarking, measuring and adjusting as needed. Map out space utilization, actively listen to employees and build flexibility in your plan to accommodate changes as you gather data and your company grows. Being transparent with your team and showing that they are an important part of your strategy will yield the best results.

Creating a destination workplace that people love coming to can take time, thought and effort. Small improvements can make noticeable differences. Workplace moves or refreshes are perfect opportunities to realize true change. For many organizations, especially those without dedicated facilities teams, deciding which investments to make and which courses to pursue can feel like uncharted waters. Fortunately, experienced guides exist to help businesses navigate down the path that are right for their organizations.

Discover the team, tools, technologies and techniques required to navigate the complexity of a new workspace at www.bos.com.

•George Lucas Pfeiffer is chief marketing officer of BOS Holdings in Roselle. Contact him at glp@bos.com.