GCUC Blog

Is everyone a flexpert now?

By Stormy McBride On March 1, 2021 In Coworking•Coworking Trends•Future of Work

Seriously y’all it’s out of control. Did the real estate industry have a secret meeting and decide that they were going to repackage everything as “flexible” and that would be the solution to decades of inefficiencies, riches and gouging?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for disruption to an industry with a history of being old school to the point where the top tier is literally 99.9 white male. (Sorry guys.)

Before enlisting the help of a flexpert, take a look at their motivations. Are they looking at selling you a lease or a building or a service?

Have they ever successfully operated a business like a coworking space or a business center? CBRE just bought a nice stake in Industrious. If operating and growing Hana was easy to do, do you still think they would have done that?

We’re entering a new age where human needs are at the forefront of workplace design. Driven by the need to attract and retain the best talent, businesses will learn that they have to change the game entirely. Space isn’t about your real estate department, it’s about creating an environment where humans can grow, perform and thrive without sacrificing time and their home experience.

For the last five years, I’ve been talking about the need for spaces that make humans healthier just by being there. Is your flexpert talking to you about sick buildings? Mental health? Air quality? Biometrics? Lighting?

There are lots of flexperts ready to tell you all about buzzy phrases like: hub and spoke, work from anywhere, hybrid, flexible whatever. If you’re looking for someone to help you on your journey to the human-centric workplace, be very careful who you hire. This could be a make or break moment for your business and, more importantly, your humans.

Rant over.

If you need help, give me a holler. If I can’t help you I will find somebody who can.