Was Your Open Office Setup Killing Collaboration? Here’s How to Fix it Before Employees Return to Work.
Summary
Everyone from tech startups to science labs embraced the boundary-free environments in hopes of boosting collaboration, fostering creativity, and making the best use of space. In a study of two Fortune 500 companies, Harvard Business Review found face-to-face interactions dropped by 70 percent in an open office setting. Add a few small tables, couches and chairs with a mix of standing and sitting options so both individuals and teams can choose exactly how they want to collaborate. Not every company is going to have the space, time or budget to invest in a suite of new furniture, especially in the early days of navigating the return to office. Take a cue from them and stock your collaborative corners with sticky notes, markers, white boards and any other tools your teams may want to facilitate their planned or impromptu brainstorms.