Why You Should Redesign Your Office For Introverts
fastcompany.com
Why You Should Redesign Your Office For Introverts
1–8 of 8 posts
Re: Why You Should Redesign Your Office For Introverts
#2Hmm, "In June, Cain is teaming up with furniture manufacturer Steelcase to introduce a series of workspace solutions tailored to introverts." can I call submarine?
Snark aside I agree it is important to support different work styles and needs, but I am not sure I can appreciate why introverts would be more important than any other group.
Re: Why You Should Redesign Your Office For Introverts
#3Best environment I ever worked in was at Apple, where we had "pods", 8-10 closed single-occupant offices around a central area that had couches and a large whiteboard.
Want to concentrate, or shut out the annoying gabfest? Close your door. Maybe put a sign up if you really don't want to be disturbed (I only did this once).
Want to participate in the design session happening right outside? Just open your door and scoot your chair over. Grab a whiteboard pen and jump in if you want to contribute.
Most open space is a short-sighted cost savings measure that comes out of the wrong budget, designed by people who are not engineers. The space designers I've talked to seemed to be more interested in "the language of the space" and color coordination and carpet wear, and always spoke condescendingly about noise and distraction concerns. Maybe the "pattern language" stuff is important, but I'd be happier if architects and the people who pay them really understood how engineers work.
Re: Why You Should Redesign Your Office For Introverts
#4Hmm, "In June, Cain is teaming up with furniture manufacturer Steelcase to introduce a series of workspace solutions tailored to introverts." can I call submarine? Snark aside I agree it is important to support different work styles and needs, but I am not sure I can appreciate why introverts would be more important than any other group.
Though the article didn't state so explicitly, I assumed the author is thinking that extroverts can still find ways to collaborate with groups of people (e.g. conference rooms, informal meeting areas, maybe even a cluster of open desks), while introverts can now get someplace isolated to work. And that these suggestions mean a workplace should offer both options, submarines (haha) and open desks for different types of employees.
I know, I'm probably assuming a lot. Hopefully the author thought this and isn't suggesting an entire workplace is converted solely for one type of employee over another.
Re: Why You Should Redesign Your Office For Introverts
#5Hmm, "In June, Cain is teaming up with furniture manufacturer Steelcase to introduce a series of workspace solutions tailored to introverts." can I call submarine? Snark aside I agree it is important to support different work styles and needs, but I am not sure I can appreciate why introverts would be more important than any other group.
Though the article didn't state so explicitly, I assumed the author is thinking that extroverts can still find ways to collaborate with groups of people (e.g. conference rooms, informal meeting areas, maybe even a cluster of open desks), while introverts can now get someplace isolated to work. And that these suggestions mean a workplace should offer both options, submarines (haha) and open desks for different types o…
You can always add meat to a vegetarian pizza.
Re: Why You Should Redesign Your Office For Introverts
#6Hmm, "In June, Cain is teaming up with furniture manufacturer Steelcase to introduce a series of workspace solutions tailored to introverts." can I call submarine? Snark aside I agree it is important to support different work styles and needs, but I am not sure I can appreciate why introverts would be more important than any other group.
Though the article didn't state so explicitly, I assumed the author is thinking that extroverts can still find ways to collaborate with groups of people (e.g. conference rooms, informal meeting areas, maybe even a cluster of open desks), while introverts can now get someplace isolated to work. And that these suggestions mean a workplace should offer both options, submarines (haha) and open desks for different types o…
I think the idea is by creating quieter places it offers an area for people to recharge, focus and get something done. Open office spaces tend to not have these, so it's nice to see this being encouraged. I think using introverts as the mean to make this point wasn't entirely right, but introverted people by nature do need recharging time.
Re: Why You Should Redesign Your Office For Introverts
#7I find I work best drifting into and out of social spaces as the pace of my attention changes.
Right now, I'm winding down at the end of the day. 25' away, there are a dozen interns in a conference room, a handful of which are talking continuously. I'm in a room with a wall of windows, sitting on a big beanbag chair. The A/C drowns out the noise outside, and I can get some serious work done - or catch up on HN, as the case may be. Either way, I can actually understand what I'm reading.
When I'm in need of a break, I'll often wander to the kitchen for a glass of water or through the bullpen. I might join in a conversation here or there, and often someone will call me over to ask my opinion of something. This means that time that I would have otherwise spent looking out the window or holding my head in my hands is now spent being diverted on something that likely adds value to the company.
So, yes - I agree with the author's main premise. It's important for an office for engineers, developers and creatives to have quiet, semi-private spaces mixed in with areas where you incidentally come in contact with other people.
Re: Why You Should Redesign Your Office For Introverts
#8[deleted]