It seems that the world just isn’t going to stop improving. Whatever industry you look at, you’re bound to see a lot of innovation. This is because of the extensive research done in the fields of psychology and technology. By developing these two branches, we understand the human mind better and have the means to explore it further.
Such expeditions on the mind have proven one thing: the environment definitely affects how we think and how productive and happy we are. This is good news for the corporate world, as it is basically the key to having a healthy but productive workforce. The perfect office of the future doesn’t just involve making the people happy, though. It’s also concerned with the environment. As time goes on, more and more companies realize that they have a certain social responsibility to keep their communities clean.
Like with everything else, those who stay ahead, or at least keep up, will survive. Businesses that don’t measure up to the code of the future are likely to fail. After all, why should anyone settle for old and conservative if they have new, more efficient, innovative, and better? In that spirit, let’s take a look into the office of tomorrow to prepare you for your inevitable future success.
Valuing physical health
Most physical health issues are caused by inadequate working conditions. This means that the employee sits in front of the screen all day, not having the right to get up and stretch their legs. Not only is this bad for their posture, but also their head and eyes. In return, their mental health starts to go downhill, too. This leads us to conclude that, if we want a mentally healthy workforce, we have to take care of their physical health, too.
In that spirit, you’ll see a lot more of moving desks. As well as that, office chairs won’t be the traditional ones we’re so used to. They’ll either be so technologically advanced that they accommodate each user perfectly, or will be replaced by other things such as fitness balls.
It won’t be uncommon for businesses to have their own gym, either. What better way to use your break than to get a little adrenaline going? Whether it’s light weightlifting or running on the treadmill, you’ll have the opportunity to blow off some steam.
Being in motion helps the body process stress better and let the negative feelings out. We are also aware that exercise prompts the production of serotonin and dopamine, making employees happier. It may seem that exercise is the employees’ responsibility, and not the firms, but when you take in the benefits, it makes perfect sense to combine the two.
Creativity and independent thinking
Why should your employees do only what the management wants? They’re in the field all day, they know how things work, and they’re more than just the labour force. The future recognizes this and encourages critical thinking and creative ideas. A person who can only stick their nose to their screen and follow orders won’t be as appealing. After all, those people don’t push boundaries.
Working in heterogeneous groups will prove to be the best thing for more creativity. This means that your employees should collaborate as much as possible. When you’ve got lots of different people, you’ve got lots of different ideas. This is one of the reasons cubicles won’t be an option in the office design anymore.
Employees will have an equal say in the office meetings, too. As it was mentioned above, they have hands-on experience when it comes to working. No one will be able to tell you what to do next and how to do it better than your team. Being listened to and valued will greatly improve employee confidence, making them stronger and better workers.
Essentially, running a business won’t be a matter of us VS them anymore. Employee and management interests will align, making HR’s work much easier. This doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges in the way, but simply that they’ll be resolved more easily. Employees will have the right and option to defend their opinions, instead of to just conform to “The Man”. In the long term, this attitude sets a business up for success.
Kindness breeds kindness
No matter how many robots you may imagine in the future, your employees are still human. This means that you should treat them as such. Supporting employee ideas, listening, being understanding and kind: these are the things every employer of the future should strive for. The time of the angry and mean bosses is gone.
It’s a proven fact that people work better in environments where there is less stress and pressure. This is why the office of tomorrow will run things a little differently. Lunch breaks will be longer, while other breaks will be mandatory. Sitting in front of the screen all day does no good for anyone’s back, eyes, or head, especially if you combine it with not eating healthy.
This is why the office kitchen or cafeteria will be stacked only with the freshest and healthiest ingredients. Nutrition is no longer a hobby, it’s a way of life. There’s not one reason the employee should miss out on having a proper meal just because they are working.
When it comes to sick leave and days off, your employees will have the right to take as much as they want, according to how much they contribute to the firm. Parental leave will also carry benefits with it, as a society will shift to accommodating families even more. All of this means your employees won’t have to fight to survive and have a personal life.
The kindness you show with this regime will be reciprocated with the results they give to your firm.
The importance of eco-friendliness
Our planet is dying, and it’s our responsibility to stop the process. Alas, there is only so much we can do as individuals. The real power lies with corporations and offices. We’ve come to realize that now, meaning that the office of tomorrow will be as green as it can be.
You won’t see new and fancy furniture anymore. Instead, things will be made from recycled materials, giving them another chance at life. Not only will this be trendy, cheaper, and widely available, but it will also raise your employees’ eco-consciousness. An office that doesn’t have eco-friendly furniture simply won’t be appealing to the public. This won’t be something the firms implement themselves, the people will demand it.
Another thing that will change is the lights. We’re used to traditional light bulbs, but truthfully, they benefit no one. The light is yellow and can give you a strong headache after a while. The bulbs themselves waste a lot of energy and don’t really last long. This is why in the future, they’ll be a thing of the past. Even today, companies are making the switch to LED lights. In the future, this switch will be completed.
After all, LED lights are way more energy efficient. This makes them more eco-friendly, too. They don’t waste as much, but they last a lifetime. The light of the LED bulb is much softer and more beneficial for the head and the eyes, too. It doesn’t hinder focus and make your employees feel strained. These may be seen as an investment today, but in the future, they’ll be a necessity.
Another thing we will definitely see more of are solar power banks. They use solar power to charge and transmit energy to an appliance. They are mostly used to charge smartphones now, but as the technology develops and batteries become larger, most electronic devices might be charged this way, from laptops to large printers and beyond.
On a more social level, companies are going to start supporting more causes that save the environment. The awareness of social responsibility is palpable even today, and it makes people flock to those who honour it. Working for a company that cares for the community makes people feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves.
The power of plants
Even today, plants are making their way into the office, as well as the house. In the future, this will be even more prominent. In fact, no office will do without a proper Zen garden. Since the design of the office will be entirely different, you can count on there being enough room for you to create such a garden.
The main benefit plants bring with them are oxygen. The more clean oxygen your employees inhale, the more energized and relaxed they are. Oxygen and the brain are best friends, as oxygen supports optimal brain function and makes it more alert, as well as making it easier to focus. In other words, this is fertile grounds for more productivity and less stress. Your workers won’t even realize how much more work they’re getting done just thanks to the addition of some fresh air.
Next, having a Zen garden at work gives everyone something in common. Your employees are no longer individuals working at their separate desks with nothing to talk about because of no common interests- they are a community. Everyone can be responsible for a part of the garden. Think of it this way, the garden will replace the traditional water cooler. People will have a place to gather and mingle. They’ll have something to talk about and something to take care of. This is the key to a healthy work environment and to a healthy mind.
This gives each person an opportunity to learn more about responsibility and is especially effective for redirecting negative thoughts and stress. Who can be stressed when they’ve got a beautiful Japanese bonsai tree to take care of? These trees are known to instill a sense of calm and serenity to those who touch them. Add some bamboo to the mix, and you’ve got the perfect environment for calm. The greener your garden is, the more tranquil your employees are.
The addition of technology
Finally, we can’t neglect the addition of technology in the office world. After all, who can forget all the nifty gadgets in the modern world? The future holds amazing things for technology, as it is all part of innovation. As a society, we are constantly looking for ways to make the workload easier, and the technological department sure is doing their part.
Menial and tedious tasks will surely be replaced by apps, software, and programmes. Some even predict that they will be taken care of by actual robots. One thing’s for sure, though, no office will be good enough without state of the art equipment.
It’s your responsibility as an owner of the business to ensure your employees have only the best. Why not splurge on that advanced accounting software if you think it will help your team? Everyone is also likely to own a smartwatch.
Wearables are becoming increasingly popular, and that popularity will surely peak in the office of the future. With a wearable, you don’t have to worry about missing your next appointment, missing a deadline, or not completing any other work task. When you’re being bombed with information from all sides, it’s simply impossible to retain all of it. This is why your wearable will surely have your back.
Another benefit of technology in the form of wearables is the fact that employee health will be monitored. This brings a whole new purpose of technology to the office. It will no longer be just a tool to get things done. It will become something more. Something that takes care of you. Thanks to your wearable, you’ll always know exactly what your body needs and what you need to do to reach optimal functionality and productivity.
Conclusion
Now that you got a chance to look into it, the office of tomorrow doesn’t seem so scary, does it? People tend to fear change and this is normal as we are creatures of habit, but remember that change can be good. The office of tomorrow focuses on getting the most work done while keeping your employees’ needs met. Working in a relaxed and stress-free environment is what makes people strive. Strict deadlines, cubicles, short lunch breaks, and no time or opportunity to move around are all things of the past. Let them stay there. Let’s focus on making a better world, one office at a time.