Which Office Layout is Right for You and Your Staff?
If you think back to all of the bosses you’ve had, which one was your favorite? Where did they sit in relation to you? Did you have a boss that wanted you to be right outside her office within shouting distance? Or the boss that wanted to hide in his corner office all day with the door closed? Or maybe you had the boss that sat in the office cubicle right next to you, listening to your every word? In today’s world of varied office layouts, where the boss sits in relation to his/her staff says a lot. Of course, determining the right office layout has a lot to do with the square footage, the number of employees and the nature of your business. Many companies have done away with the corner office altogether so that everyone, including the CEO, works in an office cubicle. Other organizations are more traditional, and have held onto the hierarchical seating arrangement.
If you are setting up a new office design, here are some questions to ask and points to remember as you consider which office layout is right for you and your staff.
What’s the message you’re trying to send?
Do you want to create an atmosphere that embraces each employee as an equal? Or do you prefer an environment that stresses a top-to-bottom organization? Your office layout should support your corporate attitude; so if it’s important for you to set yourself apart from your staff, think through your options carefully. If you’re trying to emphasize the team approach, however, occupying a luxurious corner office while the rest of your staff sits in cramped quarters may not send the best message.
Do you want to encourage interaction?
If the success of your operations is contingent upon regular communication between you and your employees, then you must create an environment that promotes interaction. If you separate yourself from the people you lead, you may discourage them from discussing their concerns. If you’re finding that people are not coming to you, take a look at where everyone is located. This is particularly important when people are continually pressed for time. If it takes too long to get to you, or if getting to you interfere with their efforts to complete their work, then maybe you’re simply too far away.
What happens when you need privacy?
If you need to discuss someone’s performance, do you really want your neighbor listening in, especially if it entails some kind of reprimand? If you’re going to sit near your staff, make sure you’ve got space elsewhere that can be used for private conversations. If this isn’t possible, then you need to consider sitting apart from your staff just for privacy issues alone.
Every business is different but one this is certain, where the boss sits in relation to his staff is very important! But don’t worry, our professional design teams are here to help you answer all of these questions.
ROSI Office Systems offers free office space planning and design to all of our prospective customers. Our trained staff creates 2D and 3D drawings to maximize square footage and support business objectives.
Contact ROSI today.
