Forget Open Plan, Here's How To Actually Design A Nice Office For Networking
January 16, 2025
On average, 49% of UK-based employees work in an open-plan office. In theory, the reasons for this are plain – we’ve all been sold the idea that an open plan encourages collaborations and crucial networking. But a little research into the matter suggests this might not be the case.
Countless studies now throw the productivity and social benefits of open plan working into question by highlighting this office layout’s proclivity for distraction and office fallouts. A quick look at your own team is probably all it takes to prove those theories right.
The reality is that great partnerships very rarely arise from forcing your teams together like this. But if an open plan isn’t the best option for office networking, then what is? Keep reading to find out just a few techniques that could get you far closer to genuinely useful office collaborations.
Key Takeaways on Designing an Office for Networking
- Open-Plan Offices Aren't Always Effective: Although open-plan offices are common, research questions their ability to foster collaboration. Distractions and office conflicts often outweigh the perceived benefits of networking and teamwork.
- Dedicated Workspaces Boost Collaboration: Tailored collaborative spaces, such as shared offices and meeting rooms, help teams focus on specific projects. These areas allow for creative, free-flowing collaboration while giving team members the space they need to work effectively.
- Communal Areas Foster Meaningful Interactions: Instead of having an entire office as one communal space, designate areas like breakout zones or water coolers for employees to connect. These spaces promote relaxed, voluntary interactions that encourage networking and collaboration.
- Moveable Furniture Promotes Flexibility: Rather than forcing employees into close proximity, movable furniture like wheelable desks allows for spontaneous teamwork. This flexibility encourages creativity and new connections without sacrificing personal space.
- Space for Individual Work Styles: Providing the freedom for employees to work in spaces that suit their individual styles enhances productivity. Team members can still share ideas and collaborate effectively without constant distractions.
- Encourage Spontaneous Collaboration: The use of adaptable office furniture and designated collaboration spaces can make it easier for teams to collaborate when needed, fostering creative teamwork without the rigidity of open-plan setups.
- Support Employees with Thoughtful Design: Moving away from an open-plan office layout doesn't mean collaboration is lost. With the right tools, such as communal areas, dedicated workspaces, and flexible furniture, collaboration can thrive in a more balanced and less disruptive environment.
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START NOW# 1 - Dedicated Workspaces
While open plan layouts still reign in most UK offices, dedicated workspaces are quickly growing in popularity, and for good reason. These collaborative spaces, which typically include shared offices and meeting rooms, can be entirely tailored towards particular projects, and the teams working on them.
This ensures a more creative and free-flowing collaborative space, complete with fixed project boards and easy access to every member of a specific task, rather than every single person within the office.
These spaces tend to be particularly beneficial because they buy the space each team member needs to work to their unique style, while still easily sharing ideas and thoughts with relevant colleagues in real-time.
# 2 - Communal Areas
If your entire office is a communal space, you may find that your employees block each other out even when they’re right next to one another. This isn’t helpful for anything, least of all office networking and collaborations.
It’s far more effective to replace this enforced and constant socialisation with dedicated communal areas like breakout spaces or even water coolers around the office. This way, team members will come together in these areas feeling refreshed and glad to get a little company.
This, in turn, could see them far more willing to share any current struggles they’re experiencing with work, or to ask members of other teams about potentially beneficial collaborations moving forward.
# 3 - Moveable Furniture
You don’t need to cram your teams in like sardines to get them working together. You do, however, need to support your employees by simplifying office collaborations as much as possible.
When stepping away from an open plan set-up, it’s particularly important that you continue to encourage teamwork with the help of additions like moveable furniture.
Without forcing your teams into close proximity without their say-so, things like wheelable desks and chairs can encourage spur-of-the-moment teamwork and brand-new in-office connections at a moment’s notice. This will be great from a creativity standpoint and is sure to result in a much closer team long-term.
Takeaway
Open plan might be out, but office collaborations will still be very much in if you support your employees by putting these vital tips into action.
