Search Results for: performance

Corporate real estate strategy will be defined by resilience now, report suggests

Corporate real estate strategy will be defined by resilience now, report suggests

Resilience, not scale or speed, will define the next phase of corporate real estate strategy across EMEAResilience, not scale or speed, will define the next phase of corporate real estate strategy across EMEA, as occupiers face a convergence of pressures reshaping how and where they operate. A new report from Colliers, Building Resilience: 5 Megatrends Redefining Corporate Real Estate, identifies five long-term megatrends – AI-enabled workforces, demographic shifts, energy scarcity, climate risk and a shifting global order – that are fundamentally changing how organisations choose locations, design workplaces and manage risk. While the full impact will play out over time, many companies remain underprepared for the scale of disruption. (more…)

The new leadership imperative: from decision makers to experience makers

The new leadership imperative: from decision makers to experience makers

the leaders who truly make change stick aren't just making decisions, they are making experiences and those two things are very, very different.Ask most leaders what their job is, and they’ll tell you: to make decisions, to set direction and to drive results. They are not wrong but they are also not telling the whole story about leadership. Here’s what 25 years of working with organisations through some of their most complex transformations has taught me: the leaders who truly make change stick aren’t just making decisions, they are making experiences and those two things are very, very different. (more…)

The qualities that get managers promoted are the reasons people don’t like them

The qualities that get managers promoted are the reasons people don’t like them

A new report from Hogan Assessments suggests that the qualities helping managers rise through organisations may be very different from those employees believe make effective leaders. The study, The Leadership Divide: Global Insights on Who Leads vs. Who Should [registration], found no overlap between the characteristics most commonly associated with senior executives and the qualities employees say they value in managers. Hogan analysed personality assessment data from more than 21,000 executives and surveyed 9,794 employees across 25 countries. The findings indicate that executives are often distinguished by confidence, competitiveness, visibility and self-promotion, while employees place greater importance on communication, integrity, accountability and decision-making. (more…)

Aquablu launches the new REFILL+ Series 2 in the UK with AURA system

Aquablu launches the new REFILL+ Series 2 in the UK with AURA system

Aquablu, the Dutch cleantech company transforming how employees access and enjoy drinking water, has unveiled the REFILL+ Series 2.Aquablu, the Dutch cleantech company transforming how employees access and enjoy drinking water, has unveiled the REFILL+ Series 2. Powered by the new AURA operating system, the Series 2 sets a new benchmark for sustainable, intelligent hydration in the workplace. Founded in 2018 in the Netherlands by Marnix Stokvis and Marc van Zuylen, Aquablu was created with a clear mission: to make healthy, sustainable hydration accessible to a billion people worldwide. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, partnering with major clients including Heineken, Adyen and Microsoft, and now operates in more than sixteen countries, serving over 100,000 workers. (more…)

The workplace continues to be a source of relationships, study claims

The workplace continues to be a source of relationships, study claims

A new study commissioned by the organisers of the ORGATEC office design trade fair suggests that the physical workplace continues to play a significant social roleA new study commissioned by the organisers of the ORGATEC office design trade fair suggests that the physical workplace continues to play a significant social role, with around one in three employees in Germany saying they have dated a colleague. The research, carried out by YouGov and based on a representative sample of more than 2,000 people, suggests that offices remain important settings for forming friendships, relationships and informal social connections despite the continued growth of hybrid and remote working. (more…)

Microsoft report claims AI agents will reshape organisations and redefine knowledge work

Microsoft report claims AI agents will reshape organisations and redefine knowledge work

Microsoft’s latest Work Trend Index report suggests that organisations are entering a new phase in the evolution of knowledge work, in which artificial intelligence agents become embedded in everyday operations and employees take on supervisory roles over digital systemsMicrosoft’s latest Work Trend Index report suggests that organisations are entering a new phase in the evolution of knowledge work, in which artificial intelligence agents become embedded in everyday operations and employees take on supervisory roles over digital systems. The study, based on a survey of 31,000 workers across 31 countries alongside labour market data and productivity signals, suggests that this shift is already underway and could accelerate rapidly over the next few years. (more…)

Distractions at home undermine the benefits of remote work, study suggests

Distractions at home undermine the benefits of remote work, study suggests

New research from Durham University Business School suggests that remote work may undermine people’s wellbeing and productivity when domestic distractions interrupt the working day. The study, led by Professor Jakob Stollberger, found that interruptions from home life can disrupt concentration, reduce task completion and have a negative impact on employees’ wellbeing. Based on diary data from 87 remote workers across sectors including IT, finance and education, the research tracked participants’ experiences over a ten day period. Respondents reported their workload and wellbeing four times a day, allowing researchers to examine how work patterns and interruptions changed over time. (more…)

Motivation shifts rather than declines during periods of uncertainty, according to new poll

Motivation shifts rather than declines during periods of uncertainty, according to new poll

The results of a a new survey suggest that employee motivation does not collapse in uncertain conditions but instead changes shapeThe results of a a new survey suggest that employee motivation does not collapse in uncertain conditions but instead changes shape, with leadership behaviour emerging as the decisive factor. The findings, based on polling conducted by Wiley Workplace Intelligence, indicate that the most significant risk to engagement is not ambiguity itself but a perceived disconnect between leaders and their teams. The data suggests that employees continue to seek direction and purpose even when clarity is limited. Rather than becoming disengaged, many respondents reported adapting their focus, placing greater emphasis on trust, communication and visible leadership. (more…)

Uncontrolled use of AI in organisations linked to rising risk and slower returns

Uncontrolled use of AI in organisations linked to rising risk and slower returns

New polling from Lenovo suggests that the widespread, and often unregulated, use of artificial intelligence in organisations is creating operational risks, increasing costs and slowing the return on investment from AI initiatives. The company’s latest Work Reborn Report, based on a survey of 6,000 employees worldwide, claims that more than 70 percent of employees now use AI tools on a weekly basis. Up to a third of this activity is taking place without formal oversight from IT departments, contributing to the growth of so-called shadow AI. (more…)

Meta installs work tracking software on employee devices to train up AI. Inevitable backlash ensues

Meta installs work tracking software on employee devices to train up AI. Inevitable backlash ensues

Meta is installing work tracking software on the computers of employees in order to train its AI systems. People aren't happyMeta is installing work tracking software on the computers of some employees that records mouse movements, keystrokes and other interactions in order to train its artificial intelligence systems, according to reports. The programme, introduced for US-based staff, is designed to capture how people use workplace software in real time, including actions such as selecting menu options, using keyboard shortcuts and navigating applications. The data may also include periodic screenshots which Meta says is to provide context for these interactions. (more…)

Re-humanising the workplace: why prevention, support and standards matter more than ever

Re-humanising the workplace: why prevention, support and standards matter more than ever

There is growing recognition that the workplace needs to become more human again, not less.There is growing recognition that the workplace needs to become more human again, not less. For all the talk of performance, productivity and retention, too many organisations still treat stress, ill health and emotional wellbeing as secondary matters. They are not. They sit at the heart of business success. The figures from the Keep Britain Working report, an independent review commissioned by the UK government and led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, the former chair of John Lewis, are a wake-up call. The value at stake is enormous. Employers face an estimated £85 billion a year in lost output and costs linked to ill health. For government, the additional burden in welfare payments and NHS demand is around £47 billion annually. On top of this lies the wider cost to the economy through lower participation, and the human and social costs of lost opportunity, stalled careers and reduced life chances. (more…)

London BCO Awards winners highlight shift towards reuse and long term workplace design

London BCO Awards winners highlight shift towards reuse and long term workplace design

The winners of the British Council for Offices London Awards 2026 have been announced, recognising a series of workplace projects that reflect changing priorities in design, sustainability and social value across the capital. Six schemes were selected as regional winners. Deutsche Bank’s headquarters at 21 Moorfields (main image) was named best corporate workplace, while Stonecutter at 1 Stonecutter Street took the award for best commercial workplace. The best refurbished or recycled workplace award went to 76 Southbank, and Rabobank at 60 London Wall was recognised for best fit out of a workplace. The award for projects up to 2,500 square metres was given to 170 Piccadilly, while TBC.London at 224 to 226 Tower Bridge Road received the ESG award. (more…)