How New Meeting Rooms are Transforming Workplace Culture

Articles

The evolution of meeting rooms has impacted virtually every facet of work. However, something that often gets overlooked is the impact of such a change on workers and therefore, workplace culture.

With the modern meeting room facilitating a geographically spread out workforce, it would be easy to assume that in-office workers feel isolated from their remote counterparts and vice versa.

However, the evolved meeting room has broken down all barriers. Making it easy for inclusivity to be a forepoint and for organisations to hire the best people for the vacant roles. All of which increases morale and in turn, promotes a great workplace culture.

By providing an opportunity for true connection and collaboration without limits, workplace operations become more effective and efficient. This is because engagement increases. All of which translates into better outcomes with clients, customers and other major stakeholders.

Inclusivity in a meeting space

In years gone by, the meeting room was often characterised by numerous seats arranged around a large table. This kind of arrangement led to power dynamics developing whereby management and other senior staff sat in prominent positions.

The presence of this power dynamic resulted in certain employees remaining quiet during meetings while those deemed more powerful tended towards speaking often and even interrupting others.

With the evolution of meeting rooms, this dynamic has shifted. Ultimately resulting in meeting rooms being a more inclusive space. With virtual attendees looking at a screen where their coworkers and managers occupy the same sized space, the environment feels more even.

It’s important to mention that feelings of inclusivity play a vital role in keeping employees feeling not only engaged, but also valued. Additionally, when other employees can see that their fellow coworkers- however remote they may be- are still collaborating, morale is high.

While virtual attendees may be operating off the Brio webcam to transmit crystal clear video with superb resolution, the physical meeting space within the organisation may be using a conferencecam like MeetUp. However, with certified video conferencing solutions, there is no compromise on quality.

This is important as it means that, fundamentally, there are no digital barriers at play. This ensures that elements of digital literacy do not impinge upon the ability to have an inclusive meeting. This in turn leads to improved conversation and therefore collaboration. Further, an inclusive workplace environment helps foster a positive workplace culture.

With government entities particularly focused on building a data-driven organisation, the evolved meeting space complete with video conferencing solutions proves a viable strategy. Ensuring that operational effectiveness, among other things, will improve.

It’s also worth noting that, while there may be a lack of physical presence in modern meeting rooms, there are still opportunities to foster personal connections. In fact, with employees occupying their own space on the screen, it can be easier to detect different moods or feelings. This can help managers to check in with staff or prompt them to speak their mind.

Fostering inclusivity in meeting spaces is a top business priority for those operating in the financial services industry. In fact, 73% of respondents noted removing organisational silos as a priority.

Hiring new and exciting talent

Working to evolve a meeting room not only impacts current staff, but also potential staff. This is because, by installing the infrastructure needed for staff to operate hybridly or completely remotely, geographical barriers are removed.

For current employees this could mean that they undergo the tree change they’ve been secretly dreaming about. It might also mean that current employees spend a few days working from home in order to be present for school aged children.

The wider implications is that hiring practices and processes can be completely changed. If current staff can operate efficiently and effectively from home, the same can be said for new staff. When it’s time to collaborate, staff can simply touch a button on the room’s Tap device and be connected with remote employees, whatever their preferred meeting platform is.

This means that companies can widen the search net when it comes to hiring new employees, considering individuals who may not have made the shortlist in times gone by. Helping financial institutions overcome a key barrier- a lack of available talent.

This is particularly prudent for government organisations as well. Historically, government salary tiering has inhibited this sectors’ ability to attract and retain talent. By offering up another incentive such as remote work, the ability to achieve work/life balance will ensure that candidates will be more open to such opportunities.

Therefore, by increasing the pool of talent, companies are more likely to connect with the right person for the job. Highlighting the importance of changing recruitment policies in order to attract the best talent.

Furthermore, the ability to hire the best talent creates a domino effect throughout the whole organisation. Hiring better, more remote talent, means that the new employee is likely to be more successful in the role. As such, the organisation will benefit in terms of both workplace culture and operational efficiencies.

When it comes to workplace culture, the impact of hiring the right fit when vacancies become available should not be underestimated. This is because the right person will buy into the culture. This benefits their individual productivity and the productivity of their coworkers. On the other hand, the wrong fit will hinder productivity and therefore compromise culture.

In terms of operational efficiencies, it would be remiss not to mention that when hiring remote workers there are reduced business costs at play. Without the need for multi-level office spaces, businesses can consolidate real estate and therefore real estate related spending.

It’s also worth noting that remote employees are more productive. With less distractions in the form of office noise, remote employees can put their head down and complete projects more efficiently and effectively.

Finally, hiring remote workers can also improve retention rates. By holding onto employees for longer, organisations can reduce a variety of spending. In particular, monetary spending associated with tasks such as onboarding, training or providing technological equipment. 

The effects of a connected meeting room

A connected meeting room essentially means collaboration without limits. An in-office team member will be able to connect with coworkers on a Zoom meeting and upon completion, quickly and seamlessly transition into a client meeting hosted on Microsoft Teams. 

Importantly, in a connected meeting room, there are no sacrifices. In meeting rooms of the past, many people have been content with sacrificing elements of video or even audio in order to get the meeting started and finished more quickly. 

With an evolved meeting room equipped with video conferencing solutions, there is no value lost, only value added. Such products like the Rally Camera mean that every element of the meeting room can be displayed with phenomenal video quality.

This ensures that, whether you’re physically in the room or attending virtually, everyone is garnering the same insight.Whether these insights arrive in the form of visual cues such as graphs being displayed or audio cues such as an employee sharing their experience. All of which ensures that employees within every department of the business are working towards common goals.

As such, evolved meeting rooms have taken the essence of traditional meeting rooms- being able to visually connect and collaborate- and essentially taken them to the next level so that participation can occur partially remotely or even fully remotely.

Therefore, evolved meeting spaces help every employee feel as if they are a valued part of the team and the broader organisation. Whether they operate under a hybrid, remote or in-person working arrangement. This in turn helps to improve levels of efficiency and effectiveness. Further still, it helps organisations retain a positive workplace culture.