We are all different in our personalities, and what suits one person, probably won’t work for another. The thing is, when you have a large and busy office, or even a smaller type of concern, you are going to have a real mixture of different personality types to deal with. In order to get the best out of them, you need to tailor your approach individually.
But, can you really do that and be productive at the same time?
This is a real hot topic within office management circles nowadays, because we are all appreciating more and more that to get the most out of our employees, we need to understand them as a whole, and learn how to tap into their potential. Yes, it is up to the employee to perform at work to the highest level, but there are always unchartered territories that can be explored by going about things the right way! Figuring out whether your employees are introverted or extroverted is therefore key.
Now, it shouldn’t be too difficult to guess. Introverts are typically quieter people, although they are not always shy or silent, they don’t tend to push themselves into the limelight as much as an extrovert. An extrovert is likely to be louder, someone who is at the centre of most discussions and someone who will be more vocally generally. Both types make great managers and leaders, but both types respond differently to different working environments too.
We spend the majority of our days at our office desks, and that means that in order to feel comfortable and productive, the design has to be just right. Comfort is of course key, as we are sat in our desk chairs for a large portion of our time, but the actual design should be enough to bring out the best in every single employee.
How can you do that? Especially when you are likely to have a mix of different personalities in your working space?
Work With Zones
Introverted people may prefer to work in a quieter environment, where they can concentrate and go about their business. An extroverted person may find that their best work is done in collaboration, when they can bounce ideas off of other people. Having zones within the office will ensure that everyone can find a space where they can work to the best of their ability. So, have a quiet zone, have a collaborative zone, have a zone where flexible types of work can be done. Basically give your employees variety and choice of where they do their work, so that they can do it to the best of their ability.
You could easily set up individual workstations in quiet zones, perhaps with screens or barriers, before installing large brainstorming tables in the zones built for collaboration. It’s about identifying spaces and then thinking about what you need from there.
There is also the option to place your group rooms, e.g. printing rooms, meeting rooms, generally places where people meet, between areas which are closed off for quieter work. This will ensure that nobody becomes isolated, and that team building can still be done.
Never Underestimate The Power of Comfort and Nature
Whether introverted or extroverted, nobody is going to work to the best of their ability if they are not comfortable where they work. This means setting up desks where there is a good portion of natural light, ensuring that the space itself is adjustable to the individual, and ensuring that ventilation is optimal. All of this is basic, but it works wonders for getting the most out of every personality type.
Sometimes work can be overwhelming and connecting with nature is the best way to recharge and regroup, even if just for five minutes. For this reason, ensure that your workspaces all have a certain amount of access to natural light and natural spaces. An outdoor garden area is a great idea for not only providing a meeting area during breaks, but also to help workers feel energised and lighter, rather than being bogged down by too much darkness and artificial lighting. Fresh air is vital!
Sound Matters
Introverts prefer a quieter working space, whereas an extrovert may prefer to have background noise. We mentioned about zones earlier on, but it’s also important to look at noise levels in the office itself. Yes, collaboration is required for most jobs, but there may also be a portion of work which requires real concentration. Any type of chatter behind you when you’re trying to concentrate on figures and key details can be super-distracting.
For this reason, you could look into soundproofing of quieter rooms, looking at opting for carpet flooring to absorb noise, and also thinking about having upholstered chairs and seating, to cut out those annoying acoustics which may just tip an introvert over the edge, but will still allow an extrovert to work how they need to. You will find many office furniture design ideas to help you achieve this aim.
Workstations And Consideration
A large amount of consideration needs to go into the type of workstations you are going to install into your office. Are you going to go for one type of desk throughout the room? Or, are you going to try different ones, which work well with zonal office design? It’s a personal choice, but there are many things to think about.
We mentioned that introverts might prefer to get their head down and work quietly, and perhaps a cubed desk style would be ideal for this. Alternatively, you may want to encourage your introverted staff to still collaborate and not become too bogged down with individual working. In that case, having a hot desking scenario could be the way forward.
Talk to your staff, find out what they think and how they would like to work. You should never underestimate the power of opinion! There are going to be tasks which an introvert needs to do which is going to require extroverted skills, and likewise, there are going to be tasks which an extrovert needs to do which are going to require them working alone and quietly. Having consideration and allowing them to choose the space which helps them achieve their aims the best is key.
If you’re redesigning your office and you have a mixture of introverts and extroverts, Calibre has a huge range of office furniture in London to choose from. This will help you to find the ideal blend for your staff.