Use your physical space to encourage new conversations. The jury is out on whether the benefits of open-plan office spaces are worth their cost in productivity. But one thing is for sure: you communicate more frequently with those in close physical proximity to you. Exploit this fact by switching up your seating chart a few times a year. Move your designers closer to marketing. Have sales sit next to engineering. Informal communication (and idea exchange) is often a product of happenstance—so engineer that to your advantage.
