Office Designs & Strategies: More Standing Up for Standing

Posted July 16th, 2010 by Carroll King Schuller

Office Designs & Strategies: More Standing Up for Standing

As I explored in a previous post, standing desks are gaining acceptance in the workplace.  Even still, when asking your supervisor to make a change in your work space, you should:

1. Persuade. Settle on a convincing argument – perhaps that a standing desk will help boost your productivity and creativity.
2. Lobby for a trial period.  Agree that if it doesn’t work out after two months, you’ll switch back.
3. Prepare in advance. Before talking with your boss, spend some time thinking about what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it.  Also, do your research.  You might find the resources I cited in an earlier post to be useful.

We only think of a desk as something to sit in front of because that’s what tradition has taught us, but why let that be a limitation?  Challenge yourself to think more creatively about your work spaces.  Not just different sized chairs but perhaps getting rid of your chair altogether?

Designers of all stripes consistently rework old patterns and concepts in order to give them new life and new usefulness.

For a little bit of brain candy, check out these gorgeous new fabrics exhibited at Material ConneXion’s Medium Awards.  What a stunning way to break with tradition!

And finally, as a bit of inspiration here’s a list of  successful stand-up desk users:

• Former Wisconsin Senator, William Proxmire
• Dean of Marquette Univeristy Law School, Joseph Kearney
• Former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld
• Elementary-aged school children all across Minnesota who are part of the “Stand Up for Learning” initiative

If you think you might benefit from working with a life or career coach, call Carroll King Schuller today at 804-288-0099