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 June 2012    |    www.senalosa.com
Hello!
Welcome to my June newsletter.   

In addition to this month's tip, I invite you to check out two recent additions to Senalosa.com - a blog post on "Fortifying your Financial Perspective," and a new article on the strategic imperative of managing dual value propositions (posted in the Strategy tab). Thanks for reading, and please contact me if you have questions you'd like me to address in future tips, blog posts, or articles. 

 

As always, I invite you to check out what's new at Senalosa.com and follow me on social media, including
 Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube
 

This Month's Tip: 
Designing Open Spaces that Work 
 

I recently watched a great old Jack Lemmon film from 1960 called "The Apartment." In it, Lemmon plays C.C. Baxter, a harried clerk in an enormous New York insurance agency who discovers a very unique way to climb the corporate ladder (you'll have to watch the movie to find out how). There are several scenes of C.C. at the office and I can't help but laugh every time I see them. The only sounds are the clikety-clak of typewriters, the scuffing of chair legs against the luminous linoleum floor, and the shuffling of seemingly endless piles of paper from desk to desk. What's absent of course is conversation. It wasn't that long ago that workplace chatter was, if not strictly forbidden, at least frowned upon. Leaders viewed casual conversations as productivity- busting distractions to be avoided at all costs. Today, of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Chance encounters and informal interactions among colleagues are believed to promote innovation, foster cooperation, and enhance teamwork. In fact, office spaces are now designed with that popular ethos in mind.

 

Over seventy percent of today's office spaces are designed and built in the 'open concept' format, a trend that has been embraced by many household names in the corporate world, including: Procter & Gamble, Ernst & Young, GlaxoSmithKline, and Alcoa. The question is - do these 'new and improved' designs actually deliver the benefits users expect to receive? Research on the topic provides mixed reviews. Some studies reveal that removing physical barriers and bringing people into closer contact does promote casual interactions that can lead to performance improvements in innovation and teamwork. However, an equal body of evidence suggests the opposite; that open space floor plans actually inhibit informal interactions. Some studies go even further, asserting that open plans have been found to reduce productivity, impair memory, and even increase staff turnover.

 

As researchers continue to probe this concept they are developing theories that outline which attributes lead to the most effective open space plans, and are able to mitigate some of their unintended consequences. Two such authors, Fayard and Weeks, writing in Harvard Business Review suggest that any open space plan embrace these key design elements:

 

Privacy: Perhaps the biggest criticism of open plans is the reduction in privacy they afford workers. Be sure your space contains areas like alcoves or other peripheral spaces that provide the opportunity for more private conversations, where people feel comfortable sharing sensitive or confidential information.

 

Proximity: If only part of your overall office space is open, ensure it is easily accessible and doesn't require employees to make a special trip. To that end, include resources that tend to encourage informal gatherings, like printers, photocopiers, and coffee machines.

 

Permission: The prevailing culture of the organization must support the space's function of encouraging informal meetings and discussions. Communicate it widely, encourage use by all, and make it easy for people to actually engage in the space. At IDEO, for example, open spaces are filled with portable furniture that employees move around to work near whomever they happen to be collaborating with at the time.

 

Knowledge work drives our modern global economy, and thus designing an environment that allows each employee to provide his or her peak contribution is critical to organizational success. Follow the tips above and you'll be well on the road to creating a space that ensures your team will thrive.  

 

Paul's Bookshelf

  

Here are two books I recently read and recommend:


Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking
by Susan Cain
Crown, 2012

I found this while strolling in a bookstore and was intrigued enough by the title to buy it. Am I glad I did - it proved to be one of the most enjoyable and insightful books I've read in a long time. Cain tackles the subjects of introversion and extroversion from a multitude of fascinating perspectives: neurological, psychological, and sociological to name a few. Whether you're an introvert or a gregarious extrovert, the book provides a roadmap for understanding why you are the way you are. Of interest to business readers, she also examines how introverts and extroverts navigate the world of commerce, providing insights on brainstorming, office design (I got the idea for this month's tip from her book), and leadership among a number of captivating topics. 

 

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? 
by Seth Godin
Portfolio, 2010

Like many people, I've been a fan of Seth Godin's for years, and continue to find his work relevant and often inspiring. In this book, as with his many previous bestsellers (Tribes, Purple Cow...), he writes passionately throughout and never pulls his punches. At its core, this book is about a choice we all need to make: will we follow or will we lead; becoming 'linchpins,' and indispensable. If you want to lead, you should read this book. Godin shares many stories of those who have made this choice and how they overcame fear and resistance along the way. 

That's it for this month. Please stay in touch!   

Paul R. Niven, President
The Senalosa Group  *  www.senalosa.com