It’s hard to find the perfect workplace, and much of what makes a workplace “perfect” depends on the nature of the work being done. A quiet, secluded office devoid of any distractions might be perfect for powering through mundane, repetitive work. But it wouldn’t necessarily lend itself to creativity.
The Creative Power of Public Spaces
While public spaces may be prone to distractions, some argue that places with high levels of activity may be effective locations for creative work. “Pablo Picasso, JK Rowling, Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre, Bob Dylan—whether they’re painters, singer-songwriters, philosophers or writers, people across nations and centuries have tapped into their creativity working away at a table in a café,” says Brian Lufkin in an article for BBC Worklife.
Lufkin points to research indicating that distractions in public spaces—even what some might consider “noise”—can actually be stimulating in a positive way. “The combination of noise, casual crowds and visual variety can give us just the right amount of distraction to help us be our sharpest and most creative,” he writes.
Coffee shops and other public places can provide a feeling of casualness and thus enable ideas to flow more freely, unlike in an office. Additionally, the variety of noises and sounds can help trigger ideas in a way a bleak room buried inside a corporate office building cannot.
Of course, the trick is finding the right balance between enough outside noise and too much outside noise; that will depend to a large extent on the person. Some may thrive at a table in a chaotic, noisy bar. Others may get just the right amount of outside noise in a public library.
Public Spaces Can Fuel Team Productivity
Such public places can also be great for team projects for which work might be performed outside the office. The viability of the strategy may currently depend on local COVID-19 restrictions and office policies, but in general, it can help spur activity to get a group together outside of the office at a coffee shop or another public place. The changed environment, more informal setting, and outside noise might be just what the team needs to come up with and develop that great idea or strategic plan.
Work isn’t always just about getting as much done as efficiently as possible. That’s great when assembling widgets or for data entry, but some tasks require more creativity, and changing up the location where that work is performed can help provide a creative spark.