The Great Debate: Do coworkers improve productivity?

Open office plans are based on the idea that coworkers improve productivity and creativity. If workers from various departments and divisions are forced to interact, the thinking goes, they’ll come up with more interesting ideas. 

Sounds good in theory, but we now know that any potential benefits are probably outweighed by the noise and absence of privacy these work environments create. Workers end up donning headphones and hiding out in conference rooms to get some peace and quiet. They call in sick more often and report more stress and anxiety. 

But that doesn’t mean you should abandon the idea that coworkers improve productivity. Interaction with other people can help you think about your work in new ways. Having workplace friends can be a good thing, like when you need help. They can also be distracting when you spend more time socializing than actually working, as Harvard Business Review Reports. 

Most extroverts thrive in busy offices where they are always surrounded by coworkers. The energy of interacting with other people overflows into their work and they’re more creative and productive as a result. 

Meanwhile, introverts often need peace and quiet to do their best work. They thrive in a more serene environment. Both groups do better when they have control over their environment. Being able to close a door so you don’t have to hear Karen from marketing tell that story about the duck for the third time today can be a real productivity saver.

So do coworkers improve productivity or don’t they? The answer is: it depends. It depends on the type of work you do, how much control you have over your environment, and what kind of person you are.

At College Park Executive Suites we have office spaces to meet the needs of both introverts and extroverts. Extroverts can choose a desk in the coworking space or a private office large enough for three desks. Introverts can maintain their ideal work environment in a smaller private office with a door that closes out the noise and distraction of the outside world. 

Contact Jackie today and be in your ideal office environment tomorrow.