Working in an open office can be a frustrating experience, especially when you have to deal with countless distractions and lack of privacy. However, there are some benefits as well. Working in a shared space helps employees create new relationships and collaborate more easily. In this article, we’ll discuss six surprising benefits that come with working at an open office:
Better collaboration
Work doesn’t just happen in the office. It happens everywhere, and it’s more effective when people are teaming up to get things done. Whether you’re brainstorming a project or looking for help on something, there’s no better place than an open office for collaboration to occur naturally.
The key here is “natural”—open offices provide the perfect environment for collaboration because it’s so easy for people to talk openly about their work and ask questions of each other without feeling self-conscious or silly about doing so (since everyone else is doing it). People are more willing to share information with one another, which leads to better understanding across teams and departments. This leads directly into another benefit:
Greater productivity
- Collaboration
Open offices encourage people to talk to each other and collaborate. It’s no secret that collaboration is an important part of increasing productivity, but having a physical space where you have the opportunity to collaborate with your coworkers can be just as effective as having a virtual space. According to studies conducted by Harvard Business School professors Michael Morris, Francesca Gino and Max Bazerman, people who work in open office environments are more likely to discuss new ideas and concepts with their coworkers than those who work in cubicle-based offices. These researchers reported that these conversations led not only to greater overall productivity among employees but also higher salaries within their respective companies for those engaged in these discussions.[1]
- Movement
The open nature of an open office encourages movement within the workspace itself—and sometimes outside it! You may find yourself getting up from your desk each hour or so in order take breaks from sitting (something we all need). This movement contributes greatly toward keeping our bodies healthy and active throughout the day, which can help us stay energized during long stretches of time spent at our desks without feeling fatigued or sleepy when lunch rolls around again.[2]
Improved innovation
If you’re a business owner, open offices might seem like a recipe for disaster. But some research suggests that they actually help your bottom line. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that employees in open offices are more likely to collaborate with one another and have access to new ideas—which can lead to innovation.
Innovation is good for business because it leads to higher sales, higher profits, greater market share and better customer satisfaction. According to Forbes contributor Julia Kahl-Raeffel: “The ability of employees within an organization (or organization as a whole) [to] innovate has become increasingly important as companies adapt their products or services in response to changes in technology and consumer demand.”
More organized workflow
Open offices provide a better view of the office.
Working in an open office can help you feel more connected to your coworkers, since you’ll have a clear view of all of their desks and activities. This makes it easier for you to reach out if someone needs help or if there’s something that needs explaining. It also gives all employees equal access to each other’s ideas, allowing them to come up with new solutions faster than if they were separated by closed walls.
Open offices are better for the environment. Open offices are often touted as being better for the environment due to reduced carbon emissions from transportation and less heating/cooling cost required thanks to fewer walls blocking out natural light and air flow; however, this is only half true when considering how much more work gets done in these environments because workers not only have more room but can also collaborate with one another without needing headphones while listening through closed doors!
Open offices aren’t the worst.
It’s no secret that open offices are not always the best. But they’re not the worst, either.
To keep things in perspective: Open offices are a good idea for some people and situations—but not all of them. And while they might be better than closed offices, there are many other ways to increase collaboration and communication between employees without sacrificing privacy or space.
I get it—you’re thinking about your current office setup as you read this, or you’ve been thinking about it since last year when we covered this topic on our blog (which seems like forever ago). Either way, it’s time to let go of any preconceived notions that may be lingering around in your mind about how working in an open office is going to be worse than working in a cubicle farm full of endless rows of desks separated by dividers that don’t even reach hip level when standing up straight (which probably means most people aren’t actually standing straight).
Conclusion
Working in an open office can be a great experience. It gives you the chance to collaborate with others and find new ways of doing things. It also helps keep you organized and focused on your work, which can boost productivity. But what if you’re not sure if this type of environment is right for your team or company? If so then maybe it’s time to consider moving into a different space!
