17 Ways to Transform Workspaces to Foster Creativity and Collaboration

The design and layout of a company's office space is an often-overlooked factor in the creativity and collaborative spirit of a work environment. By incorporating flexible work areas that encourage spontaneous meetings and designing spaces that blend comfort with technology, the physical office environment can significantly impact employee engagement and productivity.

Below, 17 Newsweek Expert Forum members discuss practical ways leaders can enhance their office spaces for productivity. Here's why they believe these changes can lead to a more dynamic, collaborative and successful business.

1. Encourage Idea Sharing

Create an idea wall. It can be a whiteboard or chalkboard to encourage the team to share ideas as they think of them. Rather than waiting for a meeting, people can share in the moment and others can build on their idea. Host a quarterly idea meeting to share the thoughts behind the ideas then wipe the wall to start the quarter with new ideas. Remember to find a way to memorialize the previous ideas. - LaKesha Womack, Womack Consulting Group

2. Create Open Spaces

Creativity hates walls. The more open spaces you create in your workplace, the more opportunities you have for people to interact and cross paths physically and the more innovation and creativity you will find. Stand-up meetings, outdoor meetings when possible, walking meetings and open spaces with no walls all contribute to sparking creativity and collaboration. - Jeff Hoffman, Global Entrepreneurship Network

3. Incorporate Innovative Vibes

One of the best ways leaders can spark creativity and collaboration among employees in company workspaces is to introduce innovative vibes through open floor plans, natural light, plants and vibrant colors combined with flexible work arrangements driven by autonomous, purpose-driven opportunities for contribution. Lose the carrot and the stick. Instead, focus on environment, autonomy and purpose. - Lillian Gregory, The 4D Unicorn LLC

4. Focus on Flexibility, Openness and Health

I recommend that leaders improve their office and workspace by creating flexible, open and healthy workspaces that spark employee creativity and collaboration. This strategy allows for easy collaboration and idea-sharing and fosters a sense of community among employees. It also encourages a more dynamic and innovative work environment. - Alan Wozniak, Business Health Matters (BHM) Executive Consulting

5. Take Meetings on the Move

Encouraging walking meetings can be transformative. By integrating movement, we not only break away from the monotony of traditional meetings but also tap into the scientifically proven benefits of increased blood flow to the brain. This enhances cognitive function, including creativity, fostering a dynamic environment where ideas flow freely and innovation thrives. - Leah Marone, Corporate Wellness Consultant

6. Ask for Employee Input

Empathy requires us to not get lazy and come up with one-size-fits-all solutions in a vacuum! Ask employees what they want and need and gather their ideas. This increases their engagement, uncovers new ideas and factors in different needs like lifestyle, neurodiversity and so on. Leaders are invited to stop acting like benevolent, all-knowing leaders and involve their teams to yield the best outcomes. - Maria Ross, Red Slice, LLC

7. Create a Layout With Intentionality

Create intentional intersections by moving desks and reassigning cubicles. Then empower each "pod" to create an identity for their collaboration space. We are creatures of habit, so when we change our conversations, we change our results. Sometimes a change in view changes your point of view and makes creativity and collaboration easier to access. - Karen Mangia, The Engineered Innovation Group

8. Help People Get to Know Each Other Better

In a remote setup, people often have no idea about each other's key strengths. We need to find ways for our team members to get to know their colleagues better. Team-building events, even virtual ones, always help. - Krisztina Veres, Veres Career Consulting

9. Create a Sensory Inspiration Room

Consider introducing a sensory inspiration room. This is a space infused with adjustable colors, scents and lighting that are all meant to match the theme or mood of an ongoing project. This is based on the concept of environmental psychology where such aspects not only have the potential to foster coloration among individuals by aligning their sensory experiences but also stimulate creative thinking. - Dr. Kira Graves, Kira Graves Consulting

10. Create 'Innovation Zones'

Leaders can introduce designated "innovation zones" in the office, providing spaces equipped with interactive whiteboards, comfortable seating and technology for brainstorming sessions. This deliberate allocation of space communicates the value of creativity and collaboration, fostering a mindset that encourages employees to think outside the box and work together to generate innovative ideas. - Anna Yusim, MD, Yusim Psychiatry, Consulting & Executive Coaching

11. Surround Your Team With Colorful Art

One suggestion I have is to add colorful, creative art. Color is known to stir creativity because of how the mind processes it. Surrounding your team with art will inspire them and provoke some discussion, so the overall feel of the office will be different, becoming friendlier and warmer. That change will affect people on a personal level, sparking both creativity and collaboration. - Baruch Labunski, Rank Secure

12. Allocate Time for 'Innovation Hubs'

Create a knowledge-based company culture that puts self-learning and cross-functional learning as the key to innovation. Allocate time and zones for "innovation hubs" where employees from different departments can learn from each other, brainstorm and bring in new creative ideas. - Gergo Vari, Lensa

13. Encourage Employees to Reset

We encourage our employees to chill by taking a brisk walk, taking a coffee break or relaxing in the lobby when they feel pressed or stressed and it's not lunch or break time. Of course, employees are free to do this as they want, but the dedicated people who often are pressed and stressed need this. - Tammy Sons, Tn Nursery

14. Remove Physical Barriers to Promote Collaboration

Redesign office space to include flexible, open areas that encourage spontaneous interactions and brainstorming sessions. Communal tables, whiteboards and comfortable seating facilitate easy communication and idea sharing. It breaks down physical barriers and fosters a culture of openness and collaboration. - Britton Bloch, Navy Federal

15. Create Diverse Workspaces

Creating flexible and diverse workspaces improves employees' well-being, which is crucial for creativity. Some employees may prefer quiet areas, such as project rooms with writable walls and relaxation zones. Others may thrive in open spaces like collaborative lounges and adjustable workstations. This approach leverages the diversity of employee needs and working styles that spark collaboration. - Sonja Wasden, Speaking Mental Health

16. Ask Employees What Would Be Helpful

Ask the employees what they want. Management often misses the mark in trying to make a workplace fun. I had a client that put in a foosball table and it made so much noise that nobody else could work or take calls. Ask your teams what they want and what would help them. - Krista Neher, Boot Camp Digital

17. Get Bosses to Ask for Employee Ideas

It starts at the top. If the boss asks their employees for ideas, and they feel that their suggestions are being considered, then that will take off by itself. However, any high-profile effort to jumpstart creativity and collaboration will fall flat if management does not really take those ideas into consideration. - Zain Jaffer, Zain Ventures