Change your workplace, change your thinking

The secret to having an effective workplace lies in the connection between the physical workspace and culture. Change requires not only the restructure of the physical environment but also a mental restructure. To win the hearts and minds of a team and elicit mental restructure, you must ensure staff want change as much as you.

The impact disengaged staff have on a business can’t be underestimated. Our own culture at Amicus has always centred on a happy, encouraging and flexible workplace and its resulting low staff turnover is a testament to that.

The initial steps toward change are easy:

• Understand the strengths and weaknesses of your present culture. Change cannot occur without recognition.
• Communication is key. Develop a clear vision so that you can educate your team on how this new direction will affect each and every member of staff.
• Eliminate doubt. Engage people that lack enthusiasm.
• Remember, change doesn’t occur immediately. Take the time to establish short term goals and reinforce them as you go.
• Clarify your expectations. Ensure your KPIs are well defined, there are team goals and let go of the micro-management. By adapting a flexible and free work environment you will see staff reach their full potential.

Once that relationship of trust has been developed the questions become more about anchoring the change. Companies will achieve this through empowering and praising their staff. By opening the lines of communication, staff will become more engaged and involved in decision making process.

In increasing involvement, leaders will also acquire the team’s perspectives and experiences, which are invaluable. The rewards acknowledgement and praise transpire are priceless. Adopt the approach to ‘give merit where it is due’ and you will reap the benefits not only in productivity but in maintaining a positive work culture.

Collaboration is key throughout the entire design process to understand the needs, wants and motivators of the team. In understanding the team they are designing for, your workplace designer can focus on whether collaborative work spaces, break out rooms and impromptu meeting areas are of high importance or individual pods for concentrated learning and stand up desk space trump.

The key to success is staff and the key to having successful staff is a combination of culture and the right workspace. So make the change and join the revolution.