Work-space: One size does not fit all

I've worked in closed shared offices, cubicle farms and wide-open spaces. They all seem to have their benefits depending on the type of work and the people.

I've practiced agile project management the past five years with a creative product training team and currently a marketing team. No matter how much team collaboration is going on, we still need solo time to do work. This means moving from the open table in the center of the room back to our laptop spots with earbuds in. It's funny how drastic the vibe changes from chatty brainstorming to complete silence.

In work spaces where employees are side by side at long open tables I think it's ironic that it attempts to ease collaboration, yet everyone has buds in or they're wearing noise cancelling head sets. The first time I put a pair of the noise cancelling head sets on it was so quiet, I immediately felt alone. Sometimes I feel intrusive to wave my arms in order to ask a question in this type of "collaborative" environment.

In my opinion, the perfect team work space should have options and be designed by the needs of the team. Open space with whiteboards, creative furniture and props are my favorite. Although, sometimes it's helpful to have a place to escape. I love the "phone booth" offices that are the perfect size for a private conversation.

Costs and space are always a challenge. Let the team get creative with the budget and space options, you'll be pleasantly surprised how effective their work space can become!

#brainstorming #intheoffice #agile