Is your office space zoom friendly? Whether you have just moved into a new rented office space or you are returning after a period of working from home, the way you operate will have changed dramatically. For one, face-to-face get-togethers are a thing of the past, at least for the foreseeable future, with Zoom meetings now being the new way to communicate and network for most working professionals.
In fact, since the coronavirus outbreak, this video communications platform has seen its number of daily active users (DAUs) soar to unprecedented levels, with these trends showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Whether you love it or hate it, it appears as though Zoom is here to stay. So, the next question you need to ask yourself is, “how are you going to make your office space more Zoom-friendly?” Unless, of course, you don’t mind becoming one of the internet’s many Zoom fail videos.
Fortunately, if you don’t know where to start when it comes to making your rented office space more conducive to virtual meetings, here at Simple Storage, we have got you covered. From lighting to layout, backdrops to real-life backgrounds, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about how to create the perfect office space for your next Zoom meeting.
If your current office space is surrounded by lots of other office spaces and you have little in the way of natural light or surrounding views, this first step may be a little hard. However, before you start to make lots of changes to the space within your office’s four walls, it can first be a good idea to consider your local surroundings and whether they can help improve the ambience of your next Zoom meeting.
For example, our offices for rent in Rochdale are based in a historic refurbished Lancashire cotton mill and boast stunning natural surroundings, which make for the ideal Zoom background. Therefore, there is no need to use a virtual backdrop to jazz up an uninspiring grey wall.
However, if you are not so lucky with your current office space, you can still take advantage of whatever natural surroundings you have with the below top tips:
Although you may think that keeping your office space neutral is your best course of action to minimise the risk of distraction, the opposite is in fact true. Your office says a lot about you and your company and, chances are, when you have face-to-face meetings, you want your guest to see what kind of business you are and what your corporate culture is like. However, how can they see who you are as a brand if they are only met with your smiling face and a blank wall?
Of course, they can’t. Therefore, you need to make sure that your office space says something about you and your business.
Our stunning office spaces in Rochdale, which boast suspended ceilings and a high-quality finish, are available both furnished and unfurnished, meaning you can choose to kit out your new office with all your own furniture, or you can decide to just add a few key pieces that showcase your style.
Top designs tips for your office space include:
This may seem obvious, but it can be highly beneficial to your overall productivity if you create a designated area or workspace where you always conduct your online meetings from. Not only will this make you feel calmer and in control before an important meeting, but it will also mean that you only need to prepare and maintain one space.
If you sometimes have one-on-one Zoom meetings, but then on other occasions you need input from some of your employees, you may also want to select a space that can accommodate more people and still create a professional and Zoom-friendly ambience.
Here at Simple Storage, all our existing office customers can enjoy 50% off our deluxe meeting and board rooms. Guaranteed to impress, your clients can enjoy a panoramic view of the Scout Moor as you talk them through your sales pitch or, for days when the weather is not playing ball, let their eyes drift to the opulent oak-panelled interiors.
If that doesn’t seal the deal, nothing will.
Although an empty desk may give the impression that you sit around twiddling your thumbs all day, on the other end of the spectrum, an untidy and uncluttered one will just make you appear lazy and disorganised.
Therefore, if you want to create the perfect Zoom-friendly office space, you need to get serious about cleaning and clearing. Embrace your inner Marie Kondo and chuck out anything that doesn’t bring value to the space, either in terms of practicalities or aesthetics.
If you are not sure what to keep and what to throw out, try a practice Zoom meeting with a colleague, family member, or friend and ask their opinion about the space and what items evoke positive feelings, and which ones are simply distracting.
There is little point in spending hours updating your office space to get the look just right if the person on the other end of the screen can’t see it properly.
If you have ever been on a Zoom meeting when the other person has not got their camera pointed in the right direction, or you have been presented with an extreme, and quite frankly scary close up of their face, you will understand the importance of both your chosen seating and your computer height.
As a general rule, you want your camera to be eye level and positioned far enough away that the other person can clearly see the background behind you, your desk, and of course you.
Unless you own a fitness brand, it is not a good look to be bouncing on an exercise ball or reclining on a bean bag when you are conducting a virtual meeting. You may think that you will appear trendy and fashionable, but more than likely, it will just distract from what you are trying to say.
Instead, opt for a predesigned office or, if you want your rented office space to be more bespoke, look for some high-quality, customised pieces that complement your brand’s overall personality.
If your current office space has terrible lighting that you can’t do much about, then you may want to consider applying a filter for your next Zoom call to soften the room and reduce glare. However, make sure you don’t go overboard with these types of features as you run the risk of looking comical rather than professional.
Another way that you can improve the quality of your zoom meetings using technology is by ensuring that you have super-fast broadband. Our offices for rent have recently enjoyed a network update, meaning if you choose to run your business from our location, you will be privy to broadband speeds of up to 1GB.
Choosing artwork to hang in your office can be tricky, especially when it comes to art that will be showcased throughout all your virtual meetings. Whether you opt for a funny design, a motivational poster, or a print with a famous quote, make sure that you choose something that represents your business’s core values.
Whether you are trying to choose a backdrop or you are redecorating your whole office, the colours that you choose will have a direct effect on the mood of the room. In turn, this affects the mood of your Zoom meetings.
See below the feelings each colour evokes so that you can pick the right one for your business:
Although wallpaper is highly effective at brightening up a wall within your home, in an office space, it is just distracting and for all the wrong reasons. Not to mention the fact that most styles become outdated quickly, so you may have to redo all your hard work sooner than you would like.
Instead, stick to either a coloured wall with neutral accessories or a blank canvas that is brought to life with your vibrant items and office greenery.
When it comes to rented office space, these can sometimes feel sterile and impersonal. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. Whether you choose an office that has stunning natural surroundings that speak for themselves, such as our office spaces in Rochdale, or you stick with where you are and customise your area accordingly, with a little effort, you can transform a dull office into a striking and influential space that is 100% Zoom-friendly.
If you are looking for an affordable, secure, and attractive office space for rent in Rochdale, why not get in touch with one of our friendly team today on 02706 726000? With flexible payment options to suit all budgets, your dream office space could be well within your reach.
