Posted on 05/19/2022 at 10:41 a.m.,
Reading 2 mins.
Say goodbye to family photos and books scattered all over the table, spaces must respond to changing working methods and rhythms. Continuing to be creative in this reorganization may seem difficult.
If you’re the typical modern worker, your office isn’t really yours anymore. You and your computer can work from just about anywhere you want, provided you have an electrical outlet and an internet connection.
This evolution has led companies to operate a new organization of offices, moving to coworking, flex-office or operated office. In short, with the deployment of teleworking since the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional office model has burst into pieces: more and more in flex-office, you bring your things in the morning and leave with them in the evening once your day is work completed.
On many aspects, particularly economic, this model satisfies companies. But can moving towards a less personal office harm creativity?
Decorate desks to enhance creativity
According to an empirical study on the design of workspaces carried out by the School of Business of the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, the personalization of offices promotes creativity.
Published in the Journal of Technology and Innovation Management in 2017, the study claims that “decorating the workspace with personal items supports [la] creativity. Based on this, we conclude that the individualization of the workspace appears to be an important determinant of employee creativity.
The quintessential example of personalizing the office: the photo of the children placed on the table. These objects reinforce the feeling of belonging and value to the company.
office flexibility
How to reconcile the creativity needs of companies, which at the same time propel themselves into a more neutral and impersonal office model? In other words, more flexible and adaptable.
If the space is no longer assigned personally, companies must find a balance between everyone’s needs: quiet rooms for writing or concentrating, rooms for meetings and teamwork, or even rooms dedicated to rest. Yes, the layout of the office now works in “mood”. This kind of office can offer employees the means to develop their creativity if they find the place to isolate themselves, discuss, or stroll.
If the personal appropriation of a place seems necessary, it is difficult to truly affirm that you will not be creative in this new organization. Maybe it evolves according to the forms of activity and creativity?
Test and adapt. The best way to find out is not to jump to conclusions.