FUTURE TALENT November - January 2019/2020 | Page 12

F
FRONT OF HOUSE
WHAT WORKERS WANT
We talk a lot these days about the
importance of meaning and purpose at
work, those motivations that sit near the
top of Maslow’s famous pyramid. But a
new study from Savills into what workers
want suggests that we ignore at our peril
those hygiene factors at the bottom.
Savills asked more than 11,000
office-based workers, across 11 European
countries, for their views on what’s
important to them when it comes to their
workplaces.
Unsurprisingly, office layout is once
again under attack, with a third of
workers in open-plan offices claiming
that the layout has a negative impact on
their productivity, outdone only by the
50% of British workers who find their
working lives disrupted by hot-desking.
Office noise is also a big issue, especially
in open-plan environments, with 37%
lamenting the lack of quiet spaces for
focused work – the biggest single
dissatisfaction factor identified.
When it comes to the more positive
factors that might create an ‘ideal’
workplace, basics such as cleanliness,
comfort and security all scored highly,
with shorter and cheaper commuting,
proper IT infrastructures and having
access to a variety of workspaces also
high on workers’ wish lists.
Significant national differences
emerged, with the French and British
being least satisfied with their offices.
Perhaps that’s related to the fact that
46% of Brits routinely spend most of their
lunchtimes at their desks.
So what are the key lessons to be
learned? It seems that workplace
satisfaction is tied to some key identifiable
factors: a manageable and affordable
commute; city- or town-centre location,
with local amenities; a range of
workspaces that can be used for
different types of work, and a sense that
workers have some say over office
design and their personal workspace.
Perhaps we need to have an eye to the
top of that pyramid after all.
For a detailed overview of how office
architecture affects our productivity and
wellbeing, see The Architecture of a
Happy Office, p38.
IS YOUR NETWORKING NOT WORKING?
Few of us really like networking. According to David Burkus, professor at Oral Roberts University and author of Friend
of A Friend, research shows it can leave us feeling “physically dirty”. In his book, Burkus explains that part of the reason
we resist it is because we’re doing it wrong. Here, we look at five tips from a recent Harvard Business Review interview:
1
Warm contacts are
better than cold ones.
We tend to think of
networking as something
you do with strangers. But
keeping up with warmer,
‘weak ties’ from previous
jobs or projects is often a lot
more productive. They
are more likely to feel
warmly towards you and, in
many cases, they’ll be
willing to introduce you to a
highly relevant friend of a
12 // Future Talent
friend who can help
with just what you need at
that point.
2
Don’t make networking
the prime focus of a
networking event.
Events
designed
s p e c i f i c a l l y a ro u n d
networking can leave
p a r t i c i p a n t s fe e l i n g
uncomfortable and self-
conscious. Events that have
another purpose, with
i n fo r m a l n e t wo r k i n g
overlaid, are far more
effective. Burkus suggests
that even things as “corny”
as a bowling night can get
the conversation rolling. what’s going on in the
professional lives, and drop
them a line to say “hi”.
They’ll almost always be
touched to hear from you,
however long it’s been.
3 4
It’s good to talk.
Social media or email
shouldn’t replace real-life
conversation. If you’re
seeking out an old
acquaintance, use their
online profile to find out
You don’t need to
meet for coffee.
Everyone is busy. Regular
coffees can be a time drain
but a quick phone call to
catch up works wonders in
a fraction of the time.