Colorado Real Estate Journal - April 20, 2016
The commercial real estate world is similar to many other professional organizations in that we perform a variety of tasks throughout the day to serve our clients. In the morning, we may gather for a team meeting, followed by a couple hours of focused, heads-down work. The afternoon may bring a client meeting or an off-site property tour. The truth is the way people work today has drastically changed from 20, 10, even five years ago. Technology has made it easier than ever before to work on the go and our cultural mindset is shifting toward a more flexible work environment. This has led to a new evolution in workplace strategy, which is impacting everything from the size of offices, to their layouts, design and amenities. One of the key considerations of modern workplace strategy is the ratio between collaborative and private workspaces. Over the years the pendulum has swung from the lavish private offices of the 1960s iconized in modern TV to the cubicle farms of the 1980s and 1990s. What today’s workplace strategy experts have realized, however, is that open and private does not have to be an either-or decision – it’s really about empowering employees with the ability to choose the environment that best allows them to be productive. In this article we will examine three facets of the collaborative versus private workspace discussion – the importance of mobility and choice, the role technology plays and the “collision factor” effective workplace strategy has the potential to create. To advise on these factors, we interviewed Carson Erard and Emily Neff with CBRE Workplace Strategies, two workplace experts consulting with some of the country’s most innovative occupiers. The importance of mobility and choice. According to Erard, “Choice empowers employees to be more productive in their work. Giving everyone access to a variety of private and collaborative spaces means employees can choose the space that works best for them on any given day for any number of different tasks.” For our team, mobility and choice is critical to our success. From huddling around a worktable for two hours in the morning while we prep for a board presentation to having a private office for two hours in the afternoon for a lease negotiation, the ability to have options helps us maximize our efficiency and collaboration on a daily basis. Being tethered to a specific workspace for an entire day is extremely unproductive for us. “It’s really a cultural shift away from a traditional office environment,” said Neff. “Instead of employees having to modify how they work according to the limitations of their space, now the space is responsive to the work styles of the employees.” The role technology plays. Technology is dramatically changing the way we use space. The ability to be productive at home, in a coffee shop or on a plane has allowed us to accomplish tasks on the go that were previously only possible at the office. “Technology has played a major role in fostering the workplace evolution. Today we can work anywhere, anytime. Mobility is the new default way of working,” said Neff. Technology, and the way it drives mobility, also promotes employee wellness. “Technology affords us the freedom to move freely throughout the day, fueling a focus on wellbeing and healthy habits,” said Erard. “This healthy pivot results in employees feeling more productive, energized and ultimately more engaged.” The collision factor. Finally, a balance between private and collaborative workspaces creates a “collision factor” that can serve as a catalyst for innovation. According to Jamie Georgas, managing director of the occupier business in CBRE’s Chicago region, in a September 2015 Blueprint article, “When you’re able to carve out space for collaboration and social interaction, you create opportunities for people, and ideas, to collide. You create space for ‘buzz’ and for business. Often, the best work comes when you engage with a co-worker who you don’t regularly work with in your day-to-day activities" (Workplace Strategies for Keeping Employees Engaged and Present, Daniel Rosen, Sept. 1, 2015, https://blueprint.cbre.com/workplace-strategies-for-keeping-employees-engaged-and-present/). According to Neff, “Amenity filled workplaces with community hubs and social zones provide opportunities for people to come together and nourish relationships that lead to cross-pollinations of ideas.” And this spontaneous, crosspollination can greatly benefit an organization. “These unprompted moments accelerate connectivity, build community and foster innovative solutions,” added Erard. “All of which ultimately drive value for employees and clients.” At CBRE, all three aspects of this discussion are coming into play as we open a new office in downtown Denver. Part of CBRE’s global “Workplace360” workplace strategy initiative, our new space is designed to maximize employee collaboration and productivity through leading-edge technology, strategic use of space and enhanced mobility. As other CBRE Workplace360 offices around the world have already realized, this initiative not only creates a more engaging experience for employees, but it also benefits our clients. Our clients look to us to answer their most challenging real estate questions. Now we are able to welcome them into our doors and show them exactly what the next evolution of workplace looks like.