Smart businesses know that in order to be successful, you have to have a strategy. The first types of strategies that often come to mind are marketing or business development, but what about your workplace strategy? The vast majority of businesses would agree that their people are their greatest asset, making it all the more important to have a strategy to create a work environment that is conducive to your business model and helpful in recruiting and retaining top talent.

The following should be key considerations you keep in mind when selecting the location and setup of your office space. If you can achieve harmony with all of these factors, you will have created a strong workplace strategy that will reap long-term benefits for your business. Take a look!

Central Location

There is a lot of strategy behind what is the “best” location for your business. One of the first considerations should be the commute of your employees. Think about where most people are coming from and narrow your options to within a distance between home and office. Picking an office location that is convenient for most existing employees will help you retain this talent and increase their efficiency of getting into the office and getting to work.

Another consideration as it pertains to office location is how this impacts cost. It’s tempting to want your office in a big city, but there are costs and inconveniences that come with this, including higher price per square foot, additional cost of parking and city taxes. These drawbacks might not be a deal-breaker for you, but it’s still important to weigh them in your decision.

Demographics of Your Employees

Again, it comes back to employees. Consider their demographics. Are they mostly young singles who would appreciate a cool work environment in a trendy part of town? Or are they mostly married with families that would prefer a quiet and spacious work environment close to home? Knowing what your employees value most in their work environment will help you develop the best workplace strategy.

Take for example the Central Pennsylvania SEO company, WebPage FX. They’re located in a historic mansion in Old Uptown Harrisburg. Knowing that their business is mainly comprised of millennials, they have branded their business as “more than just a place to work.” WebPage FX has successfully created a company culture of employees who spend a lot of time together outside of work, winning them the title of “Best Place to Work in Central PA” multiple years. And with the social activities, restaurants and nightlife within walking distance of their office, choosing the City of Harrisburg as their location was a key part of their workplace strategy to attract talent.

Physical Work Environment

Next let’s talk about the physical surroundings in your work environment. Does it feel modern, upbeat and energizing or is it dark, outdated and depressing. Your employees are directly impacted by the feel and layout of their workspace. Even minor updates like new furniture and light fixtures can drastically improve your work environment. Prioritize these enhancements and ask your employees what would make the biggest difference for them.

Flexible and Multi-Use Space

Many businesses cite that only 30 to 50 percent of their offices are used at capacity at any given moment. That’s a lot of wasted space that you’re still paying for even if its unused! A smart workplace strategy is to pick a space that is flexible and able to be easily configured for multiple purposes.

Take for example, the Lititz based digital marketing company, Listrak. They have just moved into a 93,000 square-foot custom-built office space that includes amenities such as a cafe, on-site gym and an open floor plan for 300 Listrak employees. With their growing business, it was important to have freedom to use their space in a variety of different ways. Pop-up workstations that can be quickly added or removed, flexible meeting spaces to accommodate various numbers of employees, and common areas where employees can enjoy some social time are all elements that are incorporated into Listrak’s workplace strategy that was modeled after a Silicon Valley lifestyle.

Shaping Company Culture

Workplace strategy has a major impact on shaping company culture. A work environment that encourages employees to be social and get together outside of work will strengthen the relationship and retention of your talent. Additionally, the energy of your workplace will be directly felt by your employees. A vibrant and upbeat environment will energize employees and attract more of this type of talent. Also, providing perks like a ping pong table, putting green or a café with free coffee and snacks will make your office a place for more than just work, but where people can learn, thrive and grow!

With a better understanding of the key factors that go into creating a workplace strategy, how do you feel your current work environment stacks up? What steps could you take to improve your workplace strategy?

Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!