The DNA of Work

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,...

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...

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 start...

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 workf...

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...

Is organisational culture wholly connected to physical buildings and experiences? Or can we sustain the things that are important – our purpose and values – virtually? Why are many managers so concerned that culture will be damaged if people don’t return to the office? We consider what culture is (“ the way we do things around here ”) and how it has been linked consciously to office locations in t...

The new working patterns (hybrid, virtual, flexible) that are now widely available are causing organisations to consider how much and what type of office space they need. With the potential for over 800k roles to be delivered away from Inner London offices, what does this mean for the City? We share recent research conducted by AWA on the potential reduction in roles carried out in offices in Lond...

Since the start of the pandemic, organisations have been navigating many changes, not least of which is their relationships with employees . We’ve seen a softening in these relationships, with compassion and empathy now the watch words for managers. Our guests discuss the change in the balance of power at work, where many employees now feel empowered to speak more openly about what they need – whe...

The role of leaders has undergone a revolution since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic. Leaders and managers have adapted to managing virtually, some have learned new skills, others are waiting for a time when they can go back to the way things were. But their teams have had a taste of a different way of working and as so many are registering a willingness to leave their organisations if they can...

In an increasingly complex world, management and decision making are ever more challenging. Using a variety of sources of evidence is a way to avoid our inbuilt, unconscious biases, enabling us to make better, more informed decisions . Eric Barends, MD of CEBMa shares the drivers behind the evidence-based movement and how to gather different sources of evidence to contribute to critical thinking a...

Are companies simply going back to the way things were – or are they striving for a better future? AWA’s Senior Associate Lisa Whited reflects on how many offices were before the pandemic struck - full of noise, interruptions and inadequate spaces for concentration and collaboration.  We hear from two guests at a recent AWA Webinar – Kerry Smith from British Heart Foundation and Robin Shapiro of T...

How has the world of work changed since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and how are organisations responding? AWA’s MD Andrew Mawson shares his unique perspective - based on his work with organisations across the globe, many of whom are facing the same challenges.  While many are using the opportunity to change the way they operate and to give people greater choice, others are calling everyone...