Pressing Pause Everyday

At the Chick-fil-A home office (called the Support Center), we’re in the process of totally renovating our office, and the concept is very open. I love how the open concept invites more collaboration. It infuses the work environment with a healthy bit of excitement and vigor. 

However, a few years ago, a study emerged that wasn’t too flattering for the open office-space idea.“the disadvantages of noise and distraction associated with open office plans outweighed anticipated, but still unproven, benefits like increasing morale and productivity boosts from unplanned interactions.” 

I still love the idea of open work spaces. But they need to be balanced with beautifully inviting outdoor spaces too. Or indoor spaces designed to allow for times of quiet and thinking. 

We’ve integrated walking paths at our Support Center. So, if you need to get some space, or breathe a bit, you can take in some nature and reboot your brain. 

Isn’t it great to be able to take a walk and ponder an idea from one of your colleagues or to reboot your mind after that last intense meeting? Don’t you love being able to get into a nice quiet room for some thoughtful deliberation and thinking?

Openness in offices and communication is great. But taking a time-out from transmitting information is very important too. We also need to be able to receive information, right? And that often takes time, quiet, and some good ole fashion alone time.

Last week, I talked about the power of pausing. The “pause” is part of our corporate structure. We’re closed on Sundays. When you pause, you place yourself in a position to receive. 

That might come in the form of a good book, a podcast, or stillness—all of which require some alone time. I like how Diane Greene, a board member at Google, views quiet time as a pathway to clear thinking and asking the right questions. 

Collaboration, openness, and innovative spaces are great. We encourage and use them at Chick-fil-A. But we also offer staff the chance to get outside the walls. To get alone, and find the quiet. To enjoy times of receiving. 

Now more than ever, we need to cultivate spaces that strike a healthy tension between availability, which can sometimes lead to distraction, and solitude.