Recently we received the keys to our new office in Wollongong 🎉 Here’s a write up on the new space and what it means for Devika 😎
Custom fit out 👷 🏗️
We’re treating this property just like one of our Devika projects! Each of our Devika projects is driven by a client with unique needs that can’t be met by an off the shelf product. Similarly for us, after 8 years in 2 different offices, we’ve got a list of features we want to cater for now and in the future that we can’t find in a tenanted space.
Office Features 🏋️
Health, fitness, socialization, convenience and accessibility are really important to our team. So this property will have access to a pool, gym, outdoor entertaining area and is located right in the Wollongong CBD with street level access and close to public transport.
One of the reasons I picked this property is because of the 10m high ceilings, so we are installing a second story. This will allow for extra privacy for the developers working on our projects 🧑💻 and create a quiet space for focus work.
We hold lots of workshops and events with our team, clients and the tech community, so the entire bottom level will be dedicated to offices, collaboration spaces and entertainment areas.
The ground level access will make it easier for our staff who ride to work to store their bikes and also for clients to find us easily from the street. 🚲
The Gong 🏖️
7 years ago I wrote an article “Sorry Sydney, we’re staying in the Gong” and I’m pretty happy to say nothing has changed! Read the article for all my thoughts on this, but to put it simply, we all love it here – the lifestyle, beaches, proximity, cheaper cost of living…
Culture 😀
There are many contributors to culture; from L&D to team dynamics, leadership, communication and conduct. But all of these factors are significantly influenced by the physical office.
The phrase ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast’ is an important reminder of this, and has stuck with me ever since I first heard it. It describes the significance of organizational culture in influencing the success of a company, often more than the strategic plans by leadership.
There has been a lot of discussion around the role of the office in recent years, and I feel that a lot of businesses have missed the mark. The office is a place to support your staff to do their work, not a means of monitoring and micro-managing. We have a flexible work policy at Devika, but most days the whole team is here, I feel because of the culture we have created.
When our culture is strong, we deliver better results across the board. Instead of creating a top down strategy of “I want our staff in the office 5 days a week”, I’m working on a bottom up approach of “what can I give my team to make work enjoyable and fulfilling”.
This is the same way I built my business. I took a bottom up approach of “how can we create the best product and service offering to offer more value than our competitors”, as opposed to a top down approach of “how can we make $X”. Through this approach, we’ve reaped the benefits and now don’t have to worry about where our work will come from.
Conclusion
In summary, the success of our new office fit-out goes beyond aesthetics; it’s an opportunity to reinforce and enhance our culture, lifestyle and overall success as a business. Stay tuned for updates on our fit out! 👷 🏗️