Bevec
Bevec will soon enjoy a modern and clean workplace tailored to the needs of its employees and departments.
December 13, 2024 I Izabela Eržen
Menu
Not having a clear vision and strategy fot the workplace. Too often, business leaders try to create an attractive work environment by pursuing a set of cool ideas like setting up a dazzling lounge area with a pool table and bean bags, and installing trendy artwork.
December 13, 2024 I Izabela Eržen
Photo: Žiga Ivanc
Last week on our WDC24 story, we discussed the emotional and physical challenges of change, inspired by Sophie Maddison’s presentation at the 7th WDC, ‘How Effective Change Management Drives Workplace Success’.
Sophie Maddison emphasized the importance of clear communication, empathy, and empowerment in easing employee transitions. Companies can turn resistance into enthusiasm by involving teams early, providing tailored resources, and addressing emotional responses to change. Using Philips as a model, we explored strategies like transparent leadership and peer support to guide employees through the stages of change, from awareness to commitment.
Read last week’s blog here!
Workspace flexibility goes beyond providing a range of open and closed spaces; it’s about designing an environment that respects diverse working styles, team dynamics, and individual needs. Mark Catchlove from MillerKnoll emphasizes that a well-designed workspace should accommodate four core types of teams, comparing your employees to members of a band:
This approach allows your employees to select workspaces that suit their tasks and preferences, empowering them to approach work in ways that support both personal and team goals. Each team type values different skills in specific environments.
Graphic: Levels of Authority and Skill Differentiation, Mark Catchlove, @MillerKnoll
Mark Catchlove highlights that, despite constant changes, our fundamental human needs remain the same. Effective workspaces should build on what motivates people, such as a sense of achievement, security, and purpose.
Purpose is particularly important, feeling disconnected from meaningful work can negatively impact mental and physical health. Additionally, status, autonomy, and a sense of belonging that promote meaningful connections are also motivating factors.
This being said, what do you need to keep in mind when envisioning a new workspace for your company?
Make sure you gather enough information about your employees! Get to know them well. This can be using a survey or questionnaire, whatever makes you feel like all your employees are accounted for. Understanding your employees is key to supporting their well-being.
Mark Catchlove suggests evolving from an Activity-Based work model to a Relationship-Based work approach. In addition to designing spaces for specific tasks, it’s essential to consider spaces that encourage deeper connection and collaboration.
Mark Catchlove emphasizes the importance of providing different levels of interaction within the workspace, from community areas for large group collaboration to individual zones for focused work. By offering diverse spaces, such as brainstorming rooms, quiet pods, and casual lounge areas, the workspace supports autonomy and enables employees to choose how they engage with their work.
Graphic: Levels of Interaction, Mark Catchlove, @MillerKnoll
To design an ideal workspace, Mark Catchlove outlines the following three key steps:
This level of choice not only improves efficiency but also encourages a more engaged, self-motivated workforce. A flexible workspace is empowering, it demonstrates trust in employees to manage their workflows and make decisions that enhance their performance. This is why pre-operative investigations are so important, knowing your employees and your company is the key to success!
Now that we’ve explored the importance of understanding your team, it’s time to transform these insights into a new workspace that empowers your employees. Here’s how:
Your journey begins by recognising that your employees may need a workspace better suited to their needs. Are there recurring challenges, such as lack of collaboration, or a disconnect between departments in your organization? Identifying these points is the first step to creating an ideal work environment.
Designing a flexible and functional workspace tailored to your company’s needs is a complex process. At Kragelj, we specialise in creating work environments that align with your company’s goals and requirements.
How do we do this? Through a 5-step people-centered approach:
1. Analyse the Needs of Your Employees
The first step is an in-depth analysis to understand the unique needs of your teams, processes and culture. Using surveys, interviews and focus groups, we can gain insight into the working styles and preferences of your employees.
2. Map Out Workflows and Interactions
Next, we examine how employees and teams interact with each other. We identify which tasks require individual focus versus collaboration, creating a clear picture of workflows. This step ensures the workspace design supports how work is done in your company.
3. Create a Mix of Spaces
Based on our findings, a workplace strategy plan must be developed to provide a variety of environments tailored to your team’s needs. This can include: quiet zones for focused, individual work, open areas for collaboration, comfortable lounge spaces for casual meetings.
(Inspired by Jesper Toubøl’s insights, we emphasize the importance of informal spaces, which promote innovation. Read more about it here.)
4. Engage Your Employees in the Design Process
Involving employees in the decision-making process ensures the final workspace meets their expectations and minimizes resistance to change. As Sophie Maddison discussed, keeping teams informed and engaged throughout the process helps employees adapt to change and drives workplace success.
5. Test and Refine Your Workspace
Once your new workspace is in use, the journey isn’t over. Monitoring how employees interact with the space is crucial. At Kragelj, we make this easy by administering Post-Occupancy Evaluations (POEs), collecting employee feedback, observing patterns, and recommending adjustments if needed. A proactive approach ensures the workspace continues to meet your team’s evolving needs.
For business and media inquiries: [email protected]
Izabela is a passionate advocate for innovative workplace strategies, and also serves as the marketing face of Kragelj Architects. With a degree in Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences from TU Delft in the Netherlands, she brings a unique and forward-thinking perspective to the company's clients and projects.
Contact her: [email protected]
Bevec will soon enjoy a modern and clean workplace tailored to the needs of its employees and departments.
Aviat Networks, Inc. is also present in Slovenia with a research and development center and 100 development engineers. To support the local team, they have decided to renovate their workspace in Trzin, following the example of the local offices in Amsterdam, Kenya, and Istanbul.
The new offices of the global US company Aviat Networks, Inc. are located in a modern skyscraper in Istanbul’s business centre and offer outstanding views of the seaside bay.
In today’s workplace, customization goes beyond aesthetics. While a beautiful office sets an example for your brand, a high-performance workplace prioritizes meaningful spaces for the people who use them.
Change is challenging. Whether it’s a manufacturing team adopting new methods, or office staff and leadership adjusting to a new workspace, change can feel like an emotional journey.
At WDC24, Keynote speaker Jesper Toubøl emphasized the importance of how informal moments in the workplace supports diverse ways of working.
Mark Catchlove leads MillerKnoll's Global Insight Group which is responsible for sharing the latest thinking in workplace design and related issues.
He has delivered more than 800 seminars around the world, and has over time become a respected contributor to the workplace community. Mark has also run in-house workshops and seminars for a variety of leading organizations - both large and small.
A well-designed workspace should accommodate four core types of teams, comparing your employees to members of a band.
Love These Ideas? Find 5 Actionable Steps You Can Take Below!
Mark Catchlove suggests evolving from an Activity-Based work model to a Relationship-Based work approach.
