I know you’ve heard it all before, but not everyone has.

Continuing our series of guest blogs by speakers and supporters of our up-coming Workplace Trends Autumn Conference in London: People, Place, Performance, Herman Miller’s Mark Catchlove asks, “Have you heard it all before?” (Looking at our programme we don’t think so!)

Agile Working, The Future of Work, The Generations at Work, Social Capital in The Workplace, An Engaged Workforce, New Ways of Working – the list goes on and on.
I know some of you reading this may well have heard all there is to hear about these subjects and there will also be some amongst you think the subjects have been overdone. The reality is however, that you are in an elite and somewhat privileged minority. As I travel around Europe delivering seminars, I find that there is still a thirst for insight into these and many more subjects looking at the role workplace can play in today’s business world. Many are interested in what’s happening now, as well as what the future may hold, so that they can improve the whole work and workplace experience.
Seminars are attended by a range of people with a variety of agendas.

• Some are from other disciplines and are new to the workplace arena
• Others have been put in charge of a one-off project and they are looking to build up a stock of knowledge to contribute to a successful outcome
• Others are designers and consultants hoping to hear new snippets of research that they can take back and use on projects that they are working on.
• Many are occupiers looking to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of their own workspaces and are looking for any material they can to help them put together a case for change.

One thing I always ensure is that the occupiers attending realise that whilst what we share may add to their knowledge bank, they will benefit from working with experienced and trained consultants to maximise the opportunity to deliver a great outcome.
So, please be patient with those of us who regularly commission and share workplace knowledge. I know you may have heard it all before, but I hope you will accept that not everyone has.
If you are knowledgeable about workplace matters, why not look at ways you can share some of the knowledge in interactive workshops, or even by putting yourself forward to speak at the many conferences that are now being organised.
There is also the added benefit of networking in a real, rather than a virtual environment. Don’t ever underestimate the value of networking in the current climate. You never know, you might even learn something new.
“I work best when I’m pushed to the edge. When I’m at the point where my pride is subdued, where I’m an innocent again” Bill Stumpf

Guest post by Mark Catchlove, Herman Miller.
First published at Mark Catchlove’s Blog
Photo by Kaboompics .com from Pexels