Like any move, changing office spaces take a lot of time and energy to pull off. What can make it even more difficult than a personal move is the sheer amount of people involved and physical moving parts to coordinate.
It’s important to think about the needs of your employees or coworkers during this transition, as well as, what you want your new space to look like. Check out the following tips for what to consider as you prepare to make the switch from one office to another:
You want to think of your move as a step into your company’s future. As such, you should envision what style your new office will have and sell anything that doesn’t fit that vision. This may be the perfect time to update your office technology and décor.
One of the most important spaces to consider during the move is the breakroom. As the hub of creativity, social bonding, and communication within the workplace, you want to make sure your new office’s lounge areas are well-planned.
If your teams have a communal space to gather socially and professionally, a space that inspires creativity and calm, your company will be a more collaborative, productive environment. Consider a mix of different types of furniture in the breakroom.
For example, instead of a classic cafeteria layout with rectangular tables and chairs, consider adding couches, lounge chairs, and coffee tables, along with standard eating desks. This way, the breakroom will go from a space that people like to eat in, to a space people like to communicate in.
You’ll want to make sure your employees know well in advance of any changes they’ll be incurring. For example, if you plan on switching buildings completely, this will obviously affect their commute times.
On the other hand, if you’re only switching floors within the same building, you’ll want to get them involved in the process by letting them know what time the changes will take place. Because of the amount of time spent at work in an average week, a big office change could have a major impact on employees’ productivity if done improperly.
If you’ve ever tried to move under a time crunch, you’ll know how unpleasant it is. If at all possible, plan your move so that you can gradually transfer everything from one space to another.
It’s important to ensure that employees have everything they need once they make it to the new space. This means that you’ll want to ensure the breakroom has a refrigerator, the internet is set up and ready to go, and the bathrooms have toilet paper.
No matter the original reason for your move, ensure that the vision for your new space is clearly defined. Make the new office a continuation and celebration of the brand you want to build.
Make sure that as employees move into their new space, the function and purpose of each room is clearly communicated. If done thoughtfully, moving office spaces can chart an entirely new course for your business.