Everyone loves a new office. Shiny new furniture. A brand new coffee machine. A new area to explore at lunch-time. But an office move can be an unsettling time for those worried about job security, a different commute, and a new environment to negotiate.
How you communicate before, during and after your office relocation has a major impact on how engaged people are with the process, and therefore how successful it is overall.
Follow our seven top communication tips to make your relocation a rip-roaring success:
- Start early. You don’t want people finding out about the project through the grapevine
- Communicate often. There’s no such thing as too much but don’t overwhelm people with detail too early
- Use a variety of channels. People take on board information in different ways so use different tools to reach them and cement your messages
- Appoint move champions to act as your eyes and ears on the ground. They can respond quickly to any rumours
- Plan for resistance. By having key messages and answers ready for any difficult questions, you won’t be caught on the back foot
- Involve staff in the decision-making around the relocation, such as choosing the furniture, colours, meeting room names or in deciding on the layout of the new space. If they feel they’ve been involved, they’ll be more engaged and positive about the move
- Don’t stop once you’re in the new space. Get feedback on how people feel about the move and the new environment and use that information to improve the facilities delivery
For best practice guidance on communicating during your office relocation, download our free guide to the subject or chat to us about supporting you.
