CONSULTING SERVICES
Are you paying for office space or facilities that now go unused and draining your budget?
With today’s shift toward hybrid working, there’s a more strategic approach than simply waiting for lease deadlines or feeling pressured into property rationalization. In fact, those triggers should come later.
The place to begin is by taking a broad look at how your organization uses its space and what your workplace strategy should be.
Start by asking four big questions:
1. What are your organization’s core objectives, and what are you trying to achieve?
2. What strategic pressures are you facing, or likely to face, in the future?
3. What type of culture and leadership model do you want to cultivate?
4. How might emerging technologies (like AI) affect your organization’s size, structure, and work practices?
01
Workplace strategy and empty office space
Once you know what your organization aims to accomplish, the next step is determining how physical environments can truly support those goals.
In other words, what is your office for, and where should it be located?
Is its primary function to:
Provide quiet spaces for focused individual work?
Offer collaboration areas for teams?
Strengthen a sense of connection and identity within the organization?
Support employees who lack adequate facilities at home?
Provide access to specialized equipment?
Greet or host clients?
It could be all of these, or it might fulfill additional needs.
Additionally, consider the right types of workplace settings. For instance, people working on team-based projects may no longer need their own dedicated desks; instead, flexible, creative project areas may be more suitable.
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Determining how much space you need
Striking a balance between too much and too little space is tricky.
Keep in mind:
Start by understanding how different teams function. Tasks, team composition, and work styles vary widely.
“Spaceless” headcount growth is a real option. Additional employees don’t automatically require more space.
Build flexibility into your planning, because usage will ebb and flow.
Innovation in space use is crucial. You want to avoid overcrowded mid-week days and empty Mondays or Fridays. Be open to co-working arrangements, sharing space with other organizations, or even going without a permanent space.
Think about the services and amenities that go with your space.
Estimate your maximum occupancy based on actual team needs, and be prepared for fewer desks and more phone booths, hybrid meeting rooms, social areas, and well-being spaces.
03
Considering your lease options
Just now, you should be able to assess your lease situation.
Do you have the right amount of space in the right locations with the right setup?
Can you afford capital investments or write-offs if you reduce space?
It’s not always straightforward. If your lease timeline aligns perfectly with your new strategy, that’s great, but often, you’ll end up with more space than you need until your lease is up.
In that case, think about subletting. Or perhaps you can use a “mothball” space, running only minimal services (like air conditioning, lighting, and cleaning).
You could also try to terminate a lease early or repurpose extra space in the meantime. Amenities like large gyms might encourage people to come in, but they’re not a guaranteed fix for boosting daily office attendance on their own.
Need a hand?
If you need help with any of the points discussed, whether clarifying your business objectives, shaping a more flexible workplace strategy, or navigating lease options, feel free to contact us.
We’re here to provide the guidance and support you need to make the best decisions for your organization.