Why Your Transition To An Office Failed

When a startup reaches the point of getting its own premises and moving out of the virtual office environment, it’s typically perceived as a positive sign of growth. But it’s vital for young and maybe less experienced entrepreneurs to remember that even though having an office is a standard situation in the business world, it will be a novelty for your startup. Giving your business physical premises – and therefore moving everyone from home in the workplace – is a challenging process. You need to acknowledge the potential difficulties inherent to having an office space, and, more importantly, to prepare accordingly if you are to survive the transition.

Everyone works differently

One of the most commonly quoted reasons for remote work success is that everybody has different work habits and requirements. In a flexible, work-from-home situation, people are free to indulge in their preferred work strategy. Some employees like to verbalize their thoughts. Others are more likely to react negatively to a new idea before they can get a full understanding of it. Ultimately, the way a person likes to work is unique – and especially more when their role in the startup began at home. You need to make sure that personalities and work habits that are unlikely to get along are kept at a safe distance. Your floor plan will ensure a friendly and clash-free work environment.You can’t afford to skip your floor plan design; it acts as a guardian of office peace.

You need to go beyond simple desk requirements

Your floor plan explains who sits where. However, your floor solutions play a different role in the setting of a productive workplace. Indeed, they can help to create an inspiring ambiance. There is only so much joy you can get out of a standard carpeted floor. But finding a stylish solution that will sustain traffic is likely to keep your office looking fresh. Similarly, the choice of colors for the floor and the walls can sometimes be overlooked; remember that your office needs to motivate, inspire, and excite your team.

Someone has to be responsible for the maintenance

At home, everyone is accountable for their own working space. But when you share an office, you need to make that someone will look after the workplace and keep it organized for everyone else. Running out of supplies unexpectedly can dramatically affect productivity and job satisfaction. If you haven’t yet assigned office management duties to a trusted employee, you are at risk of creating a chaotic workplace where stationary, tea bags, and paper rolls become a reason for conflicts.

Your staff needs perks

The main question you want to ask yourself is, why would your remote staff want to work in an office. Indeed, what do they gain in the office that they wouldn’t otherwise have? If you can provide unique office perks, you could experience high turnover rates from disgruntled staff. From sleeping breaks to breast milk facilities, there are many advantages you could consider.

So, you’ve just decided to rent out your first company office. Congratulations! But don’t neglect your duties towards your remote staff. They’ll need some convincing to appreciate the new premises.

This is a contributed post.