Golden Square - Joy at Work

A startup entrepreneur and a corporate executive have a similar set of tools, strategies, and skills to execute their tasks. Yet, placing them in a similar environment and exposing them to the same ambiance, may turn out to be counter-productive. Could this be because of the environment they are exposed to? Office design is never considered a factor when designing spaces for employees. Like medicines that are prescribed as a ‘one size fits all’ concept, so too has office design been implemented so rigorously and dogmatically that it often ends up defying its very purpose. A number of research papers have proven that standard office design catering to a wide set of individuals, teams, and companies often ends up hampering work, affecting productivity and harming well being in the long term. Take the ‘open office’ concept which is so prevalent today. Initially conceived as a way to engage, collaborate and streamline work and increase transparency, this concept cannot be applied ever...

There was a time when setting up a traditional office was a sign of having arrived. Business owners were therefore pushed to outdo themselves in setting it up, from getting interiors done to ensuring the space had all facilities and was equipped with quality furniture and decor. On the flipside, this involved plenty of expenditure especially on rentals, not to mention the time involved in setting it up and effort that went behind it. Cut to present times, and the traditional notions of doing business have changed drastically. Businesses are increasingly working within flexible time frames. Work from home options and enhanced technological advancements have meant employees can work remotely, and the concept of pay per seat has ensured companies optimize every spend they make. Co-working spaces are great for today’s companies. They have changed the entire concept of the way companies do business. The flexible format, the ‘pay per resource’ concept and large savings on time are encou...