Page 167 - How Great Leaders Build Abundant Organizations That Win

THE WHY OF WORK

overhead projector implies team problem solving, respon-
siveness, and influence based on mutual insight.
“No message” is also a message. Office layouts com-
municate management style and culture more clearly than
any speech or culture change program. A top-floor corner
office communicates a different leadership approach than a
bottom-floor office near the main entrance. A leader who
sits behind a desk that takes up almost half his office sends
a very different message from another leader who had the
desk removed entirely and works at a small table in a corner.
The former meets visitors across an imposing barrier; the lat-
ter turns and interacts directly with guests.
Worker safety also plays a part in managing physical
space. Investing in seating and work surfaces that fit the
individual worker may be more costly than one-size-fits-all
office furniture but can pay for itself in workers’ compensa-
tion alone (back pain leads to almost a quarter of workers’
comp claims and a third of the dollars spent ). A work envi-
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ronment that encourages employees to move around during
the day rather than spend unbroken hours at their desks can
make a difference in employee health. A work environment
that emphasizes employee safety communicates clearly that
employees are valued and their well-being is paramount.
Lighting both creates a mood and allows people to func-
tion at work. Four types of lighting may be used in the
office environment: (1) daylight from windows, skylights,
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and glass doors; (2) ambient light from ceiling- or furniture-
mounted light sources; (3) task light from lamps focused on
a particular area; and (4) accent or display lighting to add
visual interest and define space. Natural lighting in office
space helps people connect with the world outside the office

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