A Place for My Stuff
A friend of mine recently posted pictures on Facebook of his new office.
He's a strategic planner at a large international organization, having been there about 6 months since finishing his master's degree. He is quite literally making the world a better place. Not a bad gig. He learned a few weeks ago that he'd be moving out of the office he shared with someone else and getting his own space. Immediately, his thoughts turned to making this new place his own, and based on the pics I saw, he's done exactly that. The tasteful artwork, the flowers and other amenities, the well-organized desk, all fit his personality. Nice.
Like my friend, I'm a strategic planner in a large bureaucracy, but unlike my friend, I work in an area reminiscent of a Dilbert cartoon, or a minimum-security prison. As I looked at his pictures I glanced around the three walls of my cubicle. Photos and mementos are propped up against the walls because there's no way to hang anything. I don't have room for all the books I need so most of them are stored at home and I have to make notes to myself to remember to bring them in as needed. I get to listen to all my neighbors: the guy in his 20s with ADD, the single father in his 30s who's pretty sure the world is supposed to revolve around his needs, and the new lady in her 40s who spends her days gossiping on the phone with people from her past jobs. It's not exactly an environment where I can do my best work. The only times in my career when I've had anything even come close to a proper office has been when I'm teaching.
Creatives need a space where they can create. What that space will be will vary based on the needs of your firm and the personalities of your Creatives. Hair stylists don't need individual offices, but they benefit from a well-designed salon. Creative teams might use individual work spaces but then need a communal area to come together when the team needs to function like a single individual. Truly creative people often like to surround themselves with a creative style, and will be more productive if they're working in a space to which they enjoy coming, rather than one which they can't wait to leave.
Your own experience in your creative field will help you understand what works well. Talking with your Creatives will help you understand what THEY think works well. The trick, of course, is to find the available space and make it happen.
You can't always do that. If you're in an established space and can't afford to move, then even if it's less than optimal you're probably stuck with it. If you're just starting out, you may not be able to afford much. You just need to do the best you can with what you have, but be sre to talk to your Creatives so you know how to define "the best." If they physical layout isn't that great, let your Creatives have some freedom when it comes to decorating and livening up the place.
If nothing else is possible, just bring in some fresh flowers every now and then. And maybe some cupcakes. Because everything seems nicer with flowers and cupcakes.
He's a strategic planner at a large international organization, having been there about 6 months since finishing his master's degree. He is quite literally making the world a better place. Not a bad gig. He learned a few weeks ago that he'd be moving out of the office he shared with someone else and getting his own space. Immediately, his thoughts turned to making this new place his own, and based on the pics I saw, he's done exactly that. The tasteful artwork, the flowers and other amenities, the well-organized desk, all fit his personality. Nice.
Like my friend, I'm a strategic planner in a large bureaucracy, but unlike my friend, I work in an area reminiscent of a Dilbert cartoon, or a minimum-security prison. As I looked at his pictures I glanced around the three walls of my cubicle. Photos and mementos are propped up against the walls because there's no way to hang anything. I don't have room for all the books I need so most of them are stored at home and I have to make notes to myself to remember to bring them in as needed. I get to listen to all my neighbors: the guy in his 20s with ADD, the single father in his 30s who's pretty sure the world is supposed to revolve around his needs, and the new lady in her 40s who spends her days gossiping on the phone with people from her past jobs. It's not exactly an environment where I can do my best work. The only times in my career when I've had anything even come close to a proper office has been when I'm teaching.
Creatives need a space where they can create. What that space will be will vary based on the needs of your firm and the personalities of your Creatives. Hair stylists don't need individual offices, but they benefit from a well-designed salon. Creative teams might use individual work spaces but then need a communal area to come together when the team needs to function like a single individual. Truly creative people often like to surround themselves with a creative style, and will be more productive if they're working in a space to which they enjoy coming, rather than one which they can't wait to leave.
Your own experience in your creative field will help you understand what works well. Talking with your Creatives will help you understand what THEY think works well. The trick, of course, is to find the available space and make it happen.
You can't always do that. If you're in an established space and can't afford to move, then even if it's less than optimal you're probably stuck with it. If you're just starting out, you may not be able to afford much. You just need to do the best you can with what you have, but be sre to talk to your Creatives so you know how to define "the best." If they physical layout isn't that great, let your Creatives have some freedom when it comes to decorating and livening up the place.
If nothing else is possible, just bring in some fresh flowers every now and then. And maybe some cupcakes. Because everything seems nicer with flowers and cupcakes.
Labels: Workplace
posted by Will at
3:00 AM
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