Office relocation is typically something which occurs due to a business changing. Whether your office relocation is due to downsizing, expansion, or a part of your business strategy to be located nearer to your customers it is important to make sure your staff are involved, well informed, and that their input is taken into consideration.
For this, you need to establish open communication to get their opinions regarding the relocation and anything related to it. Get them involved from the beginning by asking them their thoughts about what new offices you should move to. The more you take their suggestions into consideration they more committed and helpful they will be when the relocation with the help of experienced office relocators – actually takes place.
In addition, the more your employees are involved in the relocation, you may even see greater levels of productivity leading up to it, their new office. It is highly likely that you end up getting some amazing ideas about how to further improve your office structure, layout, and organisational activities.
Another way to involve your team is to assign them tasks. Assess their strengths and assign their roles with respect to their skillsets. There are many tasks, such as supervising IT transfer, telecommunication setups, the layout of the office, setting up new filing systems. They may not physically do each of these themselves, but if they can oversee them, it will improve the relocation as whole.
One of the secrets of any successful organization is to communicate the right information at the right time, and this is especially crucial during office relocation. Ensure you’ve established good communications with all interested parties, and that you are keeping your office staff updated whenever there’s a change in the plan.
Throughout the process, make sure that the amount of work you are asking your staff to do is not increased excessively. It can often be tempting to rush through unfinished projects before moving from the old office, but all this will do is raise stress levels and possibly even resentment amongst your staff. You want your team on board, so there may even be a case for lighten their load in the lead up to your office relocation.
On the day of office relocation day, as well as all the important matters, make sure that you take care of the smaller, but no less crucial issues such as staff knowing what sandwich shops exist nearby, and what local amenities there are. It also won’t go unnoticed by your staff if you treat them to lunch that day and pay for more than your fair share of coffees.
Transportation issues often arise when you move to a new office, so let your employees know about any changes in parking space arrangements, the applicable transport routes, and obviously the directions for those who drive to work.
The entire office relocation can be a stressful experience for everyone, so try to be extra supportive throughout the process. Invite your staff to exchange their thoughts and feelings about the move and Let them know that you plan to support them if they face any problems at the new office.
You can use office relocation as a tool for boosting the morale of your team and it is also a good opportunity for you to strengthen your relationship with them. This will result in increasing their productivity which is beneficial for the whole business.