THOUGHT LEADERS
Allia Future Business Centre’s Laura Nicholls and Sally Bain reflect on the role of the office post-pandemic
efore coronavirus hit, millions of us spent our working days in an office. Then, lockdown changed
can be some of the most productive, interesting and idea-sharing exchanges. Did you know that innovation teams rate interaction as crucial for the success of a new venture? MENTAL HEALTH: Working alone can be isolating and affect your mood, wellbeing and productivity. Being in a team provides us with a culture in which we can belong and develop friendships as we build our careers. Homeworking environments aren’t set up for the long term: those with a home office are lucky, but many are ‘making do’ at the kitchen table with furniture unsuitable for their posture, insufficient internet bandwidth, plus no quiet space for those long video calls (and Zoom fatigue is a thing!). TRAINING AND SUPERVISING: We learn from our colleagues; observing, asking questions and picking up tips. While online courses are available, nothing beats training in a room of people discussing challenges face to face. People management is more difficult as well , with some employees needing more time to guide and direct them, and this isn’t as effective or personal when delivered remotely.
everything, forcing many to work from home – which was welcome for some, allowing a greater work-life balance, but for others, the change was not positive. Studies show productivity can decrease despite more hours worked when based at home, and many miss the camaraderie of their teams. The office is a popular topic of discussion – how we use them and whether we need them at all . But let’s look beyond the physical space and consider the needs, lives and experiences of those working within them. Rather than just a space to house desks, it provides a home for teams, with bonding and creativity, creating a mixed social space and an escape from the home.
A SENSE OF PURPOSE: Being in an office creates a joint sense of purpose for colleagues. The workplace can be the physical heart and soul of a business – representing its values and cultural aspirations – which helps build team spirit. This can be hard to maintain when colleagues are operating in isolation. If your business has had to change and adapt during the Covid-19 lockdown, you may need more space to allow for social distancing, or a smaller office space to accommodate streamlined teams – take a look at Future Business Centres: innovative communities built on support and collaboration that offer agile and flexible workspaces for different-sized teams. futurebusinesscentre.co.uk
ABOVE Working in an office
creates a sense of purpose and
community that is difficult to maintain working in isolation
SOCIAL INTERACTION: 61% of workers recently surveyed cited
reduced social interaction as the main disadvantage of homeworking. Without an office, there is less social interaction and, as many of us have discovered, Zoom meetings just don’t compare. Chats over making a cuppa wouldn’t make it into a team video call , but these
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ISSUE 07
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