Tag: collaboration

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Why Should You Purchase Steelcase Avenir Cubicles?

Office cubicles are used in most offices and have benefits for both the employees and the employers. One of the benefits for the employees is that they can exchange ideas back and forth more readily because there are cubicles designed with lower walls between the divides of the cubicles. Another key benefit is that the separate cubicles also can have doors that can be closed when employees want privacy and they don’t want to be interrupted. This is important if employees need time for deep concentration on important projects.Steelcase Avenir Cubicle Workstation

The benefits for the employer is that a well-designed office where employers welcome employees making workspaces extensions of the employees’ personal tastes is a welcoming place to work in. This leads to higher productivity and a happier workforce. This means greater profits and less employee turnover. All this can be accomplished with cubicles since the employees have walls and individual spaces that they can decorate.

Also, if your office has an open floor plan without walls, employees can become too easily distracted by other employees’ conversations, phones which are ringing and other distractions. Cubicles with walls help to eliminate the distractions.

So, with cubicles, there is a proper balance between openness for collaboration with other employees and privacy. It’s provides for work areas that are private enough for employees to work in, but not too private so that they can get lost in unproductive time. In addition, cubicles help keep work contained in the area it needs to be done in so that it isn’t spread out everywhere. There are file drawers, shelves and laminated work surfaces to keep everything under control in cubicles too.

Cubicles also give a professional appearance to your office layout; this improves cooperation and interaction among your employees. When your employees want to have privacy without interruptions they can simply close their doors then. If they want collaboration and interaction with fellow colleagues, then the door can be opened. It’s so simple. So, you will find that your employees will get more work completed faster.

The Steelcase Avenir Cubicles

The Steelcase Avenir furniture system has the reputation for unmistakable value and high performance ratings in businesses around the world. The Steelcase Avenir Cubicles are an extremely popular cubicle system. Installing one of these cubicles, either singularly or in pods, is a great way to improve your office environment. With these cubicles, your office will have a quality air that will project professionalism to your customers and clients.

On top of that, Steelcase is one of the leading manufacturers of office cubicles and has been in business for 50 years. Their brand of cubicle is one to be trusted. Below is where you can purchase these cubicles for your office.

7 x 6.5 Avenir Used Work Stations by Steelcase – Sold in Pods

Steelcase Avenir CubeThese 7 x6.5 Avenir Used Work Station by Steelcase are only sold in Pods. The pod has a laminated work surface and a 1-2 drawer lateral file. The upholstered panels have glass tops with power whips available for an extra cost.

These pods come in:

  • Blue fabric which is Guilford Open House Lapis 2334
  • Silver fabric which is Burch Metallation, Stainless Steel
  • Laminate which is Wilsonart Frosty White
  • White Paint which is Appliance White
  • Peds/Lats: 4799 Platinum

The dimensions are Depth 6.5’x x Width 7’ x Height 7’ x Height 54”

The keys may not be available, but can be purchased from a local locksmith or from EasyKeys.com

7 x 13 Avenir Used Work Stations by Steelcase – Sold in Pods

These 7 x 13 Avenir Used Work Stations by Steelcase are sold only in pods. The work surface is laminated and has a 1-2 drawer lateral file. It also includes a 1-Box, box, file pedestal and 1 shelf. The upholstered panels have glass tops and power whips are available, if needed, at an extra cost.

Large Steelcase Avenir StationThe colors the cubicles can be bought in are:

  • Silver fabric which is Burch Metallation, Stainless Steel 7476
  • Blue fabric which is Guilford Open House Lapis 2334
  • White paint which is Appliance White
  • Laminate which is Wilsonart Frosty White
  • Peds/Lats: 4799 Platinum

The dimensions are: Depth 13’ x Width 7’ x Height 54”

These cubicles don’t come with instructions so professional installers will have to be used.

Keys may not be available, but can be purchased from the local locksmith or from EasyKeys.com

The best cubicles are made by the best company, Steelcase; so buy the best.

References

https://nationalofficeinteriors.com/product/7-x-13-avenir-used-work-stations-by-steelcase-sold-in-pods/

https://nationalofficeinteriors.com/product/7-x-6-5-avenir-used-work-stations-by-steelcase-sold-in-pods/

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Privacy and Team Stations

One of the problems with working in an office is that people who don’t like being crowded can become stressed as more people enter a room. Now people’s idea of space and how they feel about being crowded comes from individual preferences, gender and cultural background. As examples below:

  • If a room has high ceilings or mirrors on the wall, as well being brighter and lighter, people will   feel less crowded in it as people come into the room. But in those conditions, men will feel more crowded than women because men tend to have better peripheral vision.
  • If a person works in a high-rise building on the lower floors, they are more likely to feel crowded then someone who works on the upper stories and has better access to daylight and better views.

To reduce these feelings of being crowded, furniture is used along with pillars, decorative items or plants. This can prevent people from becoming distracted in a room or feeling crowded as more people come into a room. Also, to prevent this feeling among employees, they can be assigned to individual Team Stations with their own private spots to do that which is needed of them too.

Why Team Stations by Teknion

Teknion Leverage Cubicle StationTo help reduce the effect that having too many people in too small of a space creates, you can have the openings of your employees’ work stations positioned so that their view of other co-workers is minimized. Because when working in an office today, an employee needs to be able to concentrate as well collaborate without distractions as life is faster paced today. With a private work station though, this allows employee a choice of when to concentrate and when to talk with other co-workers.

Teknion sells these kinds of work stations called team stations. With these Team Stations by Teknion there is a file pedestal per each station. They have upholstered wall panels which makes things a little quieter with noise, as well as laminated work surfaces and a monitor arm to hold screens in each station. These stations are sold in pods of four with dimensions of 5’x5’x51” tall for seating privacy. A choice of fabrics is offered such as India Poona Fabric and Peru Casma Accent Fabric with white Matrix laminate and platinum paint.

Now everyone of your employees is different, and the perfect working environment is one which gives employees the choice dealing with how much stimulation they are subjected to. Also, having an office that still has places for employees to take breaks to either socialize or take 5-minute breathers is optimal. The 5-minute breather is not a traditional break. It is when team members can go off by themselves to think about the next step in a private setting.

Strategies in the workplace

Not all your employees are alike, some can work in a lot of busy confusion and some can’t. So, the proper work setting will help to support the many work functions your employees do and the environment that they can do their work in. So, providing different zones for different work functions can be helpful for your employees:

  • Teknion Leverage Workstations DrawingIf the work is focused: Have spaces for concentrated work such as the Team Stations, or provide quiet zones for employees who are concentrating.
  • Collaboration among employees: Provide settings which are diverse for small group collaborations on projects and tasks.
  • Learning always: You can make your business an educational environment which supports mentoring and learning. This can be done by providing in-person, one-on-one learning and e-learning.
  • Socializing spaces for co–workers: If you provide informal spaces which can be used for both work as well as casual conversation, this will also foster innovation and informal collaboration.
  • Provide the technology: When employees are in their Team Stations, provide headsets that have white noise or sound masking options so that employees can focus on important work
  • Have teams: By using the Team Stations of four pods or more, you can create a team neighborhood, giving the feeling of team unity and a sense of place. This reinforces among your workers employee engagement and fosters the exchanging of ideas.

By giving your employees their own personal spaces as well as an area to collaborate when needed, you will have a better functioning team or teams of employees in your organization.

Reference:

http://www.hok.com/thought-leadership/workplace-strategies-that-enhance-human-performance-health-and-wellness/

https://nationalofficeinteriors.com/product/5-x-5-leverage-team-stations-by-teknion-sold-in-pods/

https://www.wbdg.org/resources/changing-nature-organizations-work-and-workplace

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How to Reconfigure Spaces When Teams Change

When teams change, it can be stressful for everyone, especially if the team has been together for a long period of time. In modern workplaces, change is unavoidable. New projects come along and they require different skill sets. What worked for one project might not work for another. Team members may have to cope with the separation of long-term co-workers and changes in management. When this happens, managers have to deal with the stress of the remaining team.

The team needs to make a fresh start and let go of their comfort with the past. Often, team building exercises, group meetings and potluck lunches can go a long way towards helping with new group bonding. Some managers set up one-on-one meetings between new co-workers so that they can learn more about each other. They can discuss their skill sets, experience and goals for moving forward. Depending on the number of co-workers, these meetings can take time, but they’re often extremely helpful.

If everything in the office environment stays exactly the same, it may send the message to employees that they don’t have to adapt. That’s why it’s important to change the environment to reflect the new team’s configuration. Desks, cubicles, meeting tables and other elements can easily be changed to send the message that it’s time to move forward with the new team arrangement.

How should you reconfigure the space? The first priority is to make it completely different than the space that existed before. Some team members may remain from the previous team. There’s always a possibility that they could form cliques if you’re not careful. One of the things on your list should be to separate these team members and have them sit next to new people.

Consider workflow and productivity. The new team may need to communicate in different ways. Make sure that the way employees are grouped makes it easy for them to access the individuals they need to talk with most often. This should be one of the major considerations in seating arrangements. You may also need to rethink your place in the office. Do you need to sit closer to employees so they can access you quickly? In some industries, this makes sense. In other businesses, if you’re too close to employees, they’re often intimidated.

Collaboration should be another concern for your new team. Do they have an area to collaborate on projects? If not, create one. You can accomplish this even if you’re on a tight budget. You don’t need to buy an abundance of new office furniture or completely remodel the office to create a collaboration space. All you need is a table and some chairs where team members can meet. This area should be located away from other team members’ work spaces so that meetings won’t interrupt their work. If you have an extra office available, that’s great, but if you don’t you can simply move the collaboration space as far away from other team members as possible. If you have the furniture to create more than one collaboration space, do it if you can. The more collaboration areas you have, the better.

If you have the opportunity to order new furniture, look for tables that can be configured into several different shapes. This will allow team members to create appropriate collaboration spaces for different kinds of meetings. It’s an extra perk if you can incorporate charging stations for laptops and other devices. Many of these tables also have cutouts that allow for speakerphones and other types of communication devices.

You may have the option of completely changing the way people sit. For example, you could create a separate area for private, quiet work for individuals who need to concentrate. They can avoid interruptions in these areas. Then, you can create a separate area for individuals who need to interact with colleagues on a regular basis. Workstations don’t have to be permanent. People can change their seating based on their current needs.

When you make major changes to the style of the work environment, you will help change the expectations of the team. They’ll forget the past more quickly because things look and feel so different. Their interactions will change dramatically along with their expectations.

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Creating a Motivational Space

Motivating employees is on every executive’s mind. They are constantly looking for techniques to inspire employees and help them feel engaged in the workplace. The truth is that motivation is complicated. There is no one way to inspire employees and therein lies the difficultly. Workers need to be motivated in a variety of ways. These include their involvement in team projects, their ability to achieve goals, the sense of contributing to company goals, the atmosphere they work in and many other factors. Analyzing motivational factors should be an ongoing process to ensure that employees feel engaged. Company and project circumstances change on a regular basis so it’s important to stay on top of employee engagement constantly.

Herman Miller Everywhere Used 42x42 Collaboration Table, GrayCollaboration is a key part of modern workplaces. People typically work on teams and these groups needs places they can meet together as a team. Sometimes these teams change on a rapid basis so it doesn’t make sense to seat the people together permanently. This is why it’s important to create collaboration areas in the workplace in several different places around the company. Often, these are large tables configured for meetings. These tables also double as workstations and allow team members to hook up computers and other necessary technology for project work. These collaboration areas allow employees to work together easily.

When collaboration is simplified, it contributes to team motivation. Employees are able to get to know their team members well. They learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses so that they know who to turn to during particular project challenges. Communication is simplified so that employees don’t have to deal with the frustration of dealing with multiple emails and phone calls to deal with simple issues. They can resolve problems quickly and simply through immediate conversations. They can brainstorm and come up with exciting new ideas on the spot in their collaboration area. Team members don’t have to schedule meetings to keep one another updated on basic information. They can connect quickly and easily. When it’s time for a project team or a department to regroup, the collaboration area can quickly be disbanded, reconfigured or repurposed for another group.

It may surprise you to learn that privacy can also be motivating for employees. Why? Because it is so hard to come by in an office environment. Privacy can be a rare commodity. Everyone needs privacy sometimes. The chance to be alone is necessary for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, people just need to recharge their batteries. Perhaps they need to have private conversations or make phone calls they don’t want others to overhear. Employees feel that their company cares about them if they have a private area for these types of needs.

Privacy is also important when it comes to accomplishing goals. Employees feel motivated when they are able to complete their projects and achieve the goals their managers have set for them and the goals they’ve set for themselves. Often, workers need a private place to work uninterrupted so that they can finish their projects in a timely manner. Collaboration is important, but employees need time to think, plan and analyze. If they don’t have these opportunities, they will feel frustrated and overwhelmed. That’s why a private area to work will motivate employees.

Steelcase Move Stack ChairsWhat about motivational quotes? They’re popular in many workplaces. Do they really work? They can if they are used correctly. It’s important that the quotes aren’t overused motivational posters that everyone’s seen. The motivational quotes need to be relevant to the company and the type of projects that employees work on. Motivational quotes can be on posters, plaques, screen savers, white boards, television monitors and other easily viewed areas. Not only should the motivational quotes be unique, they shouldn’t stay in the same place for too long, otherwise, employees won’t notice them after a while. Rotate motivational quotes on a regular basis so that everyone has the chance to see something new.

Many corporations stick with bland, generic colors in their offices. They try to ensure that the office has a professional look. However, many of these colors tend to be dull and uninspiring for the people that sit around them. Consider using more inspirational and fun colors in the office. Consult with a designer to find colors that will motivate people instead of making the office drab and dull.

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How to Create Collaboration Areas

Employers are learning the importance of collaboration more and more all the time. It used to be that employees simply receive tasks from their managers and completed them as directed. That approach doesn’t work in the modern world because the fast-paced, ever-changing business world requires input from many different people. Gone are the days when managers made all the decisions. Today, teams collaborate to make recommendations, share information and complete work as teams instead of as individuals. This approach allows the company to integrate information from all members of the workforce.

What are the benefits of collaboration? There are many if it is done properly. It helps engage employees and makes them mentally and emotionally invested in the company and its goals. A company like this has passionate employees that increase the odds of success. Collaboration also helps the company work much more efficiently. People can communicate quickly which allows them to complete their work much faster. It reduces the likelihood that work will be duplicated, as it often is in large companies. When people communicate openly with one another, they’ll know who is doing what and they can coordinate their projects accordingly.

Decision-making changes in a collaborative environment. Employees have the opportunity to give input into decisions. When they do this, they are much more likely to buy into decisions. Even if employees don’t make the final decision, the decision-making process will be clear and they’ll understand how the decision was reached.

How do executives make collaboration work? The configuration of the office space helps encourage collaboration in the workplace. It’s common for companies to separate people based on the type of work they do. For example, information technology people are often separated from employees in more creative fields. In real world projects, these people need to communicate openly and often for projects to be successful. This is difficult if the employees are separated physically. Open-space areas and closer seating allow these workers to collaborate more easily so that they can discuss projects and work on tasks together.

6 x 6 Ethospace Used Cubicle by Herman Miller, BlueThere needs to be a dedicated, open space for the team to collaborate. They won’t be able to work together if they aren’t close to one another. Team members can’t work together from cubicles or desks that are far away from one another. The collaboration area needs to be far away another from other desks and cubicles. This is important because other employees won’t be able to concentrate and complete their work if there is too much noise around them. The collaborating team shouldn’t feel restricted in terms of talking because there are other people around them. Some employers choose to put teams in designated rooms so they won’t disturb others. Other employers designate open space areas for teams that are located far from private work stations.

Teams need to be provided with the appropriate furniture so that they can collaborate properly. In some cases, the solution might be conference tables that allow team members to plug in technology that they need to do their jobs. These open-area work spaces work well for group discussions and project work. They may need other technology such as video conferencing tools, specific systems that work with the team’s needs and phones with conferencing and multi-line features. There needs to be adequate seating for everyone on the team. Keep in mind that the team structure may change over time. It may increase or decrease in size over time. There may be visitors. You should have extra chairs available for these circumstances.

Collaboration may require furnishings in addition to open-area furniture. Larger cubicles that seat more than one person may be the answer for some groups. It’s easy to find cubicles that seat two people. Another alternative is to buy cubicle panels in a variety of sizes. This gives you the option of creating cubicles in a variety of configurations. You can choose to create cubicles that seat larger groups. In other cases, you may find that short cubicles that seat one person allow for easy and simple communication throughout the group. However you decide to structure the physical space, consider how the team will need to communicate and tailor the space for the team instead of making the team adapt to an already existing environment.

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Open Space vs Cubicle Office Spaces

Steelcase Think Used Conference Chair, Green Pattern

Open spaces have become very popular in recent years. Many business consultants have recommended that companies add open spaces that foster collaboration and communication throughout the company. Open space is important and it has its advantages. However, it is not the only important part of an office. Cubicle office spaces also have their advantages within offices. The best approach is to study your company’s needs and blend them to create the ideal office space for your employees.

Morgan Laminate Desk Station, Gray and WhiteOpen spaces have become popular as companies have realized the importance of collaboration in the workplace. When workers don’t have open spaces to meet and work together, they will be less likely to share information and ideas. If this kind of sharing doesn’t happen, the company is at a disadvantage. They lose inspiration that is fostered by collaboration. Employees are isolated and don’t feel connected to one another.

In open space configurations, there are areas for groups to meet formally or informally. People can gather with their laptops and other mobile devices to work together. They can also gather casually to talk and share ideas without involving any kind of technology. Typically, open spaces are separated from private working spaces so that employees feel comfortable talking without interrupting anyone else’s work.

When employees are able to collaborate in this manner, they feel much more engaged in their work. They are more invested in the company and feel that their contributions to the company are valued. Employees tend to become more passionate about their work and the company goals if they have the opportunity to share their ideas and communicate with a variety of people throughout the workplace.

6x8 My Studio Environments by Herman Miller Used Cubicle - StandaloneWhy are cubicle office spaces important? One important reason is that they provide workers with privacy which can be hard to come by in open office spaces. Even the most outgoing and creative employees need some privacy to get their work done. Other types of jobs require a great deal of quiet and privacy so that employees can complete their tasks. Cubicles can be constructed that deter foot traffic and cut down on the number of interruptions that employees experience. This is extremely valuable because it helps workers concentrate and complete their work.

Cubicle styles can be used to designate the purposes of working spaces. When people enter a working area, the office designer may place a reception desk or a cubicle with glass panels to indicate the area that guests should approach. Fabric-paneled cubicles signal private working areas to guests and they are less likely to approach these areas and interrupt workers.

Cubicles don’t always have to be private, isolated spaces. Cubicle panels can be purchased in separate pieces and constructed in a variety of styles. Sometimes, cubicles are constructed for two people. Other times, four people may sit together in a large cubicle. This is often done when people are working together on a team. Their close proximity allows them to communicate quickly and openly without disturbing other employees.

Shorter cubicles are often used in environments like call centers. There are a number of reasons that these types of cubicles are preferred. First, it makes it easy for employees with problems to raise their hands and quickly receive help. Management can easily watch the staff for problems and intervene when necessary. Managers can also easily see which employees are at their desks and which workers aren’t in their seats. They can then check this against break and lunch schedules. Another advantage of short cubicles is that it’s easy to make announcements to the team over short cubicle walls. Brief training sessions can easily be held in a room with low cubicle walls.

Which is better “ open space or cubicle office spaces? The answer is neither. They are both important in their own way. Open spaces help foster discussion, collaboration and communication throughout the office. This is a working style that has a demonstrated positive effect in the workplace. However, it is not the only important issue for employees. They also need privacy and uninterrupted time to complete their work. Employees also need time to think and analyze problems on their own. That’s why it’s important to have cubicle spaces as well. The best approach is to combine both kinds of spaces to achieve the ideal workplace.

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How to Design a Quiet Space

There is a lot of focus on collaboration in the office because it’s so important for getting certain types of work done. It’s true that teams need to meet to complete many different types of projects. The need for office collaboration space is real. Many companies have spent a lot of time creating open spaces in the workplace to foster team work and reduce isolation. However, employees need areas to do their work.

Quiet and private spaces are just as vital as collaboration areas in offices. People need time and space to think and focus on their work and projects. They need an area to focus on their work so they can complete it thoroughly and accurately. Many people also feel drained after a certain amount of interaction with team members. They need a quiet place to recharge their batteries so that they can get their work done. Studies have shown that not only do interruptions and noise make it difficult to concentrate; they can actually increase employee stress levels. Workers know their productivity levels are dropping and they begin to worry about keeping up with their work deadlines.

Herman Miller Swoop Used Ottoman, MagentaThe key to a productive workplace is building appropriate balance between group spaces and individual working areas. Both need to be present so that the office can be as productive as possible. Open space areas are still important so that people can collaborate. However, there need to be private areas as well. There also need to be spaces that teams can meet privately and work quietly without distractions. Spaces for personal conversations also need to be available.

Some research studies have shown that workers feel they have to work away from their main workspace to get any work accomplished. This often means working away from the office. This is often because there is no space for anyone, especially introverted people, to avoid the distractions and interruptions that are so constant in the modern workplace. This doesn’t have to be the case. There are ways to design a modern office that has the feel of a modern, open office while still providing the quiet spaces that workers need to think and produce. You’ll also be able to include space for all employees to conduct private meetings, conversations and phone calls.

Cubicle spaces can play an important part in providing employees with private working spaces. Cubicles can be designed in many different ways. Some cubicle configurations indicate privacy more than others. To increase privacy, consider adding more paneling instead of glass and building the cubicles in a different area from the open spaces of the office. This separation from open areas indicates that the cubicles are meant as private areas as opposed to group spaces. It’s important to keep working spaces away from doors and reception areas. If there is no one at a reception desk or nearby, visitors will automatically wander to the nearest cubicle for help. Constant inspiration will make it difficult for workers to concentrate. Paneling around the area outside of the cubicles can indicate the area is reserved for private work space.

8x6 Knoll Morrison Used Cubicle, GrayTaller cubicles are also good options for private work spaces. The higher walls help block out noise and indicate a private area to the people in the area. You can also purchase cubicle workstations for individuals or two people that provide private space for getting computer or desk work completed. Cubicles don’t work for every privacy issue. They can’t provide shield personal or confidential conversations. Sometimes, complete privacy is necessary. Often, managers or employees need to make phone calls individually or in groups that can’t be overheard. In these cases, companies can provide small rooms with doors that shut and lock. Rooms can be reserved if necessary. People can use the rooms to place calls without anyone overhearing what they are saying so that sensitive information won’t be overheard.

Sealed conferences rooms and offices should also be available for quiet work and private conversations. Some meetings involve sensitive, private information. Other times, both small and large meeting groups need to be free from interruptions. There have to be private spaces so that these groups can do the work they need to do in peace and quiet.