The design of workspaces has been found to affect people in a very profound manner. Therefore, since every person is different, no “one” kind of design will work out for all. In fact Open offices are a nightmare for the Introverts. What then is the way out?

Workspace design is an opportunity to craft experiences for employees that make them productive and engaged. So, it is but obvious that workplace design is leveraged to drive important cultural imperatives. It is therefore not surprising that openness in the culture of the company  often manifests as “Open Office” in the design of its workspace

But here’s the thing. Workforce are (and should be) diverse. One aspect of diversity often not recognized is the level of extroversion that every individual has as a part of his personality. 

Carl Jung believed that individuals were firmly within one of two camps:

1)      Introverts who gain energy from the “internal world” or from solitude with the self.

2)    Extroverts who gain energy from the “external world” or interactions with others.

While collaborative work spaces with high energy cross conversations, noise, might charge the extrovert the same can mean hell for the sensitive introvert at work. And you will agree most of us fall in the range which may be called an ambivert so there are times when we might pine for some solitude.

Does that mean I am advocating against “Open Workspaces”??

Definitely not. 

What I am advocating is a recognition of the fact that “no one way” can ever be the right way for all. So while “Open Spaces” are in vogue and they do work for the collaborative nature of work that most businesses demand but organizations also need to design “Reclusive Spaces” for the Introverts to resign to, to gain their energy from their self.

So I am all for Hybrid designs of Workspaces – ‘cos I believe Hybrid designs of workspaces are manifestation of respect for diversity and hence “Inclusive”.

Would you agree?