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Why community in the office is important

31st July 2024

“It’s important to create community in the office” is one of those phrases we hear often. But what does it really mean? Managing 13 flexible workspaces across London, our centre teams know a lot about office culture and what makes people happy (or not!) at work. Our latest blog, “Why community in the office is important” taps into that knowledge, looks at what community really means and shares some actionable advice for all team leaders.

Motivating office attendance

With the proliferation of hybrid working, employees often have the choice to come into the office on certain days of the week.  Many have subsequently created home offices and a working from home habit which is convenient.  Rather than management teams commanding their people to reluctantly commute into an office, our teams find that those employers who encourage their teams to come in by creating a fun working atmosphere and a great team spirit have happier more motivated teams.

Success breeds success

Our clients who employ large sales teams – such as recruiters – are those employers most likely to have a mandatory five day working in the office rule. They say that this is because team mates are motivated by each other’s success and can also help support each other during the tough times, improving performance overall.

Making the office fun

Our centre managers at LentaSpace organise regular social events in our buildings, including pub quizzes, sports event watching parties and the occasional afternoon tea, in support of our charity of the year.  These events are welcomed by employers because it creates a date in the diary for their teams to come into the office and they can have fun together in a relaxed environment.  For the individuals it’s a chance to get to know their colleagues better whilst collectively raising money for good causes (creating that extra feel-good factor).

Creating a culture that attracts Gen Z and Millennials

When thinking about what community means to your workforce,  apparently the age group mix of your team matters in terms of what’s important.  Recent research by workthere examined the varying office life preferences of the generations. Both Gen Z and Millennials named working alongside their team collaboratively in open plan offices as experiences which motivated them.  Gen Z especially valued working alongside senior colleagues at an early stage in their careers. So, by creating the opportunities for cross team working and thinking carefully about office layout, employers can naturally create positive community in their workspace.

Community driving office design

Infact, the development of different workspace styles over the past few years demonstrates clearly how important community and collaborative working is when people are in the office.  Breakout spaces with casual meeting areas, cafes and soft seated areas are now common place because when people come to do the office they do so to work with others and collaborate.

If you’re looking for a new London base that will bring your  team together, get in touch with our Sales team at LentaSpace.  With a variety of office spaces in 13 London locations, which offer regular social events and communal breakout spaces, we’re sure to have a space to suit you.