What is silo mentality? Silo mentality is not a new term. This is when different departments – accounting, marketing, etc. – see themselves as separate entities or ‘silos’ as opposed to parts of a larger whole. It can lead to behaviours such as only sharing the bare minimum of information or seeing other departments as competition. Overall, it results in a disjointed team (if it can be called that) whose members have no loyalty to those outside their department. It is also far from a lean or efficient mentality, since getting information and completing projects involving multiple departments is made very ...read more...
office design
Improve the Accessibility of Your Office with These 4 Strategies
According to recent research, only about half of Canadians with disabilities are employed either full-time or part-time. This statistic can be improved if employers simply make a few changes to their office layout and design. While newer buildings must comply with basic accessibility standards, there are a lot of ways you can make your office more supportive of employees or candidates with physical disabilities or mobility challenges. In fact, you could be missing out on top talent if job seekers are passing up your office because it doesn’t support their needs. Design your office space in a way that allows ...read more...
5 Reasons Office Design Matters to Your Startup
Office design might not seem like a major priority for your startup. You may not feel it is necessary for a company of your size, or you might have other financial obligations that you feel are more pressing. And then, we’ve all heard the story of the courageous garage startup that went on to become an international business. First, it’s worth noting that many ‘garage startup’ stories are highly exaggerated in terms of how much was actually accomplished in said garage. But more importantly, the right environment for your business and your team can actually help you achieve your business goals. Here are five ...read more...
Everything You Need to Know About Co-working Spaces
Co-working spaces are becoming increasingly popular for freelancers, start-ups, and small businesses. But what are they and more importantly, should you consider using one? What are they? Co-working spaces are offices in which individuals or small groups can rent desks or private offices instead of investing in a building of their own. It is intended mostly for smaller teams or individuals who wouldn’t get full use out of an entire office unit. Why would you prefer them over a traditional office? There are a few pros to co-working spaces that give them a definite advantage over the traditional office. First, ...read more...
What Went Wrong with the Open Office – And How to Fix It
Could Activity Based Working be the solution to the problems encountered with the open office? Managers and companies are usually quick to adopt new types of office plans that are touted as a solution to all sorts of problems – communication, productivity, collaboration, and so on. But too often they defeat the whole purpose by applying the same inflexibility to every new layout that comes their way. Rather than simply trying to give employees the tools they need to do their jobs, they start focusing on goals like getting the most use out of square footage, packing employees in like sardines, whether it be ...read more...
