A Matter of Space: Rethink Your Workspace

When was the last time you remodeled your office and lobby space? First impressions are critical to wowing clients. And our employees are more productive when they have workspaces that fit their needs. In many, if not most firms, our workspaces have not kept up with the times. Is it time for some new thinking?

Former Quick Printers
Some firms started out as quick printers with the typical walk-in lobby and production area in the rear. With growth, owners fell out of love with walk-in business as they transitioned to commercial printers. The lobby became useless space and was often re-purposed as production area or as a makeshift conference room. Sometimes, the production area expanded by leasing space next door and taking it as it was. The result is often a less than professional and dated environment.

Commercial Printers
Other firms have always been commercial printers with no walk-in lobby. They typically have a small and often uninviting “entry room,” sometimes with a receptionist seated behind a window as the gatekeeper. Production areas and work flow have been determined by the building’s limitations and again, can be less than professional and dated.

As our businesses grow, we tend to make do with the space and walls in place with very little thought given to the most efficient workflow. The anticipated expense and disruption of activity often prevents us from making the changes to work spaces and customer areas.

Some Ideas to Rethink Workspace for Today’s Needs

1. Office space should have activity-based workstations. Forget the traditional desk and “walls.”
2. We work and manage by walking around and interacting with others.
3. Create neighborhood areas for collaboration.
4. Staff is no longer tethered to a desktop PC. For most, PCs and/or mobile devices are the rule of the day.
5. Seek employee input about what would make them more productive and happy.
6. Customer areas should be customer-friendly and sell, sell, sell. Consider:

• An attractive and “creative” lobby area.
• Space to sit and connect to Wi-Fi while waiting. Coffee and water offered.
• Large and small conference rooms with monitors for presentations, etc.
• Samples of creative work and printed work displayed attractively.
• Awards or testimonials proudly displayed.
• Vision, mission statement and values displayed.

A Plan to Bring About Needed Changes
Draft a change management plan to make the transition. If you can afford it, hire a professional space planner. Some office furniture companies will do this for free, if you buy from them.