Collaboration Part 2: What is Collaborative Conferencing?

So now, companies like Cisco, Google, and Facebook are turning to a more collaborative work environment to encourage teamwork, better communication and as a result, greater productivity. But in order for the meeting of the minds to happen, there have to be a larger number of places for employees to gather. Here are some of my suggestions for Collaborative Conferencing:

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  COLLABORATIVE CONFERENCING – 

   

  Conference rooms aren’t just a table and chairs anymore. Some companies are opting to split rooms into a smaller table with chairs, divided by a partition with a separate seating area. Take a look at some samples, and feel free to ask me how I can turn your traditional conference room into a collaborative one.

   

    

• COLLABORATIVE SEATING – Did you ever have a teacher who asked the class to turn all of their desks into a big circle? I used to love that because it felt like we were all participating, even when it wasn’t our turn. This is how collaborative seating works. Nowadays we can combine two u shaped couches into one big collaboration area. S-shaped couches are being used a lot these days to create both a central meeting place or nooks for a small team to gather.

   

• LOUNGE STATIONS – Collaborative areas can be set up anywhere. These areas are basically just different locations where a group of people can meet, like the end of a hallway, near a stairwell, in a cafeteria or in a large open space. One of the layouts a lot of my clients are choosing is the lounge station. A lounge station can consist of anything from a modular countertop with stools, to booth seating with a coffee table, to a small grouping of colorful ottomans.   

• LEARNING OR COMMUNICATION CENTERS – 

  Whether it’s a formal classroom or informal meeting room, it’s important to have a way to communicate. Consider adding Glassboards along the walls for writing ideas or using Mobile Whiteboards to move in or out of a space. Reversible boards with a tackable surface or dry erase boards are great places to brainstorm ideas.

   

        

Collaboration is here to stay. No matter what kind of collaborative environment you create, remember it should be a place where employees feel valued and supported and where productivity thrives.

What if you had to share your space with someone else? Is there a company you would consider sharing your space with; how about an attorney and a public relations company or an accountant with a paralegal? Who would make your perfect pair? Let me know, I want to hear from you at steve@stevebass.com.

Steve Bass