Where life and work collide
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Reflections
You don’t have to a big royalist to know that it’s a historic and sobering day. I wasn’t sure whether to post something in place of the usual vlog, but here are my three thoughts from the middle of the night:
Revelations from our year of all-change
This time last year we were living in an ‘80s townhouse in Zone 2 Tower Hamlets. We bloody loved it. But the familiar crunch of nos canisters underfoot and taking our football-crazy daughter to training in a multi-storey car park lined with AstroTurf suggested a change was needed.
Hotelification—the future of the office?
This week I spoke with Craig Murray, Strategy Design Director @TSK—he’s been designing offices for life after Covid. And they’re amazing! I’ve spoken in some, including SAGA’s Folkestone HQ, complete with sweeping coastal views and an onsite nursery.
Why your panel is sh*t
This week, I am on location in Manchester, at TSK (workplace design & build company)—and I'm raging… about panels.
Not all of them (and definitely not TSK’s)! But quite a few.
Corporate retreats (and death)
This week, a short one, because I’m in Monaco (speaking at a corporate retreat and escaping the mortifying venality of British politics).
What your board doesn’t know
10 years ago, my research revealed what boards don’t know about their employees’ living standards…
Recession: quick and dirty—pt 1of2
As we emerge blinking from lockdowns, everyone is asking for recession insights… in June, when it’s not technically been confirmed that we’re in a recession (yet). I’d hoped this could wait until the autumn. But it can’t.
What I wish someone had told me about leading a team
We are now on our 100th episode—🎉—and hitting numbers that we hadn’t dreamt of two years ago…
The hard truth behind the Queens' success.
Stephen Fry made the best speech at the Jubilee concert asking:
‘How many local sewage works has Her Majesty opened with a bright smile? How many plaques unveiled? How many trees planted? How many ribbons cut, ships launched? How many prime ministers tolerated, for that alone no admiration is high enough.’
Travel & lunch is now discretionary spend
Things are starting to get back to normal, but the office is still feeling just a bit empty. Last week I was asked by two business leaders: “Where are the missing 20%?”
Many are just not engaging with the incoming messages telling them their teams are hoping, wanting, needing to see them…
7 travel tips I learnt the hard way
Rocking five stages in five cities over the last week has brought back memories…like those of former colleagues who’d happily abandon someone at the airport if they were too slow to get through passport control (😬 shit, now I wonder—was it me that did this?)
What if a 20% pay-cut for all-remote is a very smart strategy?
🤯 This week, British law firm Stephenson Harwood announced a 20% pay-cut for those who wanted to work all-remote. The backlash was palpable.
But is it really just a cost-cutting instrument which devalues home-based working?
Are we…out of touch?
Stand up—don’t worry, you can do it mentally if you’re on the train. Now, sit down if you’ve not heard of:
Chunkz, The Sidemen, Nella Rose, KSI, Niko Omilana, Filly.
This is how Milimo Banji (known as Mils), CEO of TapIn, rather brilliantly shamed a whole lot of us (predominantly white) HR people at a recent Economist conference.
Rees-Mogg and lies leaders tell themselves
The British government minister responsible for efficiency, is busy bullying civil servants back into offices—with his snotty memos and barrage of data-less articles about ‘slackers’ working from home, he’s as convincing as ever…
Stop. Using. These. Two. Words.
Flexibility and Balance? Give me a break
🥱 Blah blah ‘flexible’ work, work/life ‘balance’, blah blah blah.
These two words have become utterly overused and totally meaningless. I’m just so over them.
Time to get tough with your board!
❌ 74% of managers says they don’t have the influence or resources to make change for employees (Microsoft Work Trend Index)
😒 54% of managers believe that leadership is out of touch with employees.
Stop using Gen Z as an excuse!
The latest Microsoft Work Trend Index (31,000 people in 31 markets) has landed, and shows that 51% of organisations plan to return to full-time office hours by the end of the year. At the same time, a majority of employees say they prefer to mix work between the office and home. Perhaps this fundamental disagreement is why 41% of employees say they are considering leaving their jobs…
But does that include young people?
The power of work you love
Global researcher Marcus Buckingham has a new book called Love + Work (out 5 April, 2022). In it he rages against our education systems for standardising and testing our children, without digging deeply into their uniqueness and the things that they really love.
Hybrid hot buttons
Some of us are embracing hybrid—and each other—as we return to offices more regularly and at scale.
But the skirmishes have started. 🤺
The worst of the worst
This week has been it.
Ukraine has broken our hearts—while inspiring us with the kind of bravery and leadership that makes us weep.