Worried that your business cannot afford enough office space for rent in Overland Park, or that you will quickly outgrow your space? This might not be as big of a problem as you think. Recently, a lot of businesses have been embracing a “less is more” approach to office space, and finding that a few key shifts in thinking about how to plan and run an office space can make a world of difference in how much space you actually need per employee. Below are some interesting new developments in doing more with less office space, as described in the articles “Rethinking Office Space” and “Smaller Offices, Higher Productivity.”
Small But Productive Commercial Real Estate in Overland Park
Businesses have started to think in terms of “smart offices” in order to both reduce their overhead and boost productivity. One real estate agency found that in their own office space they were able to reduce the number of square footage per agent from 282 SF to 39 SF without sacrificing efficiency. A big part of making this happen was rethinking the way the company designed their office space and taking into account new trends in the ways that employees work.
Flexible Office Space is Key
A lot of companies have been jumping on board with redesigning offices to be more flexible, and this can be a huge space saver among other benefits. Instead of giving each employee their own designated space, businesses are starting to leave open a lot of unassigned space for employees to use in various ways, as well as designated areas for quiet work, or even a few private offices that people can use as needed. Some companies are even changing their terminology to reflect these changes in use, for instance, calling conference rooms “client collaboration centers” or the work room “the production room.”
Creating flexible workspaces has been the result of other recent trends in business, such as the interest in promoting collaboration. Businesses are tearing down the walls of cubicles and encouraging employees to work together. These moves towards collaboration tend to be more successful with the aid of coaching and other sources of inspiration. Employees are encouraged to see these redesigned office spaces as opportunities for growth and embrace the mindset that the business is not limited by how much square footage it has.
Technology and Changing Work Habits in Office Parks in KS
Another big piece in being able to do more with less space is the effect technology has had on modern work habits. Because employees can use laptops, smart phones, etc. to be more mobile, they do not need to be at a desk all day, and offices can be more dynamic. Because businesses don’t have to waste money on as much space per employee, they can channel resources into other ways to grow.
Why You Still Need a Physical Space
Although businesses can get by with smaller spaces, having an actual office space is still an invaluable resource. Businesses need to have a professional space in which to meet with clients; a meeting at a coffee shop or fast food place will not always do, even in today’s mobile world.
In addition, having an actual location is a morale booster. Owners can see their employees at work and witness their successes, and employees can feed off of each other’s creativity and energy. Working on the go or at home can be a great break from the office, but there is no substitute for good old-fashioned teamwork and some human contact.
If you want to move your small and growing business into a more professional office space, a small, affordable office suite might not be such a scary leap. A lot of businesses worry that they will be trapped in a lease as their business grows, but there are plenty of examples of businesses who have adapted to smaller spaces, finding creative ways to thrive and freeing up financial resources for more important things.
If your business is looking at small office spaces for rent Overland Park, KS, give one of our commercial real estate brokers a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our available Kansas office space for rent!
