When tracing the development of typical office spaces since the early 1700s, a striking number of alterations have occurred. Change has been constant, from the early dominance of government buildings to the rise of open-plan offices in the 20th century.
Yet, no period has experienced workplace change quite so rapidly as the 2020s, where the pandemic, altering global economies, and technological innovations revolutionized modern working. One of the most impactful trends we’ve seen over the past three years is the rise in open collaboration spaces in offices. Instead of focusing on workstations, more businesses than ever before are turning to open offices, with around 80% of offices trying out open spaces. As part of this trend, we’re seeing office phone booths and workstations spring up across the globe.
There are many different types of office phone booths, each designed with a specific purpose in mind. In this article, we’ll dive into each type of office phone booth, breaking down which type is most suitable for specific activities. Let’s dive right in.
Types of Office Phone Booths for Deep Work
Offices are notoriously filled with distractions. From chatty coworkers to the ability to take not-so-small breaks during the day, there is a lot to interrupt our workflows. Especially coinciding with the rise of open offices, distractions are now more abundant than ever before, with around 85% of workers stating that they are commonly distracted at work.
At their core, office phone booths act as a private spaces where office workers can go to get away from these distractions. While any of the types of office phone booths available work as a private space, some are more effective for deep work than others.
For example, a single-person office pod provides employees with enough space to spread out and settle into work. As office phone booths are sound-resistant, workers can focus on their work without distractions from coworkers, office noise, or other common occurrences.
Out of all of the types of office phone booths, the best for deep work is a space designed for one person.
Types of Office Phone Booths for Collaboration
Multi-person office phone booths allow more than one person to occupy the space, making it perfect for brainstorming, sharing ideas, planning out a project, or hosting a group call. Due to the range of types of office phone booths available for collaboration, a business can opt for the space based on the number of people that require it.
For example, if a business is looking for an office phone booth to host daily team meetings, then one that can hold four people would make the most sense. Alternatively, if a business wants a private space to host 1:1 meetings, then a two-person office phone booth would be the most effective.
Another small thing to note is that if two employees need to work collaboratively for long amounts of time, a four-person office workstation can also come in handy. The additional space will allow them to spread out and get comfortable, helping to inspire them into deep work. In fact, employees that are comfortable at work are 16% more productive, demonstrating how effective these larger workspaces can be.
How Many Phone Booths Should an Office Have?
Working out how many phone booths an office should have depends on several moving factors. In order to calculate the correct number of phone booths, a business needs to consider:
How many people they employ: As a business employs more people, the number of office phone booths they have should increase to satisfy demand.
The number of people in the office on an average day: Considering that 27% of U.S. employees work remotely, your business should see how many people are actually in the office on a given day.
How in-demand the spaces are: Based on the distraction level, productivity, and output of your current workforce, the extent to which you will need office phone booths may vary. Asking your workforce if they would like extra private spaces via internal surveys can go a long way here toward providing concrete evidence.
Current office conditions and amenities: Depending on the current structure of your offices, the need for office phone booths could vary. If you already have lots of private rooms or collaborative workspaces, then you’ll only need a supplementary amount of office phone booths. Alternatively, if you have an open office plan, there will be a much more drastic need for these private spaces.
By considering these factors, businesses will have a much clearer idea about the current status of their workplace. From there, they can begin to decide how many office phone booths they should order.
Best Type of Office Phone Booth for My Business
The best type of office phone booth for a business will depend on what that company is looking for. Depending on the criteria they have or the results they seek to gain, the most effective type of phone booth will vary. For example:
– Company Wants To Boost Productivity: Single-person office workstations will increase workplace productivity.
– Business Wants To Increase Collaboration: Larger multi-person office phone booths will increase – collaboration and teamwork.
– Company Needs Meeting Spaces: Several multi-person office phone booths will provide these spaces.
– Business Has High Distraction Rates: Several single-person office phone booths will help to increase focus.
As a general rule, it’s a good idea to have a selection of different types of office phone booths in a workspace, as this allows workers to customize how they approach and carry out their work.
Final thoughts
Whether you prefer one or another, it’s undeniable that all types of office phone booths have their place in the modern office. Providing a private, soundproof, and adaptable space, office phone booths are extremely effective in boosting productivity, increasing collaboration, and inspiring deep work.
Modern office spaces are a reflection of the present culture, with the rise in alternative spaces like office pods demonstrating the movement to hybrid working conditions. In order to best support employees in the workspace, employers should evolve with the times, providing these distinct types of office phone booths to innovate their workspace.