American author and presidential speechwriter James Humes once said that the art of communication is the language of leadership. And though certain leadership characteristics are inherent traits, effective communication is a learned skill.

For an organization to be successful, good communication practices are needed. It is the foundation of every aspect of the business. Whether it’s a large scale company inside private offices or startups in coworking spaces – no matter the size, without it, the basic functions of the management such as planning, organizing, motivation and controlling will not go smoothly.

Miscommunication is an error most of us are already familiar with. Even in our daily lives, we tend to miscommunicate with one another. From the errors between the sender and receiver, to the ambivalent language used to words that has multiple meanings and connotations; a lot could go wrong in a simple conversation between two people.

These drawbacks, though simple, can majorly affect business operations. Poor communication can hit both customers and suppliers. Staff morale can go down when relevant information aren’t relied timely. It can increase absenteeism by impacting motivation and can escalate levels of stress.

According to a survey conducted among 1,400 corporate executives and employees, eighty-six percent of the respondents have said that the lack of collaboration or ineffective communication contributes to workplace failures. In addition to this, the aforementioned study also discusses how common these issues are to various industry sectors. Its authors says that these miscommunications can slow down projects, productivity and has the ability to ultimately impact both client and employee relation.

Data from other reports have showcased how costly poor communication can be. Over an estimated $37 billion are spent on employee misunderstandings regarding company policies and business processes are in both the US and UK and companies lost a cumulative cost of $26,041 per worker per year to productivity losses resulting from communication barriers.

Conversely, the abovementioned report stated statistics demonstrating the positive impact of good workplace communication.

Companies who practice highly effective communication among their leaders receive 47% higher total returns to shareholders over the past five years compared to those who have least effective communicators. In addition to this, American electronics provider, Best Buy found out that high employee engagement scores result to better store performance – for every percentage point it raised employee engagement, there was a $100,000 increase in the operating income of their individual stores annually.

Improved workplace communication has the ability to change the game for your business. Several studies have said that this can deliberately increase a worker’s productivity.  Effective work group communication can lead to significant improvement in the overall performance of a company. Moreover, experts have found a strong link between organizations observing effective communication and the productivity ratings of their employees.

It increases employee job satisfaction by empowering the workforce with upward communication – information flows upward and would usually entail feedback. The more employers are able to listen to their employees, the better. Job satisfaction can also decrease rates of absenteeism and turnover.

There are several ways businesses across various industries can improve the communication within their workplace.

Assessing the current communication utilized can give you an idea on the areas that needs to be improved. For example, your team is struggling to keep up with conversations through email. Why not try social intranet solutions and collaboration tools. Listing down your workplace communication methods can give you a clear idea on what to do next.

Internal communication is essential so it’s only apt to check in with your employees regularly. You can set meetings with them to discuss their thoughts on a project and task. By doing this, you are somehow implementing an open door policy between you and your employees – they are likely to feel more comfortable to bring matters to your attention.

Startups and teams in coworking spaces can take advantage of the open plan layout to improve their communication. Unlike in traditional workplaces, members of the team can easily approach their superiors to discuss tasks and project updates with them. Readily available communal areas can set a relaxed vibe during discussions.

The group’s internal communication can be strengthened by attending weekly happy hours or team-building events. In addition to this, each member can improve their communication skills by interacting with other members within the vicinity.

As per James Humes, leadership’s language is the art of communication. It is a skill that can be learned and improved throughout one’s life time – just like swimming and biking.

Hone your skill and communicate with us today!

According to recent studies, an average person would usually spend 22.4% of their lives working. Considering that the average working week falls around 40 hours, that equates 1,960 hours per year once the holidays are deducted and assuming that they start their career at the age of 21 and retires once they hit 65, that’s a span of 44 working years. Using the same 409-hour working week, the final number is 91,250 hours.

And when someone – or something – spends 91, 250 hours inside an office or a workspace, he or she is bound to be affected by the environment present within its walls. The design of the space matters for it has the power to influence individuals engaged in the surroundings – be it indirectly contributing a new insight or forming extremities.

And with the majority of today’s working demographic devoting their efforts in competing with one another, each and every one of the players are on the hunt for ways to leverage innovation in their respective teams. One practical way of reaching office design goals is by being thoroughly understanding of how work space designs matter.

Well-established architects around the world have said that innovative spaces should be able to strengthen interactions, communication,  as well as collaborations. Its design and structure should be open, transparent and contextually responsive. There is a growing understanding amongst the majority that breakthroughs are usually the result of a greater collective working on formulating innovations. People need people – together, talented individuals create greater possibilities of achieving brilliant solutions.

Acclaimed author and expert John Seely Brown says that organizations who are constantly spearheading innovations don’t just possess visionary leadership and organizational commitment to creating new ideas, they are also supported by a place that underpin innovation. And with workspaces acting as the stage for overall work experience, it needs to be able to be effective on all fronts – from supporting its operations with the appropriate technology and tools down to positively influencing its culture.

The existing symbiotic relationship amongst the said components can create a multi-dimensional aid to successful innovations if integrated seamlessly. When done right, offices can both inspire and facilitate breakthroughs.

The presence of co-working spaces, incubators and other innovation centers is proof that there is a growing need for offices that cradle the process of revolution. And though each kind carries a significant distinction that varies them form one another, there is a recognizable similarity in them – purpose and function.

Overriding aesthetics, architects and several designers have come back to the core of designs strengthening the “humanness” of the office. Gone are the flashy furnishings putting less emphasis on style and focusing its efforts on what the members needs – as a team and as individuals.

The well-known movement of coworking spaces prides itself in opening new ways of communication and sharing. Offering members a wide range of spaces for several unique activities in one place, providers have collaborated with those who will potentially use them. They have elevated their needs and ambitions – elevating employees and guests.

As the rest of the world continue to empower innovation as a new way to support emerging markets and create more jobs, the importance of innovative spaces will continue to rise. These versatile offices and its dynamic environment now serve as key to sustainable business growth.

Gain access to a wolrd-class contemporary serviced offices and welcome breakthroughs into your doors.

When the seemingly taboo movement of coworking spaces rose to popularity, it carried not just claims of infrastructure and financial aid to startups and freelancers alike, but as well as several intangible claims that elicited curiosity among the members of today’s workforce.

Aside from fully furnished workstations and stable internet topped off with recreational areas such as pool tables, game rooms, and karaoke rooms, these shared offices offer one immeasurable component that is non-existent in traditional workspaces; community.

And though it had several naysayers saying that the increased productivity and so-called collaborative community are just false promises, providers have proven them wrong and they have several proofs that can support the truth of the claims.

The movement itself carries a culture far from what most of the labor force grew up with. Upon introduction, these ideologies caused numbers of talent to reconsider and rethink their beliefs and what matters. Gone are the days when young professionals sought the security established company provided. A large-scale shift of mindset has took over the past few years that resulted to the death of several corporate traditions.

But new perspectives are not the only culprits behind the casualties, the newest demographic present in today’s talent pool and modern technology both have made significant contribution to the downfall of traditions. The new generation of employees aim to be in a workplace that allows them not to just work, but can also help them interact and learn while the latest advancements in technology has allowed people to work almost anywhere in the world.

As a result, coworking spaces thrived by giving the people what they needed in today’s highly-competitive and demanding market.

Antis of the movement claimed that the open layout is a recipe for disaster. With so much going on in the background, distraction is evident. But data from recent studies says otherwise. Deskmag, distributor of the largest annual coworking survey, said that 62% of respondents reported a significant improvement in their standard work upon joining. Moreover, a majority of the members present within these shared offices took were attracted by the community they offer.

The diverse network and large scale possibilities of collaborating with like-minded individuals are things that several freelancers and startups wanted to get a hold of in the hopes of retaining sustainable growth. Later on, even large corporations and tech conglomerates wanted some of this magic too.

Private organizations have tried incorporating these open-space layouts but were unsuccessful. It seemed like creating a collaborative culture needs more than just new ways of communication. So how did coworking spaces did it?

Though each provider is distinct from one another, they each shared one mission: to provide service to an interdisciplinary audience. They are purveyors of a shared culture fostered through knowledge-building events as well as communal eating and drinking. That though having face-to-face interaction synchronous to that of its online counterpart is vital, managing and maintaining a culture through several rituals remain to be important.

Experts have also discussed the benefits of ‘swarms’ of talented individuals present within these shared offices. A large number of literature has been produced emphasizing the positive results of ‘swarms’ of interdisciplinary professionas sharing a common goal. One classic example is the collaboration between scientists and mathematicians who lead the crew of Apollo 13 home. Experts said that this is a natural behavior amongst human beings. This component alone has helped them work together for growth. For a company to continuously thrive, they must have a adaptive culture – one that accepts change and embraces agile working and evolution.

This appropriate blend of networking and interaction within the coworking community allowed them to continuously thrive.

And though the movement itself is flawed, we have to admit that its pioneers have garnered a through understanding of how to create and manage a culture made up of different minds.

Ease yourself into the new traditions and talk to us today about joining a coworking space!

Open plan layouts were welcomed with open arms and was well-received by the majority of the industry. So much so, that within the following years, the world watched in awe as its numbers increased.

As of writing 70% of employees in America alone work in open-plan offices and experts predict that its numbers will continue to grow as employers scramble to create a  strategic solution that caters to their requisites as well as the needs of its workforce. With its versatile and cost-efficient lease terms, mixed with the concept of community, creativity and collaboration, it has dominated workspaces for more than a century.

And though there’s about thousands of blog posts, news articles and even research available in the internet telling freelancers and managers alike about its tangible and intangible benefits, it seems like the layout is losing its charm to today’s workforce.

According to a 2013 study on workspace satisfaction, nearly half of employees in open offices found the lack of both sound and visual privacy a significant problem. The sensation that someone could be looking – or even worse, listening – over your shoulder can’t be shaken off easily causing some of them to resort to the comfort of stairwells, pantry areas and even bathrooms for private matters.

Moreover, recent studies have also reported a stifled engagement amongst professionals in open areas. Bernice Boucher of JLL’s Strategic Consulting group said in an article that the scarcity of privacy at work is a clear crime against productivity. Too much noise and distractions make it hard for them to either do their jobs or have important conversations. It also adds a layer of concern for those who want to protect the confidentiality of their tasks. She adds that certain organizations are also recognizing this and are making significant efforts in incorporating privacy.

Both architects, experts and providers of shared offices such as coworking spaces have put much emphasis on its affordability – the number one factor that appeals to most businesses. But one can only unlock its well-appraised potential if it helps the workforce feel empowered.

Anne-Laure Fayard and John Weeks of Harvard Business Review said that effective offices should be designed to bring people together by removing barriers but at the same time, should be capable enough to provide sufficient privacy so that employees wouldn’t have the irrational fear of being overheard or interrupted. Further strengthening this claim by adding that it should reinforce the permission to speak freely.

Open layouts should be designed in such a way that it doesn’t only constrain one’s working, but also gives them full control of their way of working.

Unlocking the potential of a strategically outlined open space layout doesn’t mean spearheading major renovations; simple measures such as installing movable panels to create ad-hoc private chat areas could help implement privacy.

Senior Vice President of JLL’s Workplace Strategy and Change Management, Phil Kirschner, says that the best scenario for an engaged, efficient and privacy-driven workplace is to have an activity-planning model – one in which members are allowed to choose between individual desks, phone booths, huddle booths and even shared areas depending on the set of tasks they need to accomplish for today.

The well-received coworking movement provides it members the aforementioned liberty to choose the right environment for them. In addition to this, certain providers implement specific instructions on how one should make use of certain areas. Quiet zones prohibit the use of phones, upholstered booths are for private discussions and both dining as well as lounge areas are reserved for engagement and interactions.

Admittedly, the design has its pitfalls – but only when they’re not done right or curated haphazardly. When devised in the right way, not only will it help cost overhead reductions but more importantly, it will help improve your work environment – resulting to a motivated workforce.

Get the best of collaboration and privacy with Sales Rain’s very first coworking space by getting in touch with us today!