Your company’s culture is one of its greatest assets. Nothing bonds an organization together more strongly than the values shared by all of its members.
But what happens when a big change at the company threatens to undo all of the hard work you’ve put in to build that rich culture?
An office move can be the type of change that slows down your progress. Earlier this week we published the results of a survey from 170 executives who shared takeaways from their own company’s office move. One clear trend emerged from the data: At best, companies witness mixed results from their office move.
As a manager, you have the power to stave off many of the negative consequences other firms have experienced following their own moves. It all starts during the planning stages.
A Challenging Path
If everything goes right during a move, you can actually boost the morale for your entire staff. Unfortunately, the opposite often takes place.
Thanks to Knotel, we have a much better understanding of the challenges companies face in the days and weeks after a company changes facilities. Fifty-two percent of respondents said the move harmed their company’s productivity, and 24.8 percent said the move increased distractions for the executive team.
And while the survey yielded some proof that moves have the potential to improve morale, with 45.3 percent of executives saying spirits improved after the facility change, a 64 percent majority said the move was an overall distraction for the company.
Believe it or not, it’s possible to fall under the minority category. If you’re a manager who already places a great deal of emphasis on monitoring and managing company culture, a big event such as an office move will be a challenge but it won’t be all that unusual from what you’ve dealt with in the past. Here are a few ways to confront some of these challenges head on.
1. Limit Productivity Losses Through Careful Planning
If employees work less, the company will be less productive. It’s a pretty simple equation.
Office conditions during a move are from ideal. The Internet might not work. Employee workspaces could potentially be inaccessible. Sometimes, employees might even be unclear on what their role actually is during the move.
All three of these issues need to be addressed before the move even starts. First, consider having your employees work from home. This should give them stable access to the Internet along with a workspace that isn’t being moved from one side of a room to another.
Before your employees arrive you need to make sure cabling and Internet are set up. Frequently check-in with the utility companies and your IT team to make sure everything is on track for completion by the move-in day.
Most importantly, though, you need to create a communication plan in advance of the move to help each employee understand their role. For example, perhaps you and your fellow managers have conceded the sales department won’t be able to close any deals during the move. You should communicate to each member of the team ahead of the move how they can assist throughout the process. This will keep them busy and help the move carry on at a reasonable pace.
2. Make the Move Fun to Avoid Decline in Morale
When a company decides to relocate its office, the employees at the company are forced to make a number of changes in their personal life. They might need to change how they get their kids to school as well as what time they need to leave their home for work, among many others.
You can’t make your employees completely forget about all of these questions in their personal lives. But you can at least create an inviting atmosphere in your office that takes your employees’ minds off of the move temporarily.
Consider hosting a company picnic either during or after the move to get all of your teammates and their family members excited for the moving day. You might even want to give them a three day weekend following the move so they have something to look forward to in the days after the move.
Really, though, you should root whatever celebration your company holds in its distinct culture. Think about what makes your company special and try to come up with a creative event that highlights it.
3. Work With Project Managers to Reduce Executive Distraction
We’ve written before about the benefits of having a skilled project manager leading your office relocation, but it’s always worth repeating just how valuable their services can be.
Project managers can help negotiate rates with other vendors involved in the moving process. They can also make sure the move is carried out in a timely manner while ensuring everyone is kept in the loop.
At Nodus Office Movers, we believe every company should have experts at their side before, during and after their move. Our goal is to take the office move project out of the hands of your leadership team so you can do what you do best.
Contact us today for a free office move quote.
