02/ 01/ 2008
by Shannon McRae
When Stuart Balcom decided to spruce up his Fort Worth, Texas-based advertising agency, he turned to the most creative group of people he knew--his employees. Balcom gave his 31 employees $300 each to decorate their 12-by-12 cubicles exactly how they wanted. One designer chose an African theme, while an account supervisor--a self-proclaimed princess--hung an ornate chandelier and silk taffeta curtains. Employees were so excited about the project that many used their own money to supplement their $300 budgets.
"Instead of us dictating what the place looks like, we allowed them to create their own spaces," says Balcom, who founded the Balcom Agency 14 years ago. "They took off with it, and the results were amazing. They created some phenomenal spaces."
Nine years ago, Balcom purchased the 8,000-square foot building designed by a renowned Texas architect. One side of the building is a solid glass wall, making the office's exterior like no other building in the city. Now the interior is just as remarkable.
"Everyone's space is extraordinarily unique," Balcom says. Not only do employees love it, but clients are impressed as well. "We have four or five groups of clients in our office each day," he says. "They wander through the office and marvel at the individual spaces."
Letting employees have input about office decor is an inexpensive perk that can yield big results in your overall workplace environment, says Franklin Becker, chair of the department of design and environmental analysis at Cornell University and author of several books on office-space planning.
"Oftentimes people have no say in the workplace--they're forced to live with what someone else has decided," Becker says. "Giving them a little say in their environment helps employees feel like they have a stake in the business. It contributes to their overall happiness, and it doesn't have to cost a lot of money."
It's easy to focus more on revenue-generating aspects of your business--like sales, marketing or production--rather than your physical environment. But considering that you and your employees spend a large part of your lives at your office, taking some time to address the space is good for business.
"Small-business owners often recognize dysfunction in their physical environments but they don't do anything about it because they imagine it will take a complete redesign or renovation that will take a lot of time and money," Becker says. By doing an analysis (that includes employees' feedback) you may find simple things that will change the whole tenor of your environment and make your office a better place to work, he says.
Of course, a fresh coat of paint and some new pictures on the wall won't solve all your business problems. "Environment doesn't do it by itself, just like buying new technology won't increase productivity by itself," Becker says. "Everything needs to work in harmony rather than at odds with each other."
If you decide to give employees more control over their personal space, expect their different styles to shine. Balcom admits that some cubicles reflect his personal taste more than others. But what pleases him most is how much goodwill the project generated among his staff. And if employees leave, Balcom extends the $300 budget to new hires as well.
"We try to provide the best possible experience as far as lifestyle and work environment," Balcom says. "Whatever it takes to help these guys. I just hire really smart people and try to stay out of their way."
Inside Job
Allow employees to improve your workplace without spending a lot
Analyze your office space. If your current space isn't working, take some time to understand why, Franklin Becker says. Make sure you understand what your employees need to do their jobs and consider how their surroundings affect their performance. For instance, in a sales environment, an open plan can be positive, but jobs that require more attention to detail might need a quieter setting.
Involve employees. Though it might not sound like a big deal to you, asking employees for their input means a lot to them. They spend a large part of their days at work, so give them a say in how the space looks and functions.
Look for easy updates. You don't have to knock down walls or buy new furniture to improve your office. "Eliminate low-hanging fruit," Becker says. "Look for things that are directly causing employees discomfort and dysfunction--like the quality of air and lighting, placement of a computer or the nature of a chair."
Embrace change. So what if you've always had a bookshelf on that wall? Encourage employees to configure their space to suit their needs. "People often treat their office environment as if it's all bolted to the ground," Becker says. "Think about what you could do to make the environment better for everyone. You'll be surprised at the outcome."
