The value proposition of flexible workspaces for EMBA grads

Businesses success begins with an amenable work environment. With greater demands on office productivity, businesses around the world are now seeking a competitive edge through flexible workspaces. These workspaces overcome the constraints of conventional offices, enhancing employee experiences with open areas, unassigned workstations and comfortable furniture.

In a recent poll of flexible workspace users, 71% of participants agreed that workspace flexibility helped them engage with their work, with 4 out of 5 participants also agreeing that it enhanced productivity. While improving employee working conditions, businesses also secure long-term financial benefits, cutting costs and maximizing resources.

Here’s what makes flexible workspaces an important value proposition for EMBA graduates.

Flexible workspaces enhance workforce engagement and productivity  

Offices are home to a great variety of work styles and preferences. While some employees prefer the orderly feeling of a traditional workspace, others do their best work in comfortable, open areas. The best workspaces cater to both extremes and everything in between, providing a range of viable workstations. This flexibility helps employees feel comfortable in the office, developing a sense of ownership over their work. By providing for different work styles, employers can see an increase in worker engagement and energy.

Encouraging creativity and commitment to company work, personalized workspaces also help improve productivity. In a recent report, Cisco Systems concluded that its employees were more satisfied and productive since it implemented flexible workspaces. As Cisco workplace strategist Dolly Woo notes, university students are not told to “complete this project from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the library.” Instead, they are given a deadline and total discretion over their preferred environment. Allowing maximal production in ideal settings, this flexible work model is gaining traction in all industries.

Workplace flexibility builds teamwork and office culture

Open spaces and common resources encourage employees to collaborate and share knowledge throughout the day. They also present important leadership opportunities, allowing employees to gather colleagues at a moment’s notice and in a variety of environments. Opportunities for employee interaction are especially important now that technology has drawn workers further into isolated workstations.

Flexible spaces allow for face-to-face interaction – a top priority for successful companies. As EMBA students know, collaboration is essential for a strong work culture. Encouraging interaction even among workers in separate departments, flexible workspaces help employees see the bigger picture and invest themselves fully in the company’s work. Open spaces that prioritize collaboration over traditional office hierarchies can also be more welcoming to part-time workers and new business partners.

Workplace flexibility means spending options for EMBA graduates

Flexible workspace solutions can help graduates of executive MBA courses enhance production and maximize company assets. Eliminating unnecessary private spaces in favor of communal work areas, Cisco reports that its flexible work environment helped them save 37% on their real estate rent. Thus, flexible workspaces are an effective means of cutting unnecessary costs, all while enhancing employee experiences.

Businesses looking toward international markets also benefit from these cost savings. With a difficult market for expanding businesses, affordable offices offer a crucial competitive advantage. These workspace solutions help growing companies maximize foreign real estate and reduce spending on underused resources. With benefits ranging from employee experiences to long-term financial strategies, it’s easy to see why flexible workspaces are being embraced by top businesses.

Are you looking for a top business executives’ university to help you grow in industry-leading workspaces?

Contact WU Executive Academy to learn more about our EMBA program!