Your office space has a look, feel and energy whether you recognize it or not. When your employees, clients, or vendors walk in to your office (actually from the time they pull into your parking lot) they are forming opinions about your business.

These opinions can be good or bad, but they are definitely being formed.

Differentiating your company from your competition is the key to success for most organizations. How does your company shape up as it relates to the client experience? Is the bar set low, or are there high expectations?

Employers should be concerned with their employees’ impression of their workplace. Today’s wide ranging workforce has a higher expectations of their environment. Baby Boomers were looking for a career and a place to settle in and retire.

Today’s workforce is much different. There are 5 generations in the workforce today and by 2020 the largest segment will be the Millennials.

If you don’t have an environment and strategy to attract and embrace that workforce, your company will be left behind.   In order to keep your team engaged and productive, your office environment needs to have flexible spaces. These spaces include; collaborative areas, quite zones, resource centers and even refreshment areas.

No “one size fits all” work space will be effective in today’s office environment. Spaces that make your employees productive, energized, comfortable, and healthy are important aspects of today’s office design.   Many people in the workforce today value their workspace as much as their salary.

What about your clients and vendors? What first impression do you create for them? Are you just like your competitor across town or do they FEEL different in your office? Reception, meeting, and common areas say a lot about what you do and how you “do” your business.

How do you welcome your employees and visitors?   Is there a welcome sign for each guest on the flat panel monitor scrolling with the company’s core values? Or is there no one sitting at the reception desk and the guests have to pick up a phone and dial an extension to be greeted? Is there a comfortable waiting area with beverages and snacks close by to offer to the guests? Great office design takes into account every client and employee experience and enhances it. Employees and clients are a company’s most valued asset. They should be treated that way.

Creating a positive first impression does not need to be costly or inconvenient. Engaging a professional designer is the first step in the process. Great design comes from a collaboration of ideas from the designer and the client.

Designing an inspiring workspace is is a great investment for a company to make. Such an investment can increase sales, engage employees, and create a competitive edge to attract top talent.