Your physical surroundings will influence your thoughts and behaviors. So if you want a productive team, you better understand environmental psychology.
This is awesome! Wish I’d read it years ago, but when I think about spaces I’ve loved — in stores, homes, offices, anywhere—your principles make perfect sense. Sharing on LinkedIn, for sure.
This is great! And not just for businesses but for those working from home. While the impact may not be as great (fewer people) the quality work can be greatly improved! The sink full of dishes can be such a distraction! As someone who deeply appreciates an inviting and calm environment, I really loved this post! 💙
100%! I was thinking a lot about people working from home while I wrote this, mostly because I work from home most of the time. Oftentimes the first thing I do before working is clean up the space. The amount of time it takes me to clean is far less than the amount of increased productivity I get because of the lack of mess.
I 1000% agree with this! I feel like my productivity and creativity soars with in a clean space and dramatically plummets otherwise. I think that’s one reason people unconsciously are able to get so much more work done while at an air bnb or on a caroling vacation — no extra clutter and mess to distract!
@Jeff Matlow - As a therapist who’s spent a few decades helping people explore their interior design (read: unconscious motivations, emotional furniture and inherited family blueprints), I couldn’t help but smile reading this piece. You’ve managed to connect the dots between desk placement and dopamine.
Environmental psychology, in my opinion, is like the underappreciated therapist in the leadership world shaping behavior while everyone credits the strategy decks. Your point about leaders designing silos and then being shocked by siloed thinking? Chef’s kiss. I’ve seen the psychological version of that too many times to count.
And yes, Starbucks has nailed the third space vibe. (Though as a New Englander, I’d argue a cozy library corner with a well worn armchair and a whiff of musty pages does the same, with less foam.)
I loved this read and it’s a useful nudge for all of us, especially those of us trying to build workplaces (and lives) that don’t just function but actually feel good to be in.
First of all, as a displaced New Englander, I 100% agree with you on the library corner. I can happily retire by spending a fair bit of my days in a comfy library chair.
Secondly, "connect the dots between desk placement and dopamine." I had not previously thought of the dopamine connection here but it's accurate and, now that you say it, obvious.
Motivation can be somewhat manufactured with the appropriate office layout.
Thank you Jeff. I am a displaced Midwesterner who has fallen in love with New England over time. It took me a minute but Vermont in fall is what my heart yearns for the most. Also, I appreciate the the word somewhat in what you layout.
Interesting piece :) I’d like to add that colour is so important to the environment too. Meeting rooms with shades of orange and blue can increase creativity, collaboration and enhance communication, for example.
Great post and I'd never heard about Starbucks being the third space before. Unfortunately, the only time I visited a Starbucks was when I was breastfeeding. The comfy sofas were by a large window and as I was chatting to my friend, I noticed a creepy guy staring at me with his mouth open through the window - even when I glared at him, he just stood there. I think I shouted at him. Anyway, I never went back.
Re the work stuff, yes, environment does make so much such a difference to people. I've worked with people who are freaked out by noise and not enough light. One of the leadership training exercises I did was to ask the students what to take into consideration if they had to organize an office move.
About half thought about the environment. The other half thought that this was 'soft fluffy, HR stuff' and if they put Jenny from accounts in at a desk away from her team in a dark corner by the toilets, she should just suck it up.
I remember once when the boss decided to get rid of all the plants - all hell broke loose and after a few months, we got them back.
Let me start with the Starbucks-breastfeeding experience. That's definitely creepy, and completely inappropriate. I wouldn't blame Starbucks for that tho. To their defense, they aren't designed for breastfeeding. But don't get me started on how America makes it more difficult for pregnant women. How about just one spot for pregnant women at the front of the parking lot at every big store. Is that too much to ask for? I mean, Target and CostCo at the very least should be ashamed.
As far as the sensitivity to noise and light - you didn't mention people on the spectrum but it made me think of people on the spectrum. You don't/won't always know who is on the spectrum, but this is why having control over noise and light is so incredibly important. People may have great sensitivity to that stuff, and rarely do leaders consider creating different types of spaces for different types of people.
Finally, the plants. Your boss decided to get rid of all the plants?! What kind of greenery hater is that? It's super interesting that things got so disrupted by that, it led to the plants being brought back. Great case study.
My daughter is 26 now so I'm out of that world, but I remember at the time people making a big fuss about women breastfeeding in cafes. It's not like we weren't trying to be discreet lol. Also, I'm in NZ so clearly there's an issue in more than one country! Can't blame Starbucks though, creepy guy not their fault.
Re the noise and light, it was before people became aware of neurodiversity, so we didn't connect it to that. Since then, half my family have been diagnosed as AuDHD so I'm a lot more informed about what it looks like. I'm sure that the people who had difficulties probably are on the spectrum so perhaps organizations may take similar complaints more seriously now. Having said that, why can't companies accommodate their workers just because they say it's hard to work in noise or prefer dark/light? Even with the constraints of 'the office we've got' there are ways around most things.
Excellent overview (despite your disclaimers) of a topic that is especially relevant in the age of Return to Office.
I especially appreciate your point that there's not a single ideal environment, and that you should align the environment with goals.
Additionally, leaders should think about the physical surroundings of specific meetings and events. For example, a 1:1 in the employee's office feels very different from a 1:1 in the boss's office. An offsite in the conference room people see daily feels very different from an offsite in a retreat center with a scenic view.
Great read and something leaders should think about more than most of us do.
Hey! I saw your post pop up on my homepage and wanted to show some support. If you get a chance, I’d really appreciate a little love on my latest newsletter too always happy to boost each other!
This is awesome! Wish I’d read it years ago, but when I think about spaces I’ve loved — in stores, homes, offices, anywhere—your principles make perfect sense. Sharing on LinkedIn, for sure.
You're awesome Elizabeth. I'm glad you liked this and thanks for commenting!
More importantly, thanks for the share on LinkedIn!
This is great! And not just for businesses but for those working from home. While the impact may not be as great (fewer people) the quality work can be greatly improved! The sink full of dishes can be such a distraction! As someone who deeply appreciates an inviting and calm environment, I really loved this post! 💙
100%! I was thinking a lot about people working from home while I wrote this, mostly because I work from home most of the time. Oftentimes the first thing I do before working is clean up the space. The amount of time it takes me to clean is far less than the amount of increased productivity I get because of the lack of mess.
I 1000% agree with this! I feel like my productivity and creativity soars with in a clean space and dramatically plummets otherwise. I think that’s one reason people unconsciously are able to get so much more work done while at an air bnb or on a caroling vacation — no extra clutter and mess to distract!
@Jeff Matlow - As a therapist who’s spent a few decades helping people explore their interior design (read: unconscious motivations, emotional furniture and inherited family blueprints), I couldn’t help but smile reading this piece. You’ve managed to connect the dots between desk placement and dopamine.
Environmental psychology, in my opinion, is like the underappreciated therapist in the leadership world shaping behavior while everyone credits the strategy decks. Your point about leaders designing silos and then being shocked by siloed thinking? Chef’s kiss. I’ve seen the psychological version of that too many times to count.
And yes, Starbucks has nailed the third space vibe. (Though as a New Englander, I’d argue a cozy library corner with a well worn armchair and a whiff of musty pages does the same, with less foam.)
I loved this read and it’s a useful nudge for all of us, especially those of us trying to build workplaces (and lives) that don’t just function but actually feel good to be in.
So incredibly well said, Doc.
First of all, as a displaced New Englander, I 100% agree with you on the library corner. I can happily retire by spending a fair bit of my days in a comfy library chair.
Secondly, "connect the dots between desk placement and dopamine." I had not previously thought of the dopamine connection here but it's accurate and, now that you say it, obvious.
Motivation can be somewhat manufactured with the appropriate office layout.
Thank you Jeff. I am a displaced Midwesterner who has fallen in love with New England over time. It took me a minute but Vermont in fall is what my heart yearns for the most. Also, I appreciate the the word somewhat in what you layout.
Interesting piece :) I’d like to add that colour is so important to the environment too. Meeting rooms with shades of orange and blue can increase creativity, collaboration and enhance communication, for example.
Great point Kerry! I forgot to even mention color - it's such an important element. I appreciate you bringing it up.
Maybe I'll write a piece about the importance of color in productivity and creativity.
Thanks for this awesome breakdown. Learn something new today!
Well thanks for commenting, Anfernee!
I'm glad I could teach you something new.
Everyone has something to learn everyday :)
Great post and I'd never heard about Starbucks being the third space before. Unfortunately, the only time I visited a Starbucks was when I was breastfeeding. The comfy sofas were by a large window and as I was chatting to my friend, I noticed a creepy guy staring at me with his mouth open through the window - even when I glared at him, he just stood there. I think I shouted at him. Anyway, I never went back.
Re the work stuff, yes, environment does make so much such a difference to people. I've worked with people who are freaked out by noise and not enough light. One of the leadership training exercises I did was to ask the students what to take into consideration if they had to organize an office move.
About half thought about the environment. The other half thought that this was 'soft fluffy, HR stuff' and if they put Jenny from accounts in at a desk away from her team in a dark corner by the toilets, she should just suck it up.
I remember once when the boss decided to get rid of all the plants - all hell broke loose and after a few months, we got them back.
OK, there are many things to comment on here.
Let me start with the Starbucks-breastfeeding experience. That's definitely creepy, and completely inappropriate. I wouldn't blame Starbucks for that tho. To their defense, they aren't designed for breastfeeding. But don't get me started on how America makes it more difficult for pregnant women. How about just one spot for pregnant women at the front of the parking lot at every big store. Is that too much to ask for? I mean, Target and CostCo at the very least should be ashamed.
As far as the sensitivity to noise and light - you didn't mention people on the spectrum but it made me think of people on the spectrum. You don't/won't always know who is on the spectrum, but this is why having control over noise and light is so incredibly important. People may have great sensitivity to that stuff, and rarely do leaders consider creating different types of spaces for different types of people.
Finally, the plants. Your boss decided to get rid of all the plants?! What kind of greenery hater is that? It's super interesting that things got so disrupted by that, it led to the plants being brought back. Great case study.
Thanks a lot for sharing these things, Wendy!
My daughter is 26 now so I'm out of that world, but I remember at the time people making a big fuss about women breastfeeding in cafes. It's not like we weren't trying to be discreet lol. Also, I'm in NZ so clearly there's an issue in more than one country! Can't blame Starbucks though, creepy guy not their fault.
Re the noise and light, it was before people became aware of neurodiversity, so we didn't connect it to that. Since then, half my family have been diagnosed as AuDHD so I'm a lot more informed about what it looks like. I'm sure that the people who had difficulties probably are on the spectrum so perhaps organizations may take similar complaints more seriously now. Having said that, why can't companies accommodate their workers just because they say it's hard to work in noise or prefer dark/light? Even with the constraints of 'the office we've got' there are ways around most things.
The plants were removed to save money, I believe.
Excellent overview (despite your disclaimers) of a topic that is especially relevant in the age of Return to Office.
I especially appreciate your point that there's not a single ideal environment, and that you should align the environment with goals.
Additionally, leaders should think about the physical surroundings of specific meetings and events. For example, a 1:1 in the employee's office feels very different from a 1:1 in the boss's office. An offsite in the conference room people see daily feels very different from an offsite in a retreat center with a scenic view.
Great read and something leaders should think about more than most of us do.
Hey! I saw your post pop up on my homepage and wanted to show some support. If you get a chance, I’d really appreciate a little love on my latest newsletter too always happy to boost each other!
A cluttered space = cluttered thoughts for me. So, I have definitely seen the nature of environmental psychology in action.