3 Rules to Follow When Buying an Office Pod(1)

For some people, buying and placing an acoustic pod may seem like a no-brainer. You choose a product, look for an open space in the office, check the pod for a fit, and...you're done!

Well, this is the easiest way. But in our experience, if you want to get the most out of your pods, you should consider taking a more conscious approach to your processes. So let's dive into some basic rules for choosing and implementing an acoustic pod.

This article is part of the Acoustic Pods Consumers Guide, which we created to address the most critical questions about Acoustic Pods. This guide will walk you through how to choose the right pod, place it in your office and introduce it to your team. Download your guide here.

Acoustic Pods: Choosing the Right Quantity and Type

Fact: Selecting the correct number and type of acoustic pods is critical to getting the most out of each acoustic pod. So, what's the secret? The trick is finding the right balance: you don't want to see your employees fighting for pod time. On the other hand, having too many pods in one area can clutter your workplace. But trust us, the right choices can help you transform your office and improve employee happiness. Here are two key tips to consider.

→ In most cases, one pod is not enough:

Believe it or not, one of the classic mistakes our clients make is they believe that one pod will magically solve all their problems. But the truth is, acoustic pods aren't magic. It is almost impossible to use a single pod as a soundproof phone booth, centralized work place and meeting room at the same time. It just doesn't work. If you choose too few pods, they'll be occupied all the time (unless you're a super small business). It can even cause tension between those who want to use the acoustic office for quick but important phone calls and those who want to use it for hours of intensive work. Make sure you consider the needs of your employees, which pods can meet those needs, and make purchasing decisions from there

→ Consider the different needs and expectations of the team:

When you're deciding how many pods your office needs, analyze your team's expectations and the nature of each team's work. Pods serve at least four different purposes: quick calls, collaboration, conferencing, and concentration. Each purpose requires a different approach. For example, a large sales team may need more one-person acoustic booths to make calls. Marketing or strategy teams, on the other hand, need at least a larger group to meet and discuss ideas away from the typical office hustle and bustle. If you're not sure about your team's needs, try preparing a questionnaire for team members and listening directly to them about the types of spaces they want and need most.