Can The Office + Working From Anywhere (WFA) Strengthen The Value Of Weak Ties?

Jan 11, 2022

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An Unscripted Chat With Mark Eltringham -

Mark Eltringham, publisher of Workplace Insight and IN Magazine joins Bold Founder Caleb Parker for the sixth episode of Season 6 for an unscripted chat on how the future of work may affect the future of commercial real estate (#CRE).

They discuss flexible working, what employees need from their employer to support flexibility and how, as always, it comes back to company culture.

Mark shares his insights about how the future of work is changing and evolving, and how we don’t yet know all of the answers to what working will look like in the future.

Mark's article on weak ties here: https://workplaceinsight.net/hybrid-working-highlights-the-value-of-weak-ties/

VIDEO: BLM's hybrid workplace by TSK

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-eltringham-2071804/

Connect with Caleb on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebparker/

If you have any questions or feedback on this episode, email podcast@workbold.co

Value Bombs:

Now everybody's been exposed to that [flexible] way of working, not just for a couple of weeks, but for a long period of time....and there's a lot of conveniences out of it for many people and there's a lot of friction for others. - Caleb
Firms need to work out what people want and allow themselves flexibility and agility to deliver that for them. - Mark
Shouldn’t commercial real estate be supporting companies to be more cognizant that everyone's different, and try to support all of the use cases? - Caleb
Office design was always overplayed as a solution to cultural problems. - Mark
Things are very, very complicated and there is a possibility that if you do go fully remote, that certain parts of the business might go missing. - Mark

Resources:

Shout Outs:

About Our Guests:

Mark Eltringham

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-eltringham-2071804/

Mark has worked in the office design, built environment, workplace and facilities management sectors for over 25 years as a marketing professional, consultant, editor and writer. At the start of 2013, he launched www.workplaceinsight.net, an online publication that explores the relationships between commercial interior design, workplace management, technology, human resources, the wider business world and society. In 2020, they launched IN Magazine, which is set to become Europe's foremost publication exploring working lives, technology and offices.

Mark is a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts, a Stoke City supporter, a Dad and a whippet owner (which makes him a dad twice).

About Our Host:

Caleb Parker

https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebparker/

Caleb Parker is an American entrepreneur in London, and Founder of Bold (acquired by Newable/NewFlex in 2019).

He believes in "challenging the status quo" and is a champion for entrepreneurial and innovative thinking.

Caleb has served as founder, Board member, advisor, investor and consultant to numerous startups and small businesses, and has a keen focus on innovation and technology, with interests in the MICE market, Space-as-a-Service, and the future of work.

Caleb has been a guest lecturer, speaker, and moderator for topics such as entrepreneurship, the sharing economy, the future of work and commercial real estate at academic institutions and large corporations. He regularly takes the stage at numerous trade conferences as keynote speaker, MC, host or facilitator.

Earlier in his career, Caleb was named one of Savannah, Georgia's “40 under 40” business leaders" in 2006 after launching two successful small businesses in the city's booming hospitality industry. A year later he moved to Washington, DC to join the The Regus Group DC management team. In 2009, Caleb co-founded a flexible workspace consulting firm where he brokered flexible workspace and advised businesses on agile working strategies.

Caleb is one of the first licensed commercial real estate agents to speak on the flexible working trends and the rise of flexible workspace, and has been quoted in numerous publications.

Timestamps

[05:21] What changes does Mark see in how we’re working today and what effect will that have on the workplace office industry?

The shift that has only impacted certain demographics will now effect everybody.
The real answer, I don’t know, any many other people don’t know either.

[07:09] How can the workplace now accommodate everyone instead of being a white box, that everybody has a fit into?

If your workplace offers a worse experience than someone’s home, you’re getting your business model wrong.
People have always hated commuting, and now it’s become a moat that needs addressing.
There are commercial interests on both sides of workplace and flexible.

[10:55] Considering that everyone is different, shouldn’t commercial real estate supporting companies try to support all of the use cases?

The British Council for Offices specification guide puts people into a box, which gets embedded into organisations.
Most organisations need to provide is a culture that allows different models of flexibile working to apply to different people and based on things like personality, age, job, function.

[14:47] If a company has a culture that enables workplace choice and flexibility, how can the office industry support that?

It comes back to culture.
One of the weaknesses with the idea that you can replace all interactions with technology is that the firm needs to understand what all the interactions were.
Flexibility for most organizations is going to be the thing that will make a difference for them.

[23:42] Quickfire questions

Mark’s go to for workplace insights – LinkedIn Groups, people on LinkedIn, Google Alerts, Anthony Slumbers, Neil Usher, Jim Dale, Julia Hobsbawm, WorkBold Podcast, Mike Petrusky Workplace Innovator Podcast, The Economist, Intelligence Squared.
The best examples Mark has seen of hybrid workplace are the Sky Office in West London and Microsoft Experience Centre.
Mark’s favourite holiday destination is Greece.

Sponsors

Headline Sponsor: TSK

TSK creates inspiring workplaces for some of the world’s biggest brands across the UK and Ireland, They’ve been working for 25 years to deliver the best employee experiences and the vision of their clients. Not only do they create great places to work, TSK share workplace content every week from the latest data to inspiring spaces they’ve designed and built. You can read their latest insights at www.tskgroup.co.uk or check out their LinkedIn and Instagram pages to become a follower, fan and friend.

Fortune Favours the Bold

Bold merges property management & Space-as-a-Service to drive asset value and help office customers grow faster. Now part of NewFlex (www.workbold.co)

Future Proof Your Portfolio with NewFlex

NewFlex delivers and manages a range of branded solutions for every type of building, in every type of location, for every type of occupier. Including the flexibility to develop your own brand. All enabled by flexible management contracts where we are invested in making money for you. (www.newflex.com)

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