Does your current office space meet your business’ culture needs? If not, perhaps it’s time for a change.
Committing to an office space for your business is a big decision. The office you choose now is likely to have a big impact on your business for a number of years ahead, so it’s important to invest the time to get it right.
Most businesses set out to rent office space with a ‘must have’ list. Typically, this list consists of practical considerations such as cost, size, accessibility and location.
These practical considerations are extremely important, of course. The ideal office should to be within budget but offer plenty of scope for your business to grow. You’ll also want the office to be easy for your employees and clients to get to.
Once these basic needs have been met, we think there’s a much bigger consideration for businesses to think about: the question of the culture match.
Why does culture matter for office space?
The culture of an office space is the one consideration businesses often struggle to put into words. They might comment on how the offices they’re looking at ‘feel’, or they may have an idea of the kind of image they want their new business base to project to their clients.
Either way, the culture of the office space is important as it will determine whether the space you choose is a good fit, or whether something doesn’t quite work.
Culture is important whether you’re looking at serviced office suites or co-working spaces. The culture of an office building will determine what kinds of other businesses and professionals you’ll be working alongside, the type of features and facilities that are offered, and the general atmosphere of the building.
All these factors will be important to take into consideration, especially if you’re looking for a long term home for your business.
How do you decide what kind of culture is right for you?
Of course, before you can find an office that has the same kind of culture as your business, it’s important to determine what that culture is.
Some businesses have a very obviously defined culture that’s set out in a business plan or mission statement. Other businesses have a more organically sourced culture that has often evolved from the bottom up.
Whichever camp your business falls into, it might be wise to gain a greater understanding of the values that are important to it before you make a big decisions.
There are a number of ways that you can do this. Why not try to sum up your business in five words, get inspiration from companies who are well known for their cultures, or learn more about how to shape the culture of your business.
What questions should you ask when you look round?
The best way to get a feel for the culture of any potential office suites or co-working spaces is to go and look round them in person. We really encourage viewings at Carrwood Park as we think it’s the quickest and most effective way to determine whether a place is a good fit.
While you’re there, a few well-chosen questions can teach you a lot about the culture of a place.
Try asking things like:
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What kind of breakout and meeting areas are available?
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Who are the other businesses in the building?
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Do most professionals stick to a business dress code?
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What hours is the building open?
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Are there a lot of social events?
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Do you host networking events and who normally attends?
What's the pay off?
We genuinely believe that it’s worth investing the extra time to find an office that sits well with the culture of your business.
A well-matched culture will mean that you and your business feel right at home from the very first day. It will also mean that your new office is likely to continue to meet your needs for longer.
Finally, if you are successful in finding an office space with a complimentary culture, the other businesses and professionals who are based there are also likely to be a great match for you. This could be great for networking, skill-sharing and even socialising.
Does your current office space meet your business' culture needs? If not, perhaps it's time for a change.
Book an appointment to visit our office space in Leeds today.
