The Importance of Genuine Relationships in The Workspace

Published on July 29, 2016 - By Cecilia Amador

Gensler recently published their 2016 U.S. Workplace Survey, confirming that great workplace design drives creativity and innovation.

We’re no strangers to the powers of design; not only can it drive creativity and innovation, we also know that it can contribute to revenue, wellbeing, drive collaboration, and enhance our overall work experiences. Gensler’s survey strengthens the claim that workplace design goes beyond aesthetics, but the survey also brought forth the importance of collaboration and genuine relationships in any workspace.

“Our analysis also helps to fit workplace into the broader picture of what truly matters to employee performance–at work relationships, particularly with one’s manager, the level of meaning or purpose an employee sees in their organization’s work; and whether their workplace reflects that their company prioritizes collaboration are statistical predictors of organizational innovation. This need to prioritize collaboration must be addressed alongside the critical need to support focused work for today’s knowledge workers.”

If we take this statement and apply it to the flexible workspace industry, we’re left with the message that collaboration is key to the success of workspace members, therefore the workspace itself.

Our analysis also helps to fit workplace into the broader picture of what truly  matters to member performance-–workspace relationships, particularly with one’s community, the level of meaning or purpose a member sees in the workspace’s work; and whether their workplace reflects that the operator prioritizes collaboration are statistical predictors of  workplace innovation. This need to prioritize collaboration must be addressed alongside the critical need to support focused work for today’s knowledge workers.

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Though design still makes up for an important part of the success of a workplace, in the end it’s the loyalty of its members that dictates its level of success. As we’ve discussed previously, the right design can have a positive effect on a workplace environment, but it cannot replace human interactions.

Flexible workspaces are popular even in an age where home-officing is possible because we, as human beings, crave the social interaction, the need to feel that we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves. In a world where many work by themselves or dedicate their time to individual projects, we’re able to reach this feeling of belonging by being a part of a community; the workspace community.

A strong and healthy workspace community can only be reached through genuine interactions, when members connect on a deeper level, one that goes beyond ‘we share the same desk and kitchen.’ A strong workspace community is one that works together on common goals and projects; one that prioritizes collaboration and one that sees meaning and purpose in the workspace.