What is an Experienced Based Workplace?
Experienced based workplaces are a relatively new phenomenon in the way we think about office culture and careers. This is thanks to the rising generation who now make up the majority of the workforce: millennials.
The way millennials view the world is seeping into changing workplaces. A recent study done by Harris found that millennials are less interested in owning a home or buying a car then their parents and grandparents were. This is because to millennials, the real value lies in purchasing experiences and not things. Spending money to gain experiences helps form their sense of identity, which is at the core of the millennial way of life.
Along with putting less emphasis on material goods, this new workforce is interested in a communal way of living. For example, since there are less millennials who own cars there has been an increase in ride-sharing businesses like Uber. The Harris study also found that 78 percent of millennials would rather spend their money on concerts, social events and cultural experiences that better connect them with their friends and communities around them.
All of these statistics lead to the experienced based workplace, which is a culmination of all these millennial ideas into an office space. An experienced based workplace is one that has communal spaces, an emphasis on forming personal connections with coworkers, and a focus on building a company-wide community.
Why Do I Need One?
Experience based workplaces increase employee engagement and wellbeing. When the place that your employees spend the most of their time aligns with the way they live the rest of their life outside the office, you will see a noticeable increase in engagement and productivity. For your business to thrive, it’s important that you keep up with the changing times and pay attention to the evolving needs of your workforce.
How do I Make My Office Into an Experienced Based Workplace?
Create Shared Space Work Environments
- It’s about time you ditched the cubicles, and turned your office space into a communal, open office environment. An open and shared work space increases employees’ feelings of inclusion, creativity and collaboration. Shared space work environments are essential to an experienced based workplace and increased employee engagement. When employees aren’t separated by physical and artificial barriers, they are encouraged to form meaningful connections and a community.
Adopt a Communal Mindset
- An experienced based workplace is all about sharing experiences and time amongst coworkers. A way you can encourage this is to adopt a communal mindset in your office. Providing things such as an open lounge for employees to talk and share snacks and beverages is a great way to start. Doing other team building activities like nature hikes and after work happy hours is also an excellent way to incorporate the experienced based workplace into your office.
For more tips on how to create a community in your office through team building, read our blog post “5 Quick Tips on Team Building.”