We should start by addressing the elephant in the room. Is the office itself an outmoded concept?
Sure, it may seem that way at first glance, considering this shift toward remote work. And the idea of working from your bedroom, rather than a cubicle farm, may seem quite appealing to most. But this hasn’t rendered the idea of the office obsolete—just those previous ideas of what the modern workplace *should* be.
Today’s modern office looks very different than the office of even 10 years ago. Cubicles have given way to open layouts. Many companies have begun offering perks like free meals, on-site day care, gym memberships and more, in an effort to not only bring in the best talent, but also to make the office environment much more dynamic and enjoyable for workers. It’s part of an ongoing campaign to not only make the office a more collaborative environment, but also to prove its value in this age of mobility.
This has caused some friction, however.
A more open layout may spur collaboration, but privacy can be a significant challenge. How can one share this space while still working without distraction, talk confidentially on the phone, or send emails without feeling that somebody is looking over their shoulder? And what of the problems that affect all offices—making most effective use of the available space, saving as much as possible on hard costs like rent and electricity, and creating an environment that helps your workforce be at its most productive and efficient?
Solving these problems starts with a single word: measurement.