## Creating Respectful Workplaces: The Mental Framework That Changes Everything
Building inclusive commercial environments goes beyond policy changes and training sessions. Sometimes the most effective solutions are surprisingly simple, requiring nothing more than a shift in perspective.
### The Challenge We Face
Workplace discrimination remains a persistent issue across industries. Women earn approximately 80 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts, while facing various forms of workplace bias—from obvious to subtle. LGBTQ+ employees experience discrimination at rates between 15 and 43 percent, depending on the study.
For commercial interior designers creating modern workspaces, understanding these dynamics is crucial. The physical environment can either support or hinder inclusive workplace culture.
### A Simple Mental Exercise
One approach gaining attention involves a straightforward thought experiment: before interacting with any colleague, imagine you're speaking with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson instead.
Here's how it works:
**Professional Interactions**: Would you tell The Rock he shouldn't help move office furniture because you want to show off your strength? The absurdity becomes clear when you apply the same logic to female colleagues.
**Meeting Requests**: If a colleague asks for a coffee meeting about job performance, would you wonder about ulterior motives if it were The Rock requesting the discussion? Focus stays where it belongs—on professional development.
**Personal Boundaries**: Curiosity about colleagues' personal lives becomes obviously inappropriate when you imagine asking The Rock about his dating preferences or home life.
### Why This Works
While this mental framework might seem overly simplistic, it highlights how unconscious biases shape workplace interactions. By imagining interactions with someone we naturally respect and treat professionally, we expose our double standards.
The exercise forces awareness of behaviors we might not otherwise notice:
- **Assumptions about capability** based on gender or appearance - **Different standards** for professional versus personal conversation - **Unconscious bias** in how we interpret colleagues' actions
### Designing for Inclusion
As commercial interior designers, we can reinforce these respectful interactions through thoughtful space planning:
- **Open meeting areas** that encourage transparent, professional discussions - **Flexible collaboration zones** that accommodate different working styles and needs - **Well-lit, visible common areas** that promote respectful interactions - **Private spaces** for confidential conversations without assumptions
### Building Better Workplace Culture
This mental exercise won't solve all workplace discrimination issues, but it creates awareness. Once you recognize your own double standards, you can begin changing them.
The goal isn't perfection—it's progress. Creating truly inclusive commercial environments requires ongoing attention to both physical design and interpersonal dynamics.
**Moving forward**, consider how your design choices can support the respectful workplace culture your clients are trying to build. Every space tells a story about values and expectations.
