|
Work spaces are changing to accomodate generationa that work best on the move.
by Amy Lynch
Not long ago, while conducting a seminar for managers, I told the group that I didn’t mind their texting during the meeting because I believe that, for the most part, Gen Xers and even Baby Boomers have developed a skill natural to Generation Y – strategic attention deployment. In other words, we’ve learned to pay attention to the things we need to hear and see, at the same time dealing with bits and pieces of other things like text or email. We had a lively session, and at the end of the day, I thanked the group for taking time away from their offices to attend the seminar. One Generation Xer laughed and raised his blackberry. “No problem,” he said. “This is my office.” And, of course, it is. Compare conventional wisdom with new reality: Conventional Wisdom Productivity is characterized by long hours of solitary research, analysis and writing with an occasional break to confer with colleagues. Bred to the captivity of quiet, lonely cubicles, Builders and Boomers often see creativity as a solo act. New Reality People move around at work and are more productive when they do. In today’s successful companies, time is spent collaborating, learning and socializing throughout the day. Information gets passed along in brief, casual, often electronic exchanges as much as during formal meetings. In fact, every time you have to book a conference room before you can meet, opportunity for collaboration is lost. Looks Like Socializing--but it's not. Granted, collaboration may not look like work to those of us who have been in the workplace awhile. That was the case when Liberty Diversified International tried an experiment with its interns. Taking down the cubicle walls, they grouped the interns’ desks together in a pod. Every time a manager walked by, the group always seemed to be talking to each other, and managers wondered if any work was getting done. But as the internship period progressed, work not only got done, it got done well—and ahead of deadlines! Generation Y grew up networked, and that’s how they work best. People in their 20s thrive within an expansive web of information and people, building on each others’ ideas, sharing documents and reaching out globally for resources, related cases and novel solutions. They think nothing of lifting their laptops off their desks and setting up office in the break room with a colleague. If your youngest workers want you to take down the cubicle walls, give the idea a try. Create more collaborative spaces where people naturally gather to share solutions. It’s going to happen anyway. Studies indicate that workers are spending less and less time seated in their cubicles—as little as 38%. It doesn’t make sense to use valuable square footage on cubicles when a combination of small work stations and collaborative spaces is more efficient. Good office design also provides quiet areas where intensive computing and private conversations can take place. But if you listen to your Ys, you’ll provide more lounges, gathering spaces and cafes. The corner office with a window may have been the Boomer dream, but it might not be the kind of place Gen Ys can get a lot of work done. Interested in workshops or a keynote that directly addresses the generational issues in your company? Call Amy at 615.944.6140 or email
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
