Five Ways You Can Create a Productive and Collaborative Workspace

At the risk of sounding cliché, the way we work has changed. What hasn’t are our foundational business goals, and how we achieve them: through productivity and collaboration. And with new working environments, businesses today have an opportunity to do even more, by facilitating a workspace that caters to their business goals, rather than being a place the team sit Monday through Friday.

How can your workplace help you achieve better? We’ve put together the top 5 ways you can create a productive and collaborative workplace – giving your team the tools they need to perform.

1. Offer Flexible Space That Works For Different Goals

Our environment influences how we think, speak and work. It’s a little bit like trying to go over finance reports in a club – sure, you can set up your laptop and calculator, but how long before SZA has you on the dancefloor and away from your ROI?

Okay, an extreme example, but you get the gist. Different types of work require different atmospheres to ensure optimum productivity. Giving your team a number of workspace options allows them to perform their best in the environment the prefer. A formal boardroom might be the best place for a presentation to investors…but does it provide the right atmosphere for a creative all-hands brainstorm?

Amenities like lounges, courtyards, phone booths, and meeting rooms give your team more. They can have a casual one-to-one in a lounge or settle into a quiet phone booth for a private conversation. In a flexible workspace provider like Grafter, all of this and more is included in your monthly rent. Take advantage of outdoor courtyards, kitchen lounges and more – without the added cost of in-building these elements into your own floorplate.

The modern workplace isn’t one-size-fits all; more options means you can meet your team in the place they work best.

(Bonus points if you have a playlist that includes SZA. No matter how you work, we can all agree on that one.)  

2. Centralize Communication

Your business relies on communication. This covers everything from easy-to-find comms for client presentations to meeting minutes. Even more so, it’s about giving your team the tools and skills they need to communicate problems and solutions with you effectively.

There are hundreds of software options out there to help you centralize and streamline your communications which will allow you to strategize from a birds-eye-view. But unless you’ve built transparency and respect into your interpersonal communication, no amount of software will help you grow.

How does your workspace environment help? Whether your team is on-site, hybrid or remote, having a space where they feel comfortable makes any conversation easier. Modern serviced offices come complete with additional amenities like fully-stocked kitchens, beautifully-designed workspace, shower facilities and more – aspects of working that show your team they (and their ideas and opinions) are respected.

3. Build a Positive Company Culture Through Authentic Teambuilding

We’ve all been there. Dragged to another not-mandatory-mandatory work drinks on a Thursday night, counting down the minutes and the open bar tab. It’s an evening that doesn’t exactly scream ‘I love my job’, does it?

Authenticity is at the heart of success. In fact, a recent Institute for Inclusive Leadership survey found that out of respondents who felt they could more authentic in the workplace, 71% felt more confident and 60% felt more engaged.

As business leaders, it’s part of your job spec to make sure your team feels included and well-respected. This starts in the workplace, but building connections outside of the office is a key part in creating a truly positive company culture.

At Grafter, we offer our members more places to do just that. With a network of over 65 local partnerships, you can invite your team out for a celebratory dinner, a team-building getaway or even a gym session, all at an exclusive discount. Enticing employees back to the office is a challenge for the modern era, but we want to make it as easy as possible for your team to connect – whether that’s over a round of drinks or a round of golf. Here, you’ll find that work and life aren’t mutually exclusive, but mutually beneficial.

4. Prioritize Comfort

Here’s one for the dictionary: ‘workleisure’, the blend of business-casual and casual-casual that’s been making headlines in the wake of Covid-19. After years of working from our kitchen tables in joggers, we’ve certainly become accustomed to a certain style of business – one that prioritizes comfort as much as productivity.

Now that teams are meeting back in the office, it’s time to leave the leggings at home. But is there something to be gained from making the workspace feel less like…work?

Providing a comfortable working environment for your business doesn’t mean nap-pods and Penney’s pyjamas. However, amenities like couches and lounge furniture, soft lighting and collaborative spaces can help alleviate some of the rigid formality that makes coming into the office feel like a chore.

Flexible workspace providers such as Grafter can provide a blend for your business, spaces of comfort and style that will help your team work their very best, while still ensuring an impressive space to meet clients. We’ve worked with top-designers to ensure our workspaces meet your every need – whether it’s business formal or casual Friday.

5. Opt for a Holistic Approach to Productivity with a Wellbeing-Focused Workspace

To perform our best, we need to feel our best, both inside and out of the office. You know how important reducing stress, eating well and maintaining a movement regimen is for your mental and physical wellbeing. In years past, the office was a grey space with harsh lighting and uncomfortable furnishings. Not anymore.

Each of our Grafter private suites come fully-furnished with a sit-stand desk, ergonomic chair and lockable ped. We’ve gone a step further to make wellness a team challenge; our desks are Bluetooth enabled, so you can set stand-challenges for yourself and colleagues. And when it’s time to take a breather, our ergonomic chairs will support your back so you aren’t leaving work and heading straight to the physio.

Throughout our Houses, you’ll find bike storage and shower facilities (yes, with complimentary toiletries) for a healthier commute. No day is complete without a balanced start, which is why we provide a continental-style breakfast offering with fresh fruit each day.

All of this and more helps your team arrive into work focused, fresh and ready to face the challenges of the day. Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create. We’re here to help you create a working environment where balance is part of the package.

Creating a productive and collaborative workspace doesn’t happen overnight. However, Grafter can help you achieve your business goals quickly and easily by giving your team everything they need to succeed on the day-to-day so they can focus on what’s really important: increasing productivity and driving growth.

If you’re ready to boost your team’s morale and productivity, book a tour at Grafter and see firsthand what a luxury flexible workspace can do for you.