Creating a meaningful workplace
3 Insights for innovative IT managers

Executive summary
The world of work has probably changed more in the last 5 years thanin the 50 years before. Previously unimagined ways of working from
home, working in the office and everything in between are now theexpected norm. 59% of employees say that some form of hybrid working
is their preferred work model, while 20% would even prefer to work fully
remote1. In-person meetings, however, have always been at the heartof a company, fostering the all-important culture that gets the best outof people, personally and professionally. That’s why 55% of employees
agree important presentations should still be given in-person1. Today
is the day we take the next step in creating the working environmentof tomorrow, one that works for everyone, everywhere: a place
where employees feel empowered by their surroundings, rather thanconstricted.
We believe this moment is key in the transformation of the workplace
and the workspace. Get it wrong and risk demotivating a group ofindividuals struggling to build back their all-important connectiveness.
Get it right and create a whole new way of working: better work/lifebalance, seamless connections, empowered and efficient employeeswith a strong culture and sense of purpose. We have the technology andthe synergy. Now is the time to make the magic happen, creating a place
to love meeting again.
In this e-book, we define what the meaningful workspaces should be
and why it’s important: it’s the perfect match between office design,technology and workstyle that fosters engagement, collaboration,and purpose. The physical workspace is paramountin contributing to a meaningful workplacein times of hybrid working. That’s why wehave set out three key aspects businesses
can implement in their offices to makethem purposeful: flexibility & adaptability,collaboration & connection, and technology &infrastructure.
Welcome to a place where everything justclicks. Welcome to the purposeful workplace.

1

Research by Indiville commissioned by Barco with respondents in an online panel (Dynata). The survey was fielded in
the UK, the US, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Germany and France. Sample size 2882 respondents. Margin of error 1,69%.

The meaningful workplaceBackgroundA lot has happened around the workplace recently. The
pandemic sent everyone home, then a return to the officesaw a major change in how, where and when we worked.
These changes were radical enough to upend our attitudes
towards work generally, and meetings specifically. But initial
excitement about the possibilities of hybrid working with its
potential for flexibility and work/life balance, soon gave way tofeelings of frustration. People missed the everyday connections
with colleagues, the sense of being part of something bigger thanthemselves, the very heart of the company.
We know these human connections are crucial2.

33%

30%

Social cohesion of the team isboosted

I benefit from in-person
collaboration

18%

61%

The spontaneity and creativity
positively impacts my work

I enjoy the freedom that comeswith remote working

31%

27%

I have better work-life balance asa result of hybrid or remote work

I am able to combine work andprivate activities in a more flexible
way when working remotelyThis clearly shows the dilemma people are facing: they appreciate the freedomof flexible working and the potential of greater work/life balance, but at the sametime they have a clear need for in-person meetings that build a sense of teaming.

Humans are social creatures
whose well-being anddevelopment relies on
people coming together– sharing information andresources, as well as building
relationships. The workplacemeeting has always beena vital part of this. Even
introverts need to connect
with others in a meaningfulway. It’s important for us asindividuals, groups and thewhole human race.
Dr. Joe Allen,
Professor of I/O Psychology at University of Utah anddirector of the Centre for Meeting effectiveness2

Research by Indiville commissioned by Barco with respondents in an online panel (Dynata). The survey was fielded in
the UK, the US, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Germany and France. Sample size 2882 respondents. Margin of error 1,69%.

The meaningful workplace

How do businesses
move forward?
This leaves decision makers and companies with achallenge. Office spaces and face-to-face proximity
have always been the default way to nurtureconnectedness among employees. Hybrid has done
away with that, creating a gap leaders
must fill, especially when 76% of
employees say that feeling a strong
connection with their organization
is important for them to beeffective in their jobs2. Grasping
the opportunity to strengthenorganizational connectedness istherefore key for a successful andsustainable hybrid workplace.

As a global leader in meetingroom technology, webelieve that when people
meet, something magicalhappens. We see it as ourduty to make joining andparticipating in a meeting
a positive experience and asmooth process. Ensuring
people love meeting should,
above all, be the goal of apurposeful workspace.
Stijn Henderickx,
EVP Meeting & Learning Experience at Barco

2

Research by Indiville commissioned by Barco with respondents in an online panel (Dynata). The survey was fielded in
the UK, the US, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Germany and France. Sample size 2882 respondents. Margin of error 1,69%.

Workplace with a purpose, how?
Employees clearly want a workplace built around purpose, helping themmeet and work in an optimal way. But what does it mean to build a moremeaningful workplace? And how can the physical workspace play acrucial role in this?

82%of employees believe it’s important for
their company to have purpose

At Barco, we define a meaningful workplace as a value-driven spacedesigned to inspire employees. An ideal match between office design,technology and workstyle that fosters engagement, collaboration, andpurpose.

OfficedesignTechnology

WorkstyleEven though today the work experience encompasses many virtualinteractions and practices, the physical space remains essential. It
is the bedrock that enables employees to thrive in the hybrid work
environment, boosting productivity, engagement, collaboration, and asense of belonging.
Here are key aspects of how the physical workspace contributes to a
purposeful workplace in times of hybrid working:Workplace with a purpose, how?

1. Flexibility and adaptability
A meaningful workplace understands that employees have diverse
work styles and preferences and provides flexibility and adaptability toaccommodate these differences. This includes offering options for remote
work, office-based work, or a combination of both, depending on thenature of the tasks and individual needs.
In addition to remote work options, the physical workspace itself should
be designed with flexibility in mind. Without needing to rebuild the entire
office, technology can easily help transform regular rooms and spaces into
versatile ones, serving totally different purposes. For example, a cafeteria
can transform into a collaborative brainstorming space simply by wheelingin an interactive whiteboard. Or a lounge area can become a huddle room
for remote and in-office workers alike by equipping it with advanced
technology for virtual meetings. This adaptability gives employees vitalaccess to the right environment and resources they need for their specifictasks.
The result? Employees feel empowered rather than constricted bytheir surroundings. This approach not only enhances flexibility but also
encourages creativity, collaboration, and agility, ultimately fostering amore productive and engaging work environment.

The traditional allocation of 70% of
space to desks and offices needs to befundamentally challenged.People aregoing to return to the workplace only
if the space is safe, comfortable, easy
to navigate, invites collaboration, andoffers a wow factor. Smart conference
spaces, collaboration areas, and lounges(among other models) that inspire
the collision of ideas and creativity
will come to define the floor plate,depending on the nature of work taking
place.
McKinsey & Co 545

https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/real-estate/our-insights/the-workplace-will-never-be-the-same-imperatives-for-real-estate-owners-and-operators
https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/insights/a-new-reason-for-the-office-connection-and-inspiration

Workplace with a purpose, how?

2. Collaboration and connection
One of the key reasons employees return to the office
is for the face-to-face interactions – both informal
connections, as well as coaching and collaboration
with their colleagues. Purposeful workplaces recognize
the importance of creating spaces that facilitate theseinteractions and nurture this sense of connection
between people. Dedicated meeting areas equippedwith the latest technology and collaboration tools
allow teams to come together and work on projects
effectively.
Interactive digital platforms and virtual communication
tools are equally integral to building collaboration andconnection in a hybrid working context. These
tools enable employees to engage in virtual
meetings, video conferences and real-time
document sharing. They provide a virtual
space for team members to collaborate,
brainstorm ideas and solve problems
together, regardless of their physicallocation. By leveraging these digitalplatforms, employees can maintain strong
relationships, share knowledge, and work
collaboratively, bridging the gap between
remote and in-office team members.

With most employees wanting an office
as a place to connect, we forecast a
shift in office space design and services,where work environments will reverse
the traditional two-thirds desking spaceand one-third collaborative space
to one-third desking and two-thirds
collaborative space.
International commercial real estate service provider
Cushman & Wakefield5

5

https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/en/insights/a-new-reason-for-the-office-connection-and-inspiration

Workplace with a purpose, how?

3. Technology and infrastructure
To support effective hybrid working, a meaningful workplace must havereliable technology and infrastructure in place. These tools play a crucial rolein facilitating communication and collaboration among remote and in-office
employees. After all, 50% of employees worldwide say they are confused bydifferent setups in different workspaces in their office . Employees having tofigure out which technology is installed in a specific meeting room is a hurdle
that’s easy to avoid. The experience, from the cable to the screen and thewireless connection, should be the same in every meeting room.

1 in 2

employees worldwide
is confused by different
setups in different
workspaces in their office7

65%

periodically has issues
connecting to the meetingroom system8

It’s clear that room setups can sometimes be too complex: that’s why investingin user-friendly and intuitive video conferencing solutions is paramount.
That includes having a uniform screen and connection setup, easy internet
connection for users and guests, and one single software user interface. Also,
the physical workspace should provide easy-to-use tools that seamlessly
integrate with virtual platforms. This way, remote and on-site employees canconnect, communicate, and collaborate effortlessly and seamlessly, enhancing
their productivity and teamwork.

6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Research by Indiville commissioned by Barco with respondents in an online panel (Dynata). The survey was fielded in the UK, the US, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Germany and France.
Sample size 2882 respondents. Margin of error 1,69%.

One in six of surveyed
employees worldwide admit
they find it challenging tospeak up in meetings. With theability to host virtual meetings,
video conferences, and screen
sharing, video conferencing
tools ensure that remoteteam members can actively
participate in discussions anddecision-making processes.
This boosts meeting equity
and makes it easier for remoteworkers to play an impactfulrole in the room.

Having up-to-date futureproofed technology is essential
to ensure compatibility andreliable performance acrossall the different devices andoperating systems users andguests might be using. By
providing employees with theright tools and resources, thepurposeful workplace enables
them to work efficiently andeffectively, regardless of theirpreferred devices or locations.

The meaningful workplaceprioritizes technology andinfrastructure, ones thatempower employees to fully
leverage the benefits of hybrid
working. These tools break
down communication barriers,
foster seamless collaboration,and enable access toresources, ultimately creatinga productive and connected
work environment.

With ClickShare we truly believe that designingtechnology with the user at the heart is key fora seamless and effective collaboration. 80% of
employees believe that easy-to-use tech can makemeetings better. And so do we!

How can organizations make sure the tech they rollout is user-friendly, simple, flexible and guest-friendly?
And let’s not forget cost-efficient, so it doesn’t eat
up all the budget too. With ClickShare, we enable
the ultimate flexibility in every type of room. Gone
are the days of rigid set-ups and limited functionality.
Say goodbye to messy cables and hello to effortlesscollaboration. Today, our meeting spaces need toaccommodate different scenarios, different users,
different technologies – all brought together into one
universal, straightforward experience. That’s where
ClickShare comes in. Because it’s time to love meetingagain.

Creating flexibility in the meaningful workplace?
Know more

M00000-R00-0000-PB | Last updated: November 2023
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