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A spectrum of spaces

“Rather than the work environment just being a place to house your people, the work environment has to be a place to inspire and to facilitate deeper level of collaboration where people have access to technologies that can actually help augment people’s interactions.”

-Christine Congdon, Director Global Research, Steelcase

Our future workplaces should inspire people to do their best work, both individually and in teams. They will provide a richer variety of spaces to support the full range of human activities and needs.

Today’s workspaces have moved toward openness and flexibility in design. But it’s not just about creating physical areas where people can collaborate. Spaces are also needed that provide privacy, for people to focus on their work. A third type of space is important, too: One where employees can contemplate, restore and relax.

There is a correlation between how satisfied people are with their physical work environment, and how engaged they are in their work. The work environment can be a key strategy to help people feel a greater sense of belonging, purpose and engagement with their organizations.

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Text by Suzanne Choney. Videos by Microsoft and Pop Tech.