DOWNTOWN QUARTERLY
UNLEASHING POTENTIAL FOR OCCUPIERS WORDS BY WILL LEWIS FOUNDING DIRECTOR, OBI PROPERTY
Hybrid and agile working was implemented by some companies prepandemic, but following March 2020 it became relevant to all, forcing every business to pilot remote working. The main question occupiers have now is; 'what should their workplace be for the future'. The most popular aspects for the future workplace include; sustainability, flexibility and human centric design, which includes a heightened awareness of neurodiverse needs which refers to the variation in the human brain
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regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood, and other mental functions. However, as every business is different it isn't advised to roll out changes until the right questions to both employees and leadership have been asked to create the most suitable workplace strategy that is unique to that business. Our advice for businesses is to give time to thoroughly explore what has been learnt about their business since March 2020 and compile a brief for their new workspace which takes more than the attributes of 'days in the office' into consideration.
In the initial stages of compiling a brief, many occupiers are stumbling over their differences between leadership and employees' aspirations. This is where the sweet spot of a successful workplace is found by understanding the ‘why’ and the motives that employees and leadership have within the business. Asking 'how many days in the office would you like to work' is a hollow question that doesn’t reveal the instrumental elements to cultivating happiness and productivity. Asking two simple questions that bring out the deeper levels of motives from leadership and employees
