A Message from Mike Wagner, Kimball Office President
Good tidings to all! There is nothing that warms your heart more than seeing the surprise on a stranger’s face when they receive an anonymous gift or friendly favor. After all, it ’tis the season. If you get the chance to surprise a stranger and watch from a distance, the joy that comes over their face is awesome. If you get a chance, just do it. It captures the true spirit of the holidays. Pay it forward!
Last month, I attended a “Ted-like” seminar, where some of the world’s brightest minds–in workplace design, technology, real estate strategies, developers, architects–were all gathered to discuss issues facing the future of the workplace (and the building industry in general). As various presenters shared their ideas, the audience was given a chance to contribute their perspective and, usually, excellent dialogue pursued.
As this session concluded, there were two things that became increasingly clear. First is that the stakes have rarely been higher for a company faced with long term real estate decisions. Some of the most successful companies in the world were commenting that the single biggest obstacle to their company’s progress is the slow and the inflexible nature of property development. Everything else within their company can move at the speed of technology, but development of property can take years and, even worse, after it is in place, the rigidity is suffering. Everyone involved in these high stakes transactions are seeking third party confirmation from trusted experts. The speed of change and ambiguity of the future has created extraordinarily high anxiety at all levels of the most successful companies. The second takeaway is that it’s becoming increasingly important that CEOs become engaged in the process. The true answers to your facility planning questions lie within the deeper context of their goals and strategies of each individual business. It is impossible for architects, designers, and project managers to control the successful outcome of a project if the longer term goals and corporate strategies aren’t fully understood. Typically, there is deep context involved in the formation of the corporate vision, and only when explored through meaningful dialogue with the true professionals in our industry, will your project be planned to maximize your customer’s future plans. The more I engage with these business leaders, the more you learn that they are equally concerned about the future, and sometimes shy away from participating, so as to not send the project in the “wrong direction”.
The reality is that we rarely see the highest level executives engaged in critical facility planning discussions. Facility managers are often left with the task of deciphering this increasingly complex task of planning their future workplace–and typically without deep knowledge of the CEO’s true and most current vision. The best designers and architects are savvy in developing various ways to extend through their corporate contacts and connecting with the top leadership, if for nothing else than to help shape the expectations of the leaders, while also gleaning any context that might have been left out during the exploration process.
…the stakes have rarely been higher for a company faced with long term real estate decisions… The second takeaway is that it’s becoming increasingly important that CEOs become engaged in the process”
…the stakes have rarely been higher for a company faced with long term real estate decisions… The second takeaway is that it’s becoming increasingly important that CEOs become engaged in the process”
Another trend that I have been noticing (and it is similar to how GCs are being engaged on the front end of projects today) is that designers are engaging with manufacturers much earlier in the process, particularly with larger projects. Similar to the purpose of engaging GCs, these manufacturers bring additional resources, knowledge, and research to the front end of the planning process, and participate in the teaching (and shaping of the general approach). If the project is large enough, Presidents of manufacturers, A&D firms, and GCs will often be better positioned to engage with the leadership of your largest customers. As our good friend Jim Ware puts it, “it’s time we change the conversation”. It’s during this early dialogue that some of the most important content is gathered, and those that glean it and convert it into meaningful solutions are the most successful members of the building and interiors industry today.
For the first time in the history of business, real estate planning has become a chief competitive advantage for the most successful and fast-moving companies. Let’s work together to change the conversation and deliver meaningful solutions that only can be met through exploring what has traditionally “not been said”. There’s never been a better chance to positively impact the course of a company and become a true thought leader in your industry.
But, enough about business! I would like to wish you, as well as your friends and family, the happiest of times during the holiday season! I hope you are able to take time to reflect on life’s many blessings, as well as, lend a hand to those who may need it most. Each year we wish everyone a prosperous New Year, but let’s shoot a little higher for 2015. In addition to being prosperous, together let’s change the course of our industry and gain recognition for being thought leaders, and, most importantly have a positive impact on as many people as possible. Best wishes to all!
Do you have a new project? Contact us to start the conversation.