Presented by: Orange County Business Journal
THE OFFICE OF TOMORROW WON’T LOOK LIKE THE OFFICE OF TODAY
There is no going back. Only moving forward to a healthy, well and resilient new generation of space.
No one could have predicted the tectonic disruption to America’s business community that we’re experiencing right now.
At the flip of a switch, everything we have ever known to be true about corporate protocols and operations came to an abrupt halt.
Overnight we found ourselves conducting business in an alternate reality. A remote reality. A digital reality. A reality where bedrooms and kitchens double as makeshift home offices, and it is acceptable for kids and pets to crash a meeting.
Despite how uncomfortable business leaders were with this reality at the onset, they had no choice but to problem-solve their way through these disruptions, or their businesses would not survive.
At the beginning of the lockdown, many leaders felt vulnerable and upended. Now more than two months in, the C-suite is seeing an amazing transformation unfold in their companies: increased productivity; more frequent and effective team communication; more trust at all levels of the organization; more humanism; more work-life balance; more satisfaction. The list goes on.
This is a catalytic moment in history. Business leaders have been forced to push their comfort level, and it is bearing results unlike they had ever imagined. We cannot, should not unlearn these lessons. They are unexpected gifts and we need to embrace them.
A new era in business is upon us and we need to reimagine a new generation of workspace to fit its needs.
Space has a new purpose. Here’s how Hendy predicts business and workspace will change in the near future.
1 _ Increased Need for Trust
As we emerge from this time of uncertainty, trust will become an organization’s most important value. Employees and clients must feel confident that leadership has made safety a priority. This includes addressing how spaces are configured, used and maintained.
2 _ A Rise in Demand for Healthy Buildings
The new workplace experience will be a concerted effort between building owners, organizational leaders and end users. It will be increasingly touchless and automated, with a focus on physical distancing, as well as improved cleaning and safety protocols.
3 _ Remote Work Becomes a Business Strategy
Remote work is here to stay. By 2021, 20% of people will be working remotely 2-3 days a week. A strategy that adopts a blended workforce model will be key to attracting and retaining talent, reducing real estate and operational costs, increasing performance and productivity, and creating a better work-life balance for all.
4 _ Certified-Healthy Workplaces Gain Momentum
As people return to work, they’ll be more aware of how offices impact their wellbeing. Businesses will address these concerns by working with interior architects to design a WELL Building Institute or Fitwel healthy certified space for improving our human experience and wellbeing through healthy design, construction and operations.
5 _ Technology and Innovations Explode
The need for safe environments will bring about a boom in innovation. Integrated workplace management systems will help us better understand how space is being utilized. And voice-activation, motion sensors, augmented reality and video platforms will be leveraged within physical and virtual environments.
6 _ Leadership Style and Culture Transforms
A new management style will emerge to guide these new blended organizations and strengthen the attributes of a virtual culture. These leaders will drive a sense of belonging, manage by results, communicate abundantly, and empower people to a new level.
7 _ A Move to The New Generation Space
Our collective work-from-home experience has shown that we are social beings, and that the office remains relevant. The New Generation Space will be a hub for the new dynamic blended work model, balancing remote work with the need for cultural connectivity and creative brainstorming, with an emphasis on health, wellness and organizational resiliency.
This time is an opportunity for businesses to pause – reexamine your priorities and reset your corporate vision. Focus on building a better office with the adaptability needed to evolve, and consider how your employees and space can best support your long-term objectives.
The New Generation Space
Adapting to all this change understandably may feel overwhelming. Hendy’s new service offering The New Generation Space is focused on guiding businesses of all sizes to adapt to today’s new normal, creating environments for a dynamic blended workforce.
Here at Hendy, our experienced team of WELL-accredited, licensed interior architects have been supporting businesses for 40 years, in creating environments that promote employee wellbeing, deliver on business objectives and provide optimal return on investment.
Find out how Hendy can create “The New Generation Space” for you.
hhendy.com | 949.851.3080