Diane Shillito proposed this community project originally at the AGM meeting in January 2024. Initially, several members were initially involved with Diane, Suzanne Harper, and Jan Cisek taking on the project. The project aimed to enhance a charity’s work environment by applying feng shui principles to create a more supportive and harmonious atmosphere for both staff and visitors (the charity opted for privacy, so we’re not going to reveal the name).
Project Timeline and Meetings
February 2024 marked the beginning of our formal engagement with the project. The first formal meeting took place during this month, where we, as feng shui consultants, conducted a session to identify the types of projects we could tackle.
March brought the suggestion from Jan to focus on a charity in London that he knew. The first meeting with the charity representative also occurred in this month to understand the charity’s needs and discuss the potential impact of feng shui. A key focus was ensuring that all our suggestions would be both practical and aligned with the organisational requirements, including health and safety considerations. The consultation brief was to transform the workspace into a more comfortable, collaborative, and productive area without introducing elements that might conflict with the charity’s operational guidelines.
April was dedicated to gathering feedback from the charity staff through a questionnaire. Follow-up meetings were then held in April and May to finalise our suggestions. The timeline was deliberately flexible, recognising that organisational changes, especially in charity settings, can require time to gain consensus and approval. Throughout the process, we maintained consistent communication, ensuring every change was approved by all stakeholders.
What We Did
We began by engaging the charity’s team through a comprehensive questionnaire designed to explore their perspectives on improving the office environment. This was an important first step in making sure that our feng shui recommendations resonated with the team and aligned with their needs for an inclusive and productive workspace. The survey responses highlighted several key areas that required attention, which led to our final recommendations.
The project was completed in May 2024, when submitted the report with our suggestions. The initial feedback from the charity about the proposed improvements has been overwhelmingly positive. The new workspace is anticipated to improve the overall morale of the staff and foster a greater sense of collaboration and community. The proposed addition of plants, better-organised meeting areas, and ergonomic adjustments are expected to contribute significantly to a more engaging and supportive work environment.
Our recommendations included:
Enhancing Green Elements: We propose adding several air-purifying plants, such as peace lilies and Indian money plants, strategically placed around the office to boost air quality and introduce a sense of calmness and prosperity. The plants: Peace Lily (air cleansing) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spathiphyllum; Indian Money Plant (air cleansing and prosperity) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epipremnum_aureu; Jade/Money Plant (prosperity) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crassula_ovata
Decluttering and Reorganising the Meeting Room: We recommend decluttering the meeting room and enhancing the use of space by rethinking storage solutions. Lockers could be stacked to create more floor space, significantly improving the room’s functionality and atmosphere, making it more suitable for larger meetings.
Visual Enhancements: We suggest updating the imagery within the meeting rooms to better reflect the charity’s branding, using vibrant colours from their logo to create a sense of cohesion and energy in the workspace. Additionally, enhancing the main workspace wall with photographic wallpaper depicting open, expansive landscapes could foster a feeling of spaciousness and tranquillity. Also, given the international nature of the organisation, a round metallic world globe in the Western sector of the main office was recommended for a symbolic (semiotic) enhancement e.g. https://amzn.eu/d/6UQxgRF or https://amzn.eu/d/2ThGKnd
Space Harmonisation: We included energetic clearing and space harmonisation for the land and building as part of our recommendations. Considering the age and historical context of the property, these measures were suggested to help balance the energy of the space, aligning it with positive intentions and supporting the well-being of everyone who interacts within it.
Ergonomic Improvements: We recommend addressing ergonomic concerns by adjusting monitor positioning and desk arrangements. For example, using books to elevate monitors to eye level could reduce neck strain for staff. Desks could also be repositioned to encourage a more collaborative layout, minimising instances where individuals sit with their backs to each other.
Reflections and Template Tips for Community Projects
Reflecting on the process, one of the major insights was the importance of adaptability and consensus. As noted in our guidelines for community projects, feng shui suggestions must be practical and scalable to fit the organisational culture. This project reinforced the idea that achieving simplicity in communication and inclusivity in design is key, especially when working with diverse teams.
For those looking to undertake similar community feng shui projects, here are some tips to create a 9-point successful template:
1. Initial Engagement: Start with a questionnaire or survey to gather feedback from stakeholders. This ensures the project is driven by the community’s needs and that every voice is heard. When you work with individual clients, it’s different from when you work with groups of people when the communication can be more complex to seek consensus.
2. Structured Meetings: Schedule regular meetings to discuss findings, recommendations, and implementation plans. Keeping communication open is vital for building consensus.
3. Manageable Scope: Focus on a limited number of actionable items—no more than nine—to avoid overwhelming the organisation (at least in the initial stages). This also allows for clearer tracking of progress.
4. Health and Safety: Always keep health and safety in mind when making recommendations. Adapt practices to suit organisational settings, as not all feng shui elements or interventions are suitable for communal or professional environments.
5. Visual and Environmental Enhancements: Include easy-to-implement changes, such as adding plants or improving visual aesthetics through cohesive branding colours, or basic ergonomic adjustments (see above re the computer screens) which can have a significant impact without major costs or disruptions.
6. Stakeholder Training: Provide brief training sessions or workshops to introduce key stakeholders to the fundamental principles of feng shui. This helps stakeholders feel empowered to contribute meaningfully to the project and creates a stronger connection to its outcomes. It is crucial to guide the entire community or organisation in understanding the rationale behind feng shui changes and improvements, ensuring alignment, active participation, and a sense of shared purpose throughout the process.
7. Celebrate Small Wins: Recognise and celebrate milestones throughout the project. Whether it’s completing a survey, implementing a small change, or gathering positive feedback, celebrating progress motivates continued engagement and reinforces the value of the project.
8. Follow-Up: Collect feedback after the project is implemented to evaluate the impact and make adjustments if necessary. This reflective practice helps in improving future projects.
9. For meetings and data collection: Use online apps such as https://padlet.com/ to track the meetings and changes and store documents safely on Google Docs for easy access.
If you want to find out more, contact the feng shui consultants directly:
Diane Shillito
Suzanne Harper
Jan Cisek
