Crafting Spaces for Team Synergy and Well-Being
Though seldom explicitly defined within an organization, every workplace has its own company culture that serves as a guiding compass, influencing how its employees interact, make decisions, and work together. Company cultures can vary significantly from business to business, each reflecting distinct characteristics, values, and beliefs that impact an employee’s sense of belonging. Among Kimball International’s five identified culture types, the Harmonizer culture emerges as one that emphasizes employee satisfaction and engagement above all else. By unraveling the intricacies of the Harmonizer culture, we can create a blueprint for enhancing belonging and team synergy through purposeful space design.
Understanding the Harmonizer Culture
The Harmonizer culture thrives on teamwork, camaraderie, communication, and transparency. With a core focus on employee morale and satisfaction, this culture values relationships and team-building and offers many opportunities for meaningful feedback. The flexibility to accommodate work-life balance is a priority, making hybrid and remote work options essential for fostering a sense of belonging.
Harmonizer Culture Traits
Space Design Considerations
The physical makeup of a work environment, from the layout of workspaces to the choice of design elements, plays a pivotal role in creating an atmosphere that fosters a sense of belonging among employees. Balancing hybrid schedules and supporting individual focus requirements are crucial considerations for Harmonizer cultures, as is providing ample engaging social spaces that foster planned and impromptu connections. Furniture flexibility and materiality also play a significant role in creating a welcoming, comfortable, people-centric environment that cultivates belonging.
The Value of Human Centered Design
1. Kimball International, Understanding the Evolving Workplace Study, 2022
2. O.C. Tanner Institute, Global Culture Study, 2023
3. Kimball International, Workplace Assessment on Culture & Belonging, 2024
4. Gensler, Global Workplace Survey Comparison, 2023
The Role of Space Types Within the Harmonizer Culture
Kimball International’s research uncovered six pivotal space types that are crucial for cultivating a thriving workplace and elevating a sense of belonging. Specific to the needs of the Harmonizer culture, the space types can be prioritized in the following way:
Space Ratio Suggestions for the Harmonizer Culture
Work Your Way
These workspaces are designed to support users throughout their workday, offering visual and acoustic privacy when needed while also allowing for seamless collaboration. The flexibility and adaptability of these spaces align with the Harmonizer culture's emphasis on teamwork. Whether informal meeting areas or secluded workstations for focused tasks, Work Your Way spaces accommodate diverse work styles and encourage open dialogue that leads to a harmonious team.
The Hub
Often described as the heartbeat of the office, the Hub serves as a central gathering point, encouraging team members to come together, share ideas, and build stronger relationships. Comfortable and casual, this space promotes team bonding and a sense of camaraderie vital to the Harmonizer culture.
The Meet-Up
Highly functional and tech-savvy, Meet-Up spaces encourage in-person or virtual collaboration and problem-solving that engage a team, no matter where they are. These meeting rooms and huddle spaces foster effective communication, aligning with the Harmonizer culture's commitment to connection and transparency.
Well + Good
Well + Good spaces, whether used for yoga, meditation, respite, or other personal needs, are designed to promote overall health and well-being for workers. These spaces resonate strongly with the Harmonizer culture's commitment to employee happiness and supporting work-life balance.
Culture Café
Culture Café spaces are crucial in defining an organization's brand and identity, contributing to shaping a welcoming and inclusive organizational culture. The variety of seating options offered in Culture Café spaces, whether used for meeting, catching up, or grabbing a bite to eat, promote connection and community, supporting the Harmonizer culture's emphasis on relationship building among team members.
Room on the Move
Well + Good spaces, dedicated to promoting health and well-being, provide Classic culture employees with opportunities for respite and rejuvenation. These areas are designed to enhance productivity and efficiency by offering moments of relaxation, contributing to a culture that prioritizes stability and efficient task completion.
Creating Places to Belong
Supporting the Harmonizer culture through space design involves a thoughtful blend of workspace types that facilitate meaningful social interaction, open collaboration, and transparent communication. By strategically incorporating each setting type, organizations can ensure a cohesive work environment that not only meets the needs of the Harmonizer culture but also enhances team synergy and employee satisfaction, contributing to a greater sense of belonging.