Working from home: lessons from property’s leaders

The UK has taken flexible working to the extreme after the rapid spread of Covid-19 forced the country into lockdown. Here at EG, the guest list for twice-daily team video meetings has been expanded to include Ken, reporter Lucy Alderson’s pug. Our deputy editor is juggling copy editing with home-schooling, including biology lessons as the children raise frogspawn. How has the rest of the property industry fared during the first weeks of working from home? Here, several leaders from across the industry share their experiences and tips. Some are concocting a “fake commute” to enable some morning exercise and a chance to mentally prepare for the day. Others are getting to grips with the reality of home-schooling, with varying degrees of success. Technology worries Tech issues are at the top of the agenda for many, as executives try to keep track of whether their next virtual meeting is being held on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, Facetime or WebEx. Some grumble over family members hogging the broadband width by streaming Netflix while they’re trying to work. Emma Cariaga, joint head of Canada Water at British Land, concedes that she was “slightly apprehensive about both my own and the team’s IT capabilities”. But those concerns have been “completely dispelled”, she adds, and the transition to remote working has been “relatively painless” – although she is stress-testing her broadband network. The other challenge, she says, has been “figuring out where I can work best at home that hasn’t already been taken by my kids or my husband”. When that hasn’t been possible, her youngest has made appearances on calls, and in turn Cariaga has enjoyed meeting the children and partners of her colleagues. “It’s been fascinating seeing everyone’s homes – I think all of this actually makes people feel even more connected,” she says. “It has also fostered a great sense of team spirit, both within our business and also across our customers and communities. I am definitely getting to know colleagues, partners and stakeholders better because of the situation we find ourselves in, and that can only have longer-term benefits.” This experience will turn the future of work on its head Chris Ireland, JLL Dropped connections Communication is key in these unpredictable times, and Ross Blair, senior managing director and country head of Hines UK, says he has found that “in some cases I am probably spending more time chatting face to face with people than I would have done back in the office”. It’s all been “far more efficient” than he expected. Chris Ireland, UK chief executive at JLL, has been impressed by “the enthusiasm of others and the ability of focus to channel decision-making”. Even so, some are already missing the physical communication that being in an office brings, and Mitsubishi Estate London managing director and chief executive Yuichiro Shioda admits he is beginning to hanker for some aspects of office life. “Meetings, in particular, are more productive and energetic in person, and I do look forward to seeing my colleagues, partners and project teams in person rather than via video screen in the not-too-distant future,” he says. [caption id="attachment_1028237" align="aligncenter" width="847"] Home-working meets home-schooling for British Land’s Emma Cariaga[/caption] Cariaga knows the feeling. “For me, physical human interaction is what I miss most, and I think the value of it should not be underestimated,” she says. “I also find the more formal office set up important for my productivity and wellbeing. For example, having decent lighting, desks, adjustable chairs and fully functioning printers, as well as common areas to meet people for coffee or lunch. “That said, I do think that this will change how many of us work on a day-to-day basis in the future – I for one won’t be scheduling as many long face-to-face one-hour meetings for matters that can be sorted in half that time – but I also know that the benefit of physical interaction can never be replaced.” Ireland agrees that “this experience will turn the future of work on its head”. He adds: “We’ll learn a great deal while working remotely about each other and ourselves, and we’ll emerge with a different perspective on our definition of the working world.” Shioda believes that this crisis will raise many questions about the future of the office, but he feels that “Covid-19 has shown us the importance of a designated place of work”. “Clearly not all employees need a fixed desk in a fixed location five days a week – and habits will no doubt change as a result of this experience – but as a place to interact, collaborate and represent a corporate culture, a quality office environment in a major city is hard to beat,” he says. A time for understanding Real estate bosses speaking with EG emphasised the need for managers to be flexible and understanding as their teams adapt to a new way of working. “Allow for greater flexibility for your team to work when they can alongside family commitments and personnel needs,” says Jessica Hardman, head of UK real estate at DWS. “Ensure the team have a place to talk and share their experiences – that might be virtual team meetings, smaller project groups or one-on-ones.” Hardman adds: “Ensure that team objectives are transparent during this time so we all know what role we play and the skills we bring to this. And personally, I like a good chat, so being available and visible as much as possible and by being responsive is key. “Finally, remember to take a break, whether it’s a virtual coffee break with a colleague, playing in the garden with the kids, undertaking exercise or practising mindfulness – build it into your everyday schedule.” Chin up British Land’s Cariaga says her company too is keen to show understanding of staff members’ different home circumstances. “As a business, we are alive to the fact that some people will be sharing a flat with multiple people, or will be caring for somebody elderly and/or with a disability, or will have kids at home, so we plan for and support people in all sorts of different situations,” she says. “I am encouraging my team to let each other know the hours they are available to work in their email signature or in their Teams status so that we are all aware of our different working hours.” Cariaga adds that we should remember to be kind to ourselves as well as to others in this new era. “A focus on your own wellbeing is important, whether it’s setting yourself a little challenge or going to the park at 4pm to get outside,” she says. “I have been trying to master a chin-up for the past two years and finally nailed it this week, so I will now have to set myself a new target. Making the most of being at home and doing some stuff you wouldn’t necessarily be able to do when in the office is going to make this more enjoyable for all of us.” To send feedback, e-mail louise.dransfield@egi.co.uk or tweet @DransfieldL or @estatesgazette Photo: Isopix/Shutterstock