The design of workspaces
has been found to affect people in a very profound manner. Therefore, since
every person is different, no “one” kind of design will work out for
all. In fact Open offices are a nightmare for the Introverts. What then is the
way out?
Workspace design is an opportunity to craft
experiences for employees that make them productive and engaged. So,
it is but obvious that workplace design is leveraged to drive important
cultural imperatives. It is therefore not surprising that openness in the
culture of the company often manifests as “Open Office” in the
design of its workspace
But here’s the thing.
Workforce are (and should be) diverse. One aspect of diversity often not
recognized is the level of extroversion that every individual has as a part of
his personality.
Carl Jung believed that
individuals were firmly within one of two camps:
1) Introverts who gain energy from the “internal
world” or from solitude with the self.
2) Extroverts who gain energy from the “external
world” or interactions with others.
While collaborative work
spaces with high energy cross conversations, noise, might charge the extrovert
the same can mean hell for the sensitive introvert at work. And you will agree
most of us fall in the range which may be called an ambivert so there
are times when we might pine for some solitude.
Does that mean I am
advocating against “Open Workspaces”??
Definitely not.
What I am advocating is a
recognition of the fact that “no
one way” can ever be the right way for all. So while “Open
Spaces” are in vogue and they do work for the collaborative nature of work
that most businesses demand but organizations also need to design “Reclusive
Spaces” for the Introverts to resign to, to gain their energy from
their self.
So I am all for Hybrid
designs of Workspaces – ‘cos I believe Hybrid designs of workspaces are
manifestation of respect for diversity and hence “Inclusive”.
Would you agree?