Category: Operational Improvement
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Leading as an Interim: Experience, Adaptability, and the Discipline to Let Go
Stepping into an interim leadership role brings a very particular set of challenges — many of which aren’t visible from the outside. You’re brought in because of your experience, your judgement, your ability to stabilise, assess, and act. There’s an expectation that you’ll move quickly, bring clarity, and make decisions that others may have been…
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From Desk to Depot: How Agile Workforce Models Are Rewriting Service Delivery
The line between “office” and “field” has blurred. For decades, workplace strategy focused on offices — flexible space, collaboration zones, hybrid work models — while service delivery focused on the depot, the van, and the site. But the reality is that both worlds are part of the same ecosystem. In infrastructure and facilities management, the…
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Social Value at Scale: Embedding Community Impact into Everyday Operations
In today’s infrastructure and facilities management sectors, success is no longer measured by service delivery alone. Clients — whether local authorities, defence estates, or corporate occupiers — increasingly expect operators to deliver measurable social value. That means creating local employment pathways, reducing carbon footprints, and strengthening community trust, all while maintaining high levels of operational performance.…
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Centralisation vs Decentralisation: Structuring Real Estate Teams for Optimal Portfolio Performance
In managing large property portfolios, one of the key decisions facing senior leaders is determining whether to adopt a centralised or decentralised approach to structuring real estate teams. The right choice can significantly influence operational efficiency, agility, responsiveness, and cost-effectiveness. In my experience of leading large-scale property portfolio transformations, I’ve worked with both centralised and…
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Navigating Geopolitical Risks in M&A Strategies
In an increasingly volatile landscape, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have become far more than financial transactions—they are complex operational undertakings shaped by geopolitics, technology, and organizational transformation. The rising threat of a global trade war is forcing companies to rethink how, where, and when they pursue deals. With the potential for tariffs, sanctions, and retaliatory…
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Harnessing AI for Sustainability in Facilities and Portfolio Management
As organizations strive to meet escalating sustainability targets, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a pivotal tool in enhancing operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact. In the realms of Facilities Management (FM) and portfolio management, AI-driven solutions are revolutionizing traditional practices, leading to smarter, greener operations. Smart Buildings and Optimized Operations AI-powered Building Management Systems…
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Why Knowing Your Team’s Sleep Chronotype Makes You a Better Leader
This week, I listened to a brilliant episode of Be That Life with Mary Christine, which explored the growing science behind sleep, mental health, and performance. One concept that really stood out was sleep chronotypes—the biological rhythms that dictate when each of us feels most alert, creative, or ready to switch off. It struck a…
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The Rise of the Remote Work Divide: How Organizations Can Respond
Recent research has highlighted a growing disparity in remote work opportunities, with highly paid professionals increasingly securing fully remote roles while the majority of employees face strict return-to-office (RTO) mandates. This shift, detailed in a Korn Ferry study, reveals that remote postings for workers earning over $250,000 have jumped by 15% in the last quarter,…
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Mergers & Acquisitions: A Corporate Real Estate Playbook for Success
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity continues to be a defining feature of corporate strategy, with 2024 seeing a resurgence in deals across multiple sectors. While much of the focus in M&A revolves around financial synergies, cultural integration, and operational efficiencies, corporate real estate (CRE) is often overlooked—despite being a critical enabler of post-merger success. Real…
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Building a Data-Backed Business Case for On-Demand Office Space: Why Technology is Key to Adoption
The shift toward hybrid work forced organisations to rethink their real estate strategies. And the lurch back again is causing organisations to stop and think again – do we really want to go back to traditional offices, designed for full-time in-office work, which were often underutilised? In response, many companies are exploring on-demand office space—a…
What With These Feet 