Redefining what your Office space looks like in 2026
I always said that I didn’t want to get stuck behind a computer doing my job. Having done this for the last five months I’ve worked to out different creative ways of managing this. Technology now means that you don’t have to be desk bound. I tend to save a lot of my informal telephone calls for when I’m out walking. A good set of noise cancelling headphones and some quiet trails to walk down can be a really refreshing place to catch up with people. I find I get a lot less stressed when I’m talking to people when I’m outdoors.
Those meetings that involved long drives to have a planning meeting can be so much more productive when you agree to meet halfway at a neutral venue, and you use the motorbike to get you there.
I’m also starting to really enjoy online video calls. A few months ago I introduced 15 minute online cuppa and chat meetings with our regional coordinators. Five minutes for the Person to explain what’s going on, five minutes for me to respond to those issues and five minutes to catch up on all the other stuff. Sometimes they go over but it’s nice to keep them short and sweet and more frequent.
I also think speaking to the younger generation that have grown up around technology to see how they’re embracing it can very often create interesting new ideas.
I’ve also found moving my Office environment around the house can bring a different level of productivity. I’m probably quite lucky that I’ve got the space to do this now the children don’t live at home. It’s also fascinating how paperless have become. I remember 20/30 years ago your office became focused around the filing cabinet, photocopier, the printer and your team. All devices that have seen a huge decline in recent sales as we just don’t use them anymore.
It was also thinking about when you have a high-level online meeting how the clothes that you wear has changed. Previously I may have chose to wear trousers shirt and a tie, but I don’t think I’ve ever done that on an online meeting.
I sometimes look back with a sense of nostalgia about how great a vibrant Office space was, conversing with colleagues, admin staff and delivery people. And in some ways we have lost a real sense of social support as many people are now working in isolation from their homes. This can bring its own set of Mental Health challenges.
I think for me combining the outdoors and the indoors really works. But defining my Office is very much an evolving process.
So what does your Office look like? I’d be fascinated to know how things have changed for you?