CREJ

March 2018 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 15 sionally in the new space compared to the old space – the physical manifestation of their buy-in. Myth: Millennials only want to do things their way. Reality : One example enmeshed in this myth is the ap- proach to using technology. Once, while planning a space, we asked a senior staff member if his department was planning on reducing the large number of file cabinets in his team’s part of the office. He said he might be talked into cutting down on the file cabinets if his team print- ed all their computer files so they could be scanned and uploaded to the cloud. Imagine the reaction of a younger staff member who’d grown up with technology constant- ly at their fingertips hearing that explanation … scanning something you printed from your computer in order to cut down on file cabinets! This is just one example to sug- gest that perhaps millennial disappointment and frustra- tion at not doing things “their way” might be justifiable, even when their ability to speak up and share ideas about doing things differently is unsophisticated and requires mentorship in professional decorum. What it means for the work environment: The reality is that workplace design generally is moving to cater to mobile device usage because it generally enables more efficient spaces within an office suite or building. With that in mind, there’s a good case for viewing the comfort millennials have with mobile technology as an opportu- nity to inform new ideas and approaches to improving the way we work. At the same time, from a design per- spective, moving to more mobile-oriented spaces focusing on laptop or tablet-centric work can inadvertently reduce opportunities to connect with other team members. Since workplace connections – both personal and professional – are still important, architects and designers typically try to counteract the downsides of mobile-focused spaces by including dynamic, team-focused areas. Ultimately, it is es- sential to understand where technology is heading within a space or company, how it is specifically used, and what opportunities and challenges it presents so we can design these spaces most effectively. Myth: Millennials need to be coddled. Reality: What’s the true storymotivating a complaint like this one? Once while designing a newworkspace, the CEO lamented problems that arose from supplying the young staff with the “wrong” granola bars. He saw it as an indicator that his young employees were childish and spoiled. However, the company’s existing space was dark, uncomfortable and aesthetically bleak. This story was an indicator of a cultural void in the office that we needed to address – at least in part – through a new office design. The actual staff complaint wasn’t really about granola bars; it was a sign of staff wanting to add something positive to fix their negative office experience. What that means for the work environment: As the leader of an architecture and design firm, I have seen that organiza- tions do best when they work together across generations with mutual respect and the curiosity of understanding one another. Typically, we find that inclusion of the entire staff in the design process helps us craft a better space largely because it decreas- es miscommunication. It helps us understand what they truly “need” to be better at their job versus what itmay seemlikewhat they “want” on the surface. These discovery-oriented processes start internally with a decision by each client to do the hard work of authentically listening and understanding one another and their staff. These types of interactions foster better morale and can drive excitement for an impending change to a new space rather than fear of the unknown. Conversations about the “why?” and the “how?” the staff manages their workload and completes tasks can uncover solutions that staff may be sitting on, unaware how to share them. Ultimately, it’s in a company’s best interests to listen and learn from all of its staff, including millennials. By unpacking dif- fering views that exist across the generations and even within them, we stand to learn and gain a lot about a company culture and design spaces that matchwell what the organization needs. Millennials, like many smart and engaged professionals before them, often have new and exciting ideas to share. Listening to their thoughts and mentoring them to find ways to let their voice be heard results in a better space to work, creates a tighter more efficient team, and enables a company to provide the best products and services possible. \\ Bridging the Gap Caleb Tkach KSL Capital: Team-oriented huddle, relax space.