Staring out across the ocean, Chuck is lucky to be alive. After surviving a plane crash, however, he is faced with life alone on the island — from the frying pan to the fryer. The movie Cast Away (2000) depicts one man and his best friend’s struggle to survive. If Chuck had a beautiful new boat instead of a ramshackle raft, the central struggle would turn from an Oscar-worthy trial to an average summer beach day.
Your office space is Chuck’s boat. It is your vehicle out of the chop and into the surf. Interior workspace design strategy (IWDS) likewise is the difference between sailing off in a makeshift raft or a fully-loaded Bayliner VR5 Bowrider. Let’s consider some key questions of IWDS:
- Where are we going?
- Who is rowing?
- What tools do we have?
- How do we make it happen?
Where are we going is likely the easiest question to answer: it is your company’s vision. Where do you want your company to be in ten years’ time? That’s where you’re headed.
Who is rowing the boat? Well — how does a crew of the 2020 New Zealand Olympic rowing team sound? Without people to row, you are going to have to row yourself (that Bowrider is 20” long). Rowers want to row. Incredible rowers want to row incredible boats.
If your boat springs a leak, it is easier to fix when there is a bailing bucket on board. Having the right tools for the job is a game-changer; tools separate us from animals. For office space, functional programming, different physical zones designed to cater to different working preferences, is our tool. One space may be a quiet zone for those who need to focus. Another zone may be open-concept and encourage change meetings. Empower people to do their best by giving them the best tool.
Real Strategy’s vision is that each and every space will be amazingly magnetic, filled with incredible people, and effortlessly achievable. We are in the league of crystal-clear waters and incredible rowers. It’s what we do. Want to row with us?
Based on Real Strategy on the Experts on Call Podcast from CFRA News Radio in Ottawa. To listen to the podcast, click here.