I was sitting with an organisation last week and they shared their occupancy data with me; 40% attendance on Mondays and Fridays, with an 80% peak on Wednesdays.

This didn't surprise me, because it's a pattern I'm seeing consistently across multiple organisations I'm working with. This isn't an anomaly, it's a trend, and the global data backs it up.

According to XY Sense's latest Workplace Utilization Index, drawing on data from over 63,000 workspaces across nine countries, Tuesday utilisation reached 52% globally while Friday held at 30%, a 22-point gap that has remained stable across multiple consecutive reporting periods. What I'm seeing on the ground is entirely consistent with what the global data is telling us.

The questions they asked: "What are other organisations doing about this when creating their new workplace? Is the goal to increase attendance? Improve performance? Get people back in the office?" 

All great questions but I don't think they're asking the right one. Thi...

A new approach to workplaces

For decades, organisations have viewed the functions of People & Culture and Property as separate entities. 

The former focused on workforce engagement, talent strategies, and leadership development, while the latter managed physical workspaces as financial assets, often sitting under Finance or Operations. 

But what if the future of work calls for a fundamental shift — one where workplaces are no longer just ‘assets’ to optimise, but strategic tools designed to enhance human potential?

At LEGO, they’ve already embraced this shift. Their workplace function now reports into their Chief People Officer, rather than Operations or Finance. Why? Because as workplace leaders at LEGO explain, when you see real estate as an asset, you focus on optimising the space itself. But under People & Culture, the goal shifts from optimising an asset based on cost and efficiency, to maximising people’s performance potential.

This subtle change is reframing how organisa...

First published on COMUNiTI, April 2024

Look beyond the walls and workstations

"Building a community outshines workplace design."

This is my philosophy on successful placemaking. 

When I embark on workplace redesign, my primary goal is to build a strong, interconnected community. Why? Because a thriving community is a surer road to achieving organisational objectives than just focussing on the desks, decor, walls and workstations.

Sure, office layout and aesthetics matter, but they shouldn't overshadow the ultimate goal of placemaking: creating a collaborative, productive, thriving community, where everyone feels connected to purpose. 

When I guide clients through a a community-centric approach to workplace redesign I help shift the collective mindset from ‘we’re redesigning the workplace’ to ‘we’re building a thriving community’.

This means I’m not just answering the question: "How many desks do you need to fit on the floorplan?" By reframing the conversation from work...