PODCAST

Changing the World of Work

Advanced Workplace Associates

Changing the way your organisation works is challenging. Whether you’re looking at hybrid working (a mix of in/out of the office) or trying to support or maximise the performance of virtual teams and managers, there’s a lot to get right. This podcast from Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA) untangles the challenges of change and resolves the confusion that often occurs. If you’re responsible for delivering excellent experiences at work, then whatever your discipline (HR, CRE, FM, IT, Operations), we provide clear guidance so you can make positive changes to your world of work today. Through the power of relaxed informal discussion, we share expert insights, the latest research and practical applications. If you want to initiate positive change in the way your organisation works, this is the podcast for you.
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Keeping an eye on energy
Keeping an eye on energy
May 17 2022
32 mins
Keeping an eye on energy
Keeping an eye on energy
This is a focus on the energy sector - the big business / sector drivers and how they're influencing the way people work in those sectors, the opportunities opening up as the industry repositions itself in light of the climate emergency, and the impact on recruitment and retention of talent .The transition away from fossil fuels and the need to secure independent energy supplies  mean organisations are shifting their focus, collaborating with competitors and moving to protect the skills and expertise they need as they face stiff competition now hybrid working is so prevalent. From Northern Ireland, we hear that there 's a pressing need to address the shortcomings of the education system that isn't preparing young people to fulfil the available roles and how employers have to step in to fill the gap.AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Pat Turnbull, AWA Senior Associate, Chicago, USASofia Fonseca de Nino, AWA Senior Associate, Houston, USAGordon Parkes, Executive Director People & Culture, Northern Ireland Electricity Networks AWA Guest details CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:Advanced Workplace Associates: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com   Advanced Workplace Institute : Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
May 17 2022
32 mins
Drunk at work?
Drunk at work?
Ever been drunk at work? Research shows that disrupted sleep, dehydration, distraction and uncomfortable working environments impair our ability to take in information, recognize patterns and make decisions. That impairment can reach the same effective level as being over the UK blood alcohol limit for driving. If we don't get these things right, either by looking after ourselves or as organisations by creating the right conditions at work, both physical and cultural, we could effectively have a workforce that’s drunk on the job.Looking after wellbeing in its broadest sense makes good individual and business sense. There’s lots we can do as individuals, managers and organisations – including paying as much attention to ourselves as we do our smartphones – check your battery status! AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Trevor Alldridge – Chief Executive, Boost Cognition Ltd (AWA's Cognitive Wellness Unit)Ken van Someren – Performance Director, Boost Cognition Ltd AWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/   CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
May 3 2022
30 mins
Being irresistible
Being irresistible
As we are emerging from the pandemic, we are faced with the next challenges – a shortage of good candidates to recruit, and more demands from existing people who know more about what they want, and how to get it.Although these may be challenges, they are also opportunities to be seized and it’s time to be planning and executing strategies to be irresistible to current and future ‘talent’, offering options and choices and embracing more #hybrid ways of working.Here we take a look at what’s going on, how organisations are responding to the challenges and share the experience of the EMEAR region of Epson, where the focus is on providing the best experiences for employees and the range of needs and expectations they are now articulating.We also consider some ideas around recruiting for ‘potential’ and whether there is a future for outcomes based employment contracts.AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Ethan Kelly-Wilson - Senior HR Manager EMEAR, Epson Europe BVLisa Sarjeant – Senior Associate, AWABrad Taylor – Director of Consulting, AWAAWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/   CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contact: Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Apr 19 2022
29 mins
How we changed our world of work
How we changed our world of work
We’ve all lived through two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Undoubtedly it has done untold amounts of damage to people’s lives and to many businesses. That said, some organisations seized the opportunity to make changes – and as we’ve seen in other podcast episodes, the pandemic has been used as a catalyst for that change. For some organisations, the pandemic allowed them to implement things within a year that might otherwise have taken many years.Market intelligence agency Mintel (a much valued AWA client for many years) is one such organisation. They have pursued not one but six major initiatives over the last two years – reacting to what their staff and clients needed (clear communication, more flexibility and a focus on wellness) , but also responding to major events such as the death of George Floyd in the US, which sparked a major push to develop a clear global diversity strategy. A general approach to test, learn and refine seems to serve Mintel well, with a consistent focus on the fundamentals – communication, asking for feedback, listening and seeking expert advice to address new challenges. AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Liz Westcott, Managing Director EMEA at Mintel  Adiat Baker - Global Diversity Manager & MintelGives US – Chair, Mintel Rick Miller -  RD | Food and Drink Associate Director, Specialised Nutrition, Mintel   CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contact: Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Apr 5 2022
28 mins
Has hybrid changed your culture?
Has hybrid changed your culture?
Organisations are changing and adapting their working styles following the pandemic and the periods of time everyone spent working remotely. Many are embracing hybrid working, so how is this affecting the way they work, and is it affecting their culture? Hear this first-hand account of how the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Manchester is adapting, using a pilot of new ways of working to learn what works best and how this is impacting its culture.We also explore the power of having a working together agreement, co-created by those that will use it, and how it helps to strengthen many aspects that make teams more effective and productive – such as trust, cohesiveness and a willingness to share information and knowledge. Developing a working together agreement reinforces aspects such as the trust that developed during the periods of lockdown, where people showed beyond a shadow of doubt that they could be trusted, and managers started to adapt their management style.AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Margot Power, Faculty Change Manager, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of ManchesterLara Al Ansari, Organisational Behaviour Associate, AWAJosh Sumner, Workplace Strategist & Change Management Consultant, AWA AWA Report: Change for Good – 10 lessons from the pandemic Link to AWA team page CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates    AWI contact: Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute  Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Mar 22 2022
30 mins
Are meetings still driving us mad?
Are meetings still driving us mad?
Are you still plagued by meetings you’d rather not attend? Do you wonder why you were invited or what you’re expected to contribute? Do meetings drain your energy and rob you of the time that you need to “do the real work”?We discuss these issues and share what we're doing with clients to help them break those patterns of behaviour by tackling the real issues underlying our reliance on meetings. This is far from a quick fix, if you’re going to do it properly, but nevertheless there are things you can think about doing today to make real change.It seems we need to put more energy into planning our interactions with others. This is something that doesn’t always feel valuable, but if you’re going to invite 6 people to an hour long meeting (imagine how much that is costing your organisation), don’t you owe it to everyone to ensure it’s the best use of their time? The brain needs breaks: Microsoft article/research mentioned by Lisa & Karen  AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Anne Balle, Senior Associate, Change Management, AWALisa Whited, Senior Associate, Change Management, AWA Details about AWA guests CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Mar 8 2022
29 mins
Are you wired for hybrid?
Are you wired for hybrid?
Do you have good technology solutions for hybrid working? Many organisations had to scramble to get the right solutions in place when everyone was instructed to work from home in March 2020, but however those were addressed, we now have different challenges.  To ensure that people feel they are having a good and effective working experience wherever they are working, we need to have equity in terms of online collaborations. If people connecting remotely have a different experience to those “in the room”, then we won’t achieve the much desired sense of inclusivity that will enable people to feel empowered to choose where they work.The last thing we want is for people to be driven back to the office because online meetings are so poor. So what can we do? Meeting room technology, Wifi and booking systems seem to be key.  AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guest: Paul Wood, Infrastructure and Operations Manager, CIPD  For details about the AWA guests, please click this link CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates  AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace InstituteMusic: courtesy of bensounds.com
Feb 22 2022
25 mins
Ambiguity or clarity?
Ambiguity or clarity?
In 2021 we had to cope with a lot of uncertainty and ambiguity. Leaders weren’t able to make and communicate clear decisions about the future ways in which their people would be able to work. Many opted to be honest about the uncertainty and difficulty of seeing a clear path forward. But as time wore on, the lack of clear decisions started to prove difficult for staff who wanted to know what they were going to be able to do – carry on working from home, return to the office, relocate their home to another location, etc. In this episode we return to two of our guests from last Summer’s podcast episodes to see what is happening in their territories – the USA and India. It seems that more clarity is being provided, and while not always suiting everyone, at least people are now clearer about their options – and many forms of hybrid working are emerging. We explore the situation in the USA and India as observed by our local Senior Associates, providing a glimpse into the trends they are seeing.If you’re interested in the event mentioned during the episode, here are the details:AWI event: How do we use technology to manage the hybrid workplace? 16 February 4pm UK  : 11am US Eastern : 8am US Pacifichttps://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0kduGqqjwtGdTX6TIvCTZDYrfjHETH9m-e  AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Nida Mehtab, Senior Associate, USA, AWAPartha Sarma, Senior Associate, India, AWA Link to AWA team page: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/ CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Feb 8 2022
26 mins
Leaders are a team too
Leaders are a team too
Many teams have never explicitly agreed the things that they can and can’t do in terms of how they work together. Therein lies the root of a lot of miscommunication, misunderstanding, tension and wasted effort. So at a time when organisations are deciding how they want to work -  we now have an opportunity – a catalyst for having conversations and agreeing what’s ok and what isn’t. This is a way to understand each other better, have greater cooperation, more openness and willingness to experiment, develop and progress.Having a "working together agreement" is something that can lead to a lot of enlightenment and improved effectiveness within a team. But what about the leaders in our organisations – do they need an agreement too?We would say, emphatically – yes! Through developing an agreement, leaders can share and learn from each other, and this can also pave the way to ensure their commitment to the development of such understandings within the teams that they lead. This doesn’t have to be a lengthy, complicated process – you can simply start with a conversation and an agreement about something you’d all like to try. Give it a go, and see how you get on. AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Helen Guest, Senior Associate, Change Management, AWADr Colombine Gardair, Senior Associate, Cognitive Science, AWA For details about the AWA guests, please click this linkIf you'd like to hear more about working together agreements, listen to Episode 12 of the podcastCONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/  Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Jan 25 2022
29 mins
Where are you going?
Where are you going?
To kick off 2022, we share one organisation’s ongoing journey to establish a hybrid way of working. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is a major UK charity and has been a much valued AWA client over the years. Executive Director of People & Organisational Development Kerry Smith and Head of Organisational Change Sarah Cousins share their story – from before the pandemic hit in 2020, to their plans and expectations for 2022. Covid-19 has, as for many organisations, changed the way BHF operates, how it raises funding to support its research and how it runs its retail operations. Mirroring these changes, its way of working has also significantly changed – fundamentally through embracing transparency, honesty and involving staff in planning the future way of working. The challenges of the pandemic to people’s wellbeing, mental health and sense of certainty have created a much greater awareness of what their community need. People are at the heart of everything – even more so than before.  Our guests discuss their “flexibly connected” programme; the creation of working together agreements; how they are supporting managers to consolidate the skills they need to manage hybrid teams; the evolution of blended location employment contracts; and their move into a new, smaller office, which has 50% less desks and is organised around activities, not neighbourhoods. So much has changed since March 2020 - so much of it for the better!AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Kerry Smith, Executive Director of People & Organisational Development, British Heart Foundation https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerrysmithj/ Sarah Cousins, Head of Organisational Change, British Heart Foundation https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcousins/  British Heart Foundation website: https://www.bhf.org.uk/ BHF’s new office: A “walk-through” was commissioned to help colleagues feel part of it, to understand the space and find their way around. It’s generating excitement about the new modern, cutting edge office and encouraging people to come back when the time is right.  CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Jan 11 2022
33 mins
We've come a long way
We've come a long way
In keeping with tradition, this is our look back over 2021, reflecting on how the world of work is changing.We have gathered a collection of highlights, insights, inspiration and advice from the wonderful guests that appeared on the podcast - change managers, workplace strategists, people experts, tax and employment law specialists, workplace transformation experts and business leaders. We look at aspects ranging from climate change to the vital role that managers play in the operation of hybrid working. In addition to deep insights, there are also magic moments where we are counselled to set ourselves an “extremely hairy, audacious target” for space reduction; to  “never have your back to your people”; and to listen hard to them because “the thing is almost never the thing”. Whatever they bring to you is rarely the real issue – and only by the power of listening and conversation does the real problem emerge. The key takeaway and thread across the podcast, is the importance of communication. It sounds so simple – just talk to each other. But so often it’s a neglected, underrated activity and a skill that needs work. We wish you a very healthy, safe and successful 2022 and thanks for listening to our podcast.AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Andrew Mawson, MD, AWALisa Whited, Senior Associate, AWALara Al Ansari, Associate, AWAAdria Horn, Executive VP, Workplace, Tilson Technology ManagementBrad Taylor, Director of Consulting, AWASue Warman, VP, People, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Ainsley Wallace, President & CEO, University of Southern Maine Foundation Celeste Tell, Senior Associate, AWAGervais Tompkin, Founder of Plus Gervais LLC  Chris Hood, ex-Director of Consulting, AWAPierre-Louis Godin, Sustainable Business Manager, EmitwisePhilippa Hale, Senior Associate, AWAPartha Sarma, Senior Associate, AWAAnne Balle, Senior Associate, AWAHannah Crisp, Senior Associate – Employment, Allen & Overy LLPJames Hourigan, Partner / Global Employer Services, BDO AWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/  Shareable linkCONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com    Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Dec 28 2021
27 mins
Let's hack the workplace
Let's hack the workplace
After 20 months of Covid, and looking back on the mediocre workplaces that we’ve all experienced, what does the future hold? The balance of power certainly seems to have changed, and people feel empowered to make choices about where they work on any given day. Many are opting to work more of the week from home than in the office. This is causing some consternation in organisations. There is anxiety about the loss of culture, socialisation, collaboration and innovation through not having people in the office enough of the time. Whether any of these things are actually true, there is no doubt that the option to go into the office some of the time, to see and interact with colleagues is an important part of most people’s world of work.How then can we draw people back to the office? Can we make it “better than home” for the right types of activities? How do we create a sense of purpose that people can connect to? How can we show people that we value them? Can we make the workplace hackable, so people can customise it to their needs? And can we make a significant contribution to climate change, by reducing the amount of space we occupy and therefore the amount we continue to heat, light and resource.All of this and more (including bathrooms!) in this episode.  AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Lisa Whited, Senior Associate, AWAClark Elliott, Senior Associate, AWAChris Hood, ex-Director of Consulting, AWAGervais Tompkin, Founder of Plus Gervais LLC   AWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/  Further material referred to by Lisa:The Headline exerciseTED Talk: How to start a movement If you would like to attend the AWI webinar - "Working abroad - dispelling the tax myths" on 12 January 2022 (4pm UK, 11am US Eastern, 8am US Pacific) , please use this link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tMG3gRQhRuG1XjPClvFZDg  CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com    Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Dec 21 2021
31 mins
Doing hybrid legally
Doing hybrid legally
As working arrangements start to settle down (Omicron variant notwithstanding!), what do employers and employees need to be aware of from a contractual point of view? Every contract of employment in the UK needs to state the “place of employment” – so if an organisation is embracing hybrid working, do those contracts need to change? What about if an organisation does, or does not want to encourage employees to come into the office – how do both parties stand legally? If they want to reduce office space and take advantage of more people working from home, what are the rights of staff that want to work in the office? And can employers compel staff to come in if they are convinced that’s where they do their best work?Another minefield that should not be underestimated is where an organisation has employees that have decided to base themselves in another country. This can result in the employer having obligations and responsibilities under the employment / labour laws of that country as well as the home country.As ever, the best defence is to be aware of the situation and to mitigate any risks, not to assume that whatever you want to do will be fine. Nobody wants to end up in court or a tribunal (and this can happen very quickly in some countries), particularly as there isn’t a huge amount of precedent associated with the new world of work that we’re living in. AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guest: Hannah Crisp, Senior Associate – Employment, Allen & Overy LLP https://www.allenovery.com/en-gb/global/people/Hannah_Crisp   CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com    Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Dec 7 2021
28 mins
Teaching old dogs new tricks
Teaching old dogs new tricks
“If you’re a manager, then managing people is the most important thing you do" says our guest at the start of this episode, which looks at some of the things that managers can do to up their game when navigating current changes in the world of work.Adjusting to new ways of working has been difficult for many (old dogs and new ones!),  and plenty of managers have found themselves a little adrift, lacking the fully developed skills they need to manage in a hybrid world. We explore some tips and approaches that can set managers and organisations on the right track.  Often it just comes down to the basics – put people first (don’t have your back to them), empathise, ask more questions (many more!) listen and communicate authentically.And for future managers – identify potential candidates and set them up to develop their skills over time, so that when the opportunity comes, they are ready to step into the role. AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Brad Taylor, Director of Consulting, AWAPhilippa Hale, Senior Associate in Workplace Change Management, AWASue Warman, Vice President People at the AICPA and CIMA  https://www.linkedin.com/in/suewarman/   https://www.aicpa.org/home AWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/   AWI event – 8 December 2021 4pm UK / 11am US Eastern / 8am US PacificIf you would like to attend, please follow this link to register:  https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArfuGgrDgtGdDJLcvr0tYtNoIWQpH0jWLn  CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com    Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Nov 23 2021
25 mins
Can we really work anywhere?
Can we really work anywhere?
In pre-Covid times, many organisations had very informal arrangements with employees who worked some or all of their time away from the office. Often, managers were the only ones that knew who was working remotely – HR departments had no need to record details or keep track of arrangements.However, some employees now want to work remotely in a different country from the one in which their employer is based. Some apparently don’t even tell their employer before they leave the country!This situation can open the employer and employee up to a whole raft of obligations, costs and taxes, depending upon where the employee works, where the company is based, how long the arrangement is going to last, and even the importance of the individual to the business.Don’t sleepwalk into this situation! Our experts explain why employers need to carefully consider a range of aspects, so they can make conscious choices about what is right for their organisation and employee/s. Above all, you need a policy framework in this area, to protect you from nasty surprises which can range from additional cost to downright illegality. AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: James Hourigan, Partner / Global Employer Services, BDO James.Hourigan@bdo.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-hourigan-578022156/  Ross Robertson, Partner / International Tax, BDO ross.robertson@bdo.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-robertson-40b8913a/ BDO https://www.bdo.co.uk/en-gb/home AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Nov 9 2021
29 mins
Don't slide into hybrid
Don't slide into hybrid
Many organisations are grappling with their arrangements for hybrid working – trying to figure out what’s right for them. And that’s ok – nobody has a foolproof blueprint for the post pandemic world – everyone is finding what works for them, for now. You don’t need all the answers and living with some ambiguity and uncertainty is something we’ve all had to do since March 2020.Things will change, and your response should evolve so that the agreements you have in place adapt to where you are and what your people need.AWA has a 7-step process to help organisations navigate this terrain. We outline the steps, which form part of a change management process and we’ll explore why this is necessary to get everyone on board and feeling like they own the change and the way forward. The pandemic has been hard, but this is an opportunity to put some things in place that we didn’t have before, and we’ve probably needed for years – like Taco Tuesdays! AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Lisa Whited, Senior Associate in Change Management, AWAAnne Balle, Senior Associate in Change Management, AWA AWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/  Author mentioned by Lisa:  James Clear: Atomic Habits If you would like to attend the AWI event - "Upskilling leaders and teams for a hybrid world" on 10 November 2021 (4pm UK, 11am US Eastern, 8am US Pacific) , please contact David Smalley or Brad Taylor – details below - or register here:https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpf-qhrzgjEtGzQAk-TCchAJXIkX-noMeL CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson  amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor   btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Oct 26 2021
29 mins
Why can't I think?
Why can't I think?
Are there times when you just can’t get started on a piece of work? Do you find it difficult to focus sometimes, particularly when there are constant interruptions? Does working with people you don’t know well feel like hard work?These situations and many more reflect the level of mental workload we experience under different conditions. They are a combination of many factors – some of which have been researched and links have been established, so we know that they definitely have an impact on the load that we experience. Aspects such as the strength of our personal relationships and trust can  help reduce the amount of mental workload we experience.Our guests, both authors of AWA’s recent research, share some examples of how to unlock the reasons why our mental workload is affected, and what we might be able to do to combat the effect. Raising awareness is important, so we can be more self-aware and equipped to help ourselves (and others in our team) by taking positive action.  AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Colombine Gardair, Senior Associate, Cognitive Science, AWALara Al Ansari, Associate, Research & Development, AWA AWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/   CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson  amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Oct 12 2021
30 mins
Is hybrid hell on earth?
Is hybrid hell on earth?
Is your organisation implementing a hybrid model? Are you responsible for delivering it for your organisation?We look at who is typically getting the job of making hybrid work, why leadership commitment and support are vital, and how piloting can be a safe way to transition into a new model for your organisation. This journey is complicated and while some organisations don’t know how to get started, others are getting stuck. If this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone.Find out about the challenges facing those trying to navigate hybrid, such as HR and Corporate Real Estate and pick up some practical tips from our experts. And if you’d like to know more, sign up for our AWI Event, “Journey to the new world – process for transition” (see details below).AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Celeste Tell, Senior Associate, AWANida Mehtab, Senior Associate, AWALisa Whited, Senior Associate, AWABrad Taylor, Director of the Advanced Workplace Institute AWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/   AWI EVENT: Journey to the new world - process for transition                              12 October 2021  4pm BST / 11am US Eastern / 8am US PacificIf you would like to attend our online event, please register your interest using the link below, or get in touch with David or Brad (email addresses below): https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvcO2grjkpE9aYYvzxusXKJXvKU-6XfDrV  CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contacts: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com and Brad Taylor btaylor@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Sep 28 2021
27 mins
What's hitting the headlines?
What's hitting the headlines?
After a summer of uncertainty, what are the papers saying about the new world of work and the plans of organisations? My guests picked out four news articles (two from Forbes, one from Inc. and one from LinkedIn News) to illustrate a range of trending topics – looking at the pay of those that choose to work remotely; the difficulty of sustaining an organisational culture with a home-centric workforce; the opportunity for organisations to enable people to pursue ideas and activities outside of their core employment area; and the stress experienced by millennials for whom work has a different importance and meaning as compared to those of earlier generations.We discuss the issues raised and share our views and experiences in this lively discussion. Links to the articles appear below for those that would like to read them in full.AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Andrew Mawson, Founder & Managing Director, AWACeleste Tell, Senior Associate, AWA AWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/  Article links:Inc, Why Google's Plan to Cut Remote Worker Pay Is a Bad Idea https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/google-remote-pay-cut-calculator-facebook-twitter-employees-policy.html  Forbes, Redefining Company Culture With A Home-Centric Workforce https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2021/08/30/redefining-company-culture-with-a-home-centric-workforce/?sh=74a81918bbbb Forbes, Are You Brave Enough To Allow For Flexibility? https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/08/30/are-you-brave-enough-to-allow-for-flexibility/?sh=51df82042f15 LinkedIn News, Millennials are Most Stressed About https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6836448001368625152/  Valve’s cabal process approach: Article: https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/the-cabal-valve-s-design-process-for-creating-i-half-life-i- Research paper: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254943466_Get_Organized_at_Work_A_Look_Inside_the_Game_Design_Process_of_Valve_and_Linden_Lab  CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contact: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Sep 14 2021
29 mins
Swiss cheese buildings
Swiss cheese buildings
Did the IPCC climate assessment report shock you? Are you wondering what your organisation can do to address carbon emissions and reduce your impact on the planet? There is undoubtedly an emergency but there are things we can do. In the face of new ways of working, with less people in the office, organisations are thinking about and planning for different levels of occupancy and trying to balance the ability to be flexible and responsive, with the need for some certainty around the requirements of those coming into the office. People are wondering how to make sure they can be with the people they want to collaborate with, if they decide to make the journey to the office.There are tools that can be used to help organisations manage the accommodation demand and ways to measure carbon emissions in granular detail, so that real reductions can be identified and delivered – rather than using averages and/or using carbon offsets.Just as the pandemic has inspired us to think differently about how we work, the climate emergency could also be the jolt we need to change the carbon footprint of our businesses.Andrew Mawson, AWA’s Founder and MD shares his perspectives about models being explored by organisations in the UK market and elsewhere, and the moral conundrum of operating half empty buildings that generate carbon, along with the emissions generated through commuting and business travel. Should we be thinking about sharing buildings and operating a 7 day week, adopting different working patterns that embrace the weekend, rather than building more office space?  AWA Host: Karen PlumFeatured guests: Chris Hood, Director of Consulting, EMEA, AWARaj Krishnamurthy, CEO, Freespace  https://www.linkedin.com/in/enria/    William Buller, Senior Associate, AWAPierre-Louis Godin, Sustainable Business Manager, Emitwise https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-louis-godin-90b700167/ Andrew Mawson, Founder and MD, AWA AWA Guest details: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/about-awa/the-team/  AWA report: I don’t like Mondays (or Fridays)https://www.advanced-workplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/I-Dont-Like-Mondays-Fridays-AWA-Report-Feb-2021.pdf  CONTACTS & WEBSITE details:AWA contact: Andrew Mawson amawson@advanced-workplace.com  Advanced Workplace Associates: https://www.advanced-workplace.com/      AWI contact: David Smalley  dsmalley@advanced-workplace.com Advanced Workplace Institute:  https://www.advanced-workplace.com/awa/services/advanced-workplace-institute/   Music: courtesy of bensounds.com
Aug 31 2021
29 mins