As more companies transition to hybrid or fully in-office workplaces, employees need environments that encourage productivity and boost morale. Simple changes like flexible workspaces and collaborative areas can greatly impact employee performance, yet these adjustments are often overlooked in the rush to return to normal operations.
Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members highlight how redesigning office spaces can benefit both your team and business. By balancing collaboration with privacy, these strategies support teamwork and individual focus, promoting an environment that fuels innovation and engagement.
1. Let Employees Work Where They're Comfortable
One way companies can transform their office space to boost productivity and morale is by creating flexible, collaborative work areas to cater to different working styles and needs. By including flexible spaces, employees can switch between focused, individual tasks and team-based collaboration. We do this by offering bookable meeting spaces and desks, even in the office kitchen! - Roseanne Spagnuolo, Vixio Regulatory Intelligence
2. Offer Visual Tools
Creating flexible, collaborative zones with visual tools like whiteboards and interactive displays encourages spontaneous brainstorming and creative problem-solving, fostering a culture of innovation and teamwork. This provides a dynamic environment that adapts to different working styles, boosting both engagement and productivity. - Nora Herting, ImageThink
3. Follow Trends
It's truly remarkable to see how fast the office environment has shifted over the years. To get the best talent, you have to be trendy. I always love building out a better, more modern office environment where employees have open access to anyone in the company. Do not be afraid to invest some dollars in leaderboards or "swag" boxes or be public about sharing revenue with employees. - Matt King, MediSpa.AI
4. Prioritize Natural Light
Natural light is important as it activates the brain. Too many walls block light to the point where you can even feel depleted. Open spaces move the emphasis from the individual to the community, facilitating collaboration through layout design. I love how open space promotes lots of eye contact and serendipitous encounters that frequently fire up new ideas. - Enrique Elizaga, SCI
5. Have A Range Of Workspace Options
Employees have diverse work preferences and needs. Some might thrive in quiet, distraction-free environments while others may benefit from dynamic, collaborative spaces. Offering a range of options allows employees to choose the environment that best supports their task at hand, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction. - Jenna Glover, Headspace
6. Provide Collaborative, Flexible Areas
By incorporating spaces for focused work, team meetings, casual interactions and relaxation, companies can cater to different work styles and needs. This promotes a more dynamic and engaging work environment that will definitely boost productivity. - Ehizojie Ohiowele, Stateside Bank
7. Emphasize Teamwork And Openness
We should shift away from the office room concept to more open space work environments, enabling colleagues to collaborate better and feel more like a team. Converting those office rooms into phone rooms and meeting rooms of different sizes can give employees an opportunity to take meetings in private and come back to the larger team when needed. - Prathap Venkatesan, Ampera Technologies
8. Ask Your Employees For Feedback
Before you invest in new coffee machines or work pods, ask your people what's important to them. Positive morale and productivity increase when employees feel heard and valued. Maybe you'll find they want more expense account flexibility or more employee development opportunities. By responding to what they say they need, you not only gain their productivity but also their respect. - Maren Perry, Arden Coaching
9. Balance Collaborative And Solitary Spaces
For companies bringing back hybrid or in-office work, creating spaces where individuals may work alone or together enhances morale and productivity. One example is providing comfy chairs for team meetings and quiet spaces for focused work. This allows workers to choose the best workplace for them and helps them feel more comfortable and encouraged, which boosts motivation and work quality. - Jay Saint, Gruber Plastic Surgery
10. Design Flexible Workspaces
Create areas for collaboration, quiet zones for focused work and spots where people can unwind. It helps because it acknowledges the different ways people work best, which can boost productivity and morale. - Eduardo Fuenmayor, Tensik Industries
11. Encourage Social Behaviors
My sweet spot is in design and architecture, but my advice here relates to workflow for hybrid teams. Set the workplace up to be social! Organize meetings, workshops and collaborative work units for in-office days. Create meeting-friendly spaces so team members can benefit from anecdotal conversations and capitalize on body language. Aim to leave the heads-down work for quieter settings. - Cherie Bustamante, Fog & Apple
12. Create Various Workspaces To Suit All Needs
Companies can enhance productivity and morale by creating flexible workspaces that accommodate different tasks like quiet zones for focus and collaborative areas for teamwork. This helps by catering to diverse work styles, reducing distractions and fostering a sense of autonomy and comfort, which boosts overall job satisfaction and efficiency. They can also put policies in place for no interruption times. - Sam Nelson, Downstreet Digital
13. Ditch The Closed-Off Offices
When our firm went back to a fully in-office workplace, we designed an environment that was open with no offices, allowing the entire team to better interact and engage with not just their department co-workers but the entire organization. It's been a great way for our team to see all the parts of our business moving with synchronicity. - Chay Lapin, Kay Properties & Investments
14. Design The Environment For Success
Eliminate distractions to create an environment where employees can succeed. Most people can develop a passion for the things they are great at. Determine whether the workplace is built efficiently to help employees win. - Mike Carter, Lionstone CPA
15. Leave Time For Fun
We have maintained a flexible workplace but routinely have "fun" Zoom calls at the end of the week. We also have quarterly company retreats where we alternate between training sessions and fully recreational and fun outings. These all keep us connected with each other. - Neil Cadman, Cadman Group
16. Let Employees Choose Their Space
Prior to the pandemic, office spaces were often cramped and siloed. Departments or divisions were often separated by office space. One way to make the space more productive is to create more spacious, open seating that allows for better interactions and freedom. Offices that want to take on hybrid work environments can adopt hoteling, which allows day visitors to choose their office space for the day. - Alberta Johnson, People Experts LLC
17. Take A Laid-Back Approach
For companies returning to the office, adopting a less formal, WeWork-like environment with open layouts, casual seating and communal areas can encourage better collaboration and make the workplace feel more welcoming. A flexible approach to hours is also important, as it's not the hours in a day that define productivity but the work produced when the team is “on tools.” - Luke Lombe, Faculty Group
18. Create A Comfortable Environment
To boost productivity and morale in a hybrid or fully in-office workplace, companies can create flexible, collaborative spaces with comfortable seating, open areas and private zones. This helps by fostering creativity, enabling team collaboration and accommodating diverse work styles. A well-designed, versatile environment promotes employee satisfaction and encourages effective teamwork. - Raheel Sheikh, Acquisitions LLC
19. Offer Support To Ease The Transition
Enlist employees in the process of "settling back in." There is likely a lot that has changed since they were in the office, so lean into that change rather than expect everything to return to the way it was. Invite new energy and ideas about how to conceptualize space and flow. This small gesture shares ownership of the space and creates a softer transition. - DeEtta Jones, DeEtta Jones and Associates
20. Encourage Employees To Be Themselves
We've returned to office work by implementing several adjustments. There is no more dress code—you can come in whatever attire your position requires. Many of our revenue team members who sit in front of a computer wear shorts and flip-flops to work. Entertainment is needed in the office, so I proposed a corner with a PlayStation and Netflix for quick breaks. In Dubai, we have salsa and jive sessions every Friday. - Vinayak Mahtani, bnbme Holiday Homes
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