5 things you need to do before you switch to an open office

Does your workplace feel cramped or out-of-touch? It may be time to make a change.

By now, you’ve surely read about the benefits of making the switch to an open office. Likely, the story you read had some pictures of rooms that would barely have been recognized as a workplace 15 or 20 years ago — employees working at open tables right next to each other, rather than inside a tiny cubicle. This open office layout certainly looks better than the style of the old office and its seemingly unending rows of cubicles, washed out by the harsh fluorescent lighting.

1. Make a plan

This is the most obvious one, and yet it’s often the most ignored. You need a plan that goes beyond “this is where we’ll put these tables.”

This is a pretty significant shift within your organization, and if you’re going to get the productivity-boosting benefits that an open office can provide, you need to consider a host of factors — how to make the most effective use of the space, how to accommodate different workstyles, communicating with your workforce why this change is being made, and more.

But you should also consider how the change is going to affect your business processes and operations. Simply the act of breaking down a wall can cause serious disruption to your everyday business processes.

Bottom line: Change affects everybody differently, and what may seem a small change for you could be a massive change for someone working underneath you. Keep that in mind, and have a plan in place before making a change. Of course, this also means that you should…

3. Design your workplace layout

Everybody knows that people work differently. But at its worst, an open office environment is a one-size-fits-all solution that dumps everybody in the same working environment, no matter if it’s most effective for that person. In an interview with Fast Company, design consultant John Kerrigan had this to say about this type of layout:

"We need to provide spaces where everyone in the company, regardless of personality or role, will feel comfortable."

Instead, consider providing a host of work environment options. Some experts[1] suggest offering at least 6 different types of workspaces: a space where you work alone, a space where a team can work, and a space where many teams can work together; and each of these spaces with open and closed/private options.

Providing adequate privacy is an important aspect of your workplace layout, as well. Studies have found[2] that a feeling of privacy at work contributes strongly to job satisfaction and performance. But an open office can be antithetical to privacy. How do you ensure privacy in a work environment where most people are working at tables rather than desks?

There’s a simple answer: Provide a private space where people feel comfortable keeping their personal belongings. While many enjoy the open office layout, a layout without a space for workers to call their own won’t be nearly as productive or efficient for your organization.

4. Consider your unique needs

Every workplace is different, and what works at one place may not work somewhere else. This is true across departments the same as it is across organizations. Consider the example of HR or document management in a heavily regulated industry like healthcare or insurance. An open layout, while a boon to collaboration, does not work as well in departments where privacy and confidentiality are key factors. Instead, you should provide these elements of your workforce with a workplace that not only meets their needs, but also considers the type of work they do.

5. Ensure you have information connectivity

An enterprise is a complex thing, made up of many moving parts all working toward the same goal. For it to succeed, information must flow freely through the organization. Technology must enable workers to connect and collaborate both inside and outside of the office. And if your workers have access to the right information and the right technology, they’ll be more efficient, more productive, and make better business decisions for your organization.

Your workplace is where your workforce accesses, shares and interacts with your critical business information, and where your workers connect and collaborate. It’s the spot where your workforce, technology and information all integrate together — and with the right workspace, you can collaborate across your entire organization.

While there are many arguments out there against the open office, most assume a one-size-fits-all version that doesn’t take into account employee personalities and workstyles. By keeping your workforce at the forefront while making this switch to an open office layout, and following these five simple rules, you can get a lot more of the benefits of an open office, and a lot fewer of the drawbacks.