Take a minute and reflect on all of the offices you’ve been in—the good, the bad, and the awful. 

What is it about each of them that makes them better or worse than the others? 

In all likelihood, these offices had a certain something that made you feel the way you do—something you couldn’t quite put your finger on.  

But that feeling isn’t an accident. It’s an element that’s either cultivated or neglected, and it has a massive impact on workplace engagement. 

What Exactly is Workplace Engagement? 

Workplace engagement is a multifaceted endeavour that is equal parts art and science—but it’s vital for your company’s success.  

If you want to explore the fundamentals of this topic in more depth, read our resource: Boost Your Workplace Engagement with Data and Business Context. 

Creating an engaging office environment requires a mix of tangible elements and intangible ones. 

The Intangible Workspace Elements That Support Workplace Engagement 

Put the office out of mind for a moment. 

When you walk into a spa, there are certain things that create the sense of relaxation you’ve come for. 

From the scents filling the room to the music being played, the lighting, and the calm, soothing staff who are there to welcome you, each of these elements contribute to your experience. 

The office is no different—the ideal work environment is one that supports workplace engagement by setting the tone for a productive and fulfilling work day that meets the needs of your people.  

Staffing 

When you walk into the office, the first people you engage with can help set the tone for the rest of the day. 

Having a friendly on-site team to greet you, your team, and your guests and to support you throughout your work creates a positive atmosphere where people feel supported. 

Community 

Much like the staff in an office, the people who surround you throughout your workday create a certain feeling that can either uplift or derail workplace engagement. 

Humans are social beings. We thrive in communities. And, given how much of our lives we spend at work, our professional communities are equally as important as our personal ones.  

In a workspace environment, this community includes your colleagues but also extends to the people you interact with in passing throughout the day. 

When you walk into an office filled with people meeting, engaging, and achieving, it creates an inspiring professional atmosphere that positively impacts your mindset.  

According to our survey, Canadian professionals enjoy having friends at work and feel in-person collaboration and socialization are among their top motivators to work in an office.  

In the right workplace environment—one where a strong professional community surrounds them—colleagues connect more closely and collaborate more effectively, and people also have the opportunity to build meaningful personal relationships with others. 

Design Elements and Sightlines 

While design can be both tangible and intangible, consideration of the human experience is crucial.  

From conception to completion, a great workspace will account for how its design makes people feel—even if they’re not consciously aware of these details—from colours to lighting and how its occupants move around and engage with the space.  

This is our philosophy at iQ Offices. Each of our locations taps into design relative to the location, paying homage to the building we’re in.  

When designing each of our locations, we do a “point of view” of every square foot of the workspace, determining ideal sightlines, optimal positioning of seating areas, and layouts that make provisions for both privacy and socialization and utilization of the space.  

Amenity Access 

Nearly one-quarter of Canadians highlight amenities and activities, such as gyms or game rooms, as influential factors driving their desire to work in an office. 

While amenities may be tangible elements of your office space, there’s also an intangible element which includes: 

• People: Think of amenities like a restaurant. No matter how great they are, they become less appealing when they’re empty. Your office can have every amenity under the sun, but if they’re always empty, they won’t be appealing.  
• Proximity: No matter how great an amenity is, it won’t be used if it’s difficult to access. There might be a lounge area in your office building, but if your people need to go down two floors to use it, they most likely won’t bother. 

These spaces will only benefit workplace engagement if they provide energy for your team and make a meaningful impact on their work-life balance.  

In our iQ Offices locations, we strategically ensure that you’ll have access to kitchens, lounge areas, circulation areas, and multiple seating options—all within about twenty steps of your workspace. 

This helps bring them to life and ensure they’re a real catalyst for workplace engagement and not just a vanity selling point.  

Feedback Implementation 

Our data has shown that 80% of Canadians feel having workspaces customized based on feedback is a critical element in driving workplace engagement. 

But, in traditional office environments, implementing this feedback is easier said than done. 

Why? 

Because making changes requires a significant investment of time, money, and resources. 

Flexible workplaces like iQ Offices are home to many businesses and professionals. This means that catering to a diverse group of needs is central to our business model. 

Our core competency is innovation—understanding professional trends and evolving employee needs. We listen to feedback, implement it, and are constantly evolving our workspaces so that you can prioritize your team’s time, energy, and resources more effectively. 

For the last 13 years, we have been studying, testing, implementing, and perfecting the crucial intangible elements that support workplace engagement.  

Ready to learn more? We invite you to experience it for yourself—book a tour of your local iQ Offices location today.