Cloud computing means that it’s never been easier to take your work beyond the office walls without losing connectivity - but actively encouraging employees to work outside could boost your business.
The benefits of getting workers outside are well-documented – one study found that looking at pictures of nature is enough to reduce workplace stress, and offices with natural elements and green spaces report high levels of wellbeing among staff.
Greendesking hasn’t taken off in the UK yet but it’s popular in warmer climates. In Australia, conservation organisation The Nature Conservancy encourages workers to try greendesking as part of its work with nature week.
But you don’t need year-round sunshine to try greendesking. You could try a walking meeting, take the team for a picnic lunch instead of to the pub, or head for the beach rather than the boardroom to experience the benefits of working outside.
“Meetings work well outdoors, particularly when you’re throwing around new ideas,” says Jo Blood, director of workplace consultancy Posture People. “We’re lucky enough to be based by the beach so our Monday morning meetings often take place in front of the waves.”
Greendesking is a natural extension of working in a coffee shop, according to Damian Hanson of online telecoms system CircleLoop. He says there’s a growing appetite among SMEs for technology solutions that enable staff to work wherever they like – be that the beach or the back garden – without outdoors locations hampering productivity. But you don’t need to invest in costly infrastructure or technology to facilitate greendesking.
“Most employees have mobile devices and laptops so it’s just a matter of connecting a laptop to your mobile data to access cloud-based productivity, product management tools, emails, and document storage in the cloud,” says Hanson. “You can also make and receive telephone calls over mobile data with CircleLoop but that doesn’t need to be an expensive exercise. You could invest in additional data connectivity and create your own wifi and data hotspots but, again, none of that is essential.”
The reliability of technology is arguably the least challenging aspect of greendesking in the UK. “Obviously we’re reliant on the Great British weather,” admits Hanson. “That’s especially true here in Manchester, where I can leave the office in blazing sunshine but get snowed on 15 minutes later.”
Jack McCaughtrie, founder of social media marketing business Core Tree, works outside as often as possible in a coffee shop with outdoor seating or from a park bench, and says greendesking doesn’t have to be high-tech.
“Internet speeds can be the biggest barrier to working outside, and that problem is heightened in rural areas where there’s an abundance of countryside but sometimes a serious lack of connectivity,” he says.
McCaughtrie takes only a notebook – the paper kind – when working outside and finds the break from technology helps. “I started working outside in between client visits, partly in an effort to get space to focus on items on my to-do list that I was just never getting round to tackling in the office,” he says. McCaughtrie found this so useful that he now commits half a day per month to working outside, and says it’s invaluable when planning new projects.
“Greendesking also helps with creativity – being outside allows me to think differently and improves concentration when I return to the office. I’d encourage any small business owner to try building greendesking into their schedule on a regular basis.”
If mother nature smiles on us this summer, how can you get to grips with greendesking? Polly Buckland of award-winning digital marketing agency The Typeface Group recommends starting with walking meetings.
“Our working environment is a busy one but, living very much in the Fitbit age, we became aware of our physical inactivity during the day. That, combined with the fact that a relaxed mind is a creative mind, urged us to try walking meetings – and a massive plus point is physically getting away from technology,” she says.
“We discuss ongoing client projects without distractions, brainstorming as we move. The health benefits are obvious; a quick walk around the block for a 20-minute meeting increases heart rate, adds about 2000 steps to the day and burns over 100 calories.”
Just don’t forget about the ergonomics of your outdoor working environment. “Even in the garden you need to have your computer screen at the correct height, and a separate keyboard and mouse – balancing a laptop on your lap in a deckchair can cause neck pain,” adds Blood. “And consider sitting in the shade – it’s easier to see the screen, plus there’s less chance of sunburn.”
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