In episode 366, host Mike Petrusky speaks with Amanda Muzzarelli, a Director at Trascent, who is a Global Real Estate & Facilities Executive and an AI enthusiast empowering innovation in complex enterprises. Mike asks Amanda about her focus on the importance of interpreting the less visible aspects of workplace strategy, such as trust, meaning, and community while they explore the concept of “invisible architecture” in workplace design, which influences psychological safety, culture, and belonging. Amanda believes that the value of facility management as a field is highlighted by the fact that it is an industry where strategic generalists can thrive, balancing operational and visionary roles. She shares the potential of AI to enhance workplace environments by making buildings smarter and more responsive to human needs, while warning about the risk of automating dysfunctional processes without addressing the underlying issues. Mike and Amanda agree that communication in workplace management is essential, and they encourage attendance at IFMA’s upcoming World Workplace conference in Minneapolis where FM leaders will get the insights and inspiration they need to be a Workplace Innovator in their organizations!
Agenda
- Insights on AI and the future of smart buildings
- Importance of workplace design in shaping behavior
- Engaging with AI in the workplace
What you need to know: Workplace takeaways
Takeaway 1: The workplace is an environment that shapes human behavior, not just a container for tasks
The concept of the workplace shaping behavior rather than just being a place where tasks are performed emerged as a key theme in the conversation. Amanda emphasizes the importance of this perspective: “What you do in the workplace will actually shape the behavior, not necessarily designing to react and be responsive to the behavior. You can actually influence it with your design.” She encourages facility management professionals to consider the broader impact of their work on the people within the building, suggesting that understanding and shaping behavior can make one more valuable: “When you think about yourself as a person who provides solutions for the business’s problems, you will be more valuable and as they look to technology, if you understand it and how it’s going to help enhance the business, that makes you even more valuable.”
Amanda also highlights the role of facilities management in being both operational and visionary: “I love facilities because it’s probably one of the last places where a strategic generalist can thrive, you know, lean into the thinking that you have. You’re allowed to be both operational and visionary. Don’t shy away from getting into some of that deep thought and probing how you can help the business.”
Takeaway 2: Invisible architecture, such as trust, meaning, and community, is crucial for a successful workplace strategy
The discussion delves into the idea of invisible architecture, which encompasses the unseen elements that influence the workplace experience. Amanda describes it as “the unseen scaffolding that shapes every workplace. It makes up the trust, the culture, the psychological safety, the social cues.” She provides an example of how different floor plans can have varying impacts on people: “One floor plan can be amazing for belonging and togetherness and collaboration, and another one could be designed specifically the opposite way and have the opposite impact on people.”
This invisible architecture, she argues, is essential for a workplace strategy that truly resonates with employees: “Because if you don’t have those in the workplace, it’s not really a strategy, it’s just a floor plan, and I think that keeping the things that you can’t see foremost in your mind as you go through the important work that you do, it will be an important thing to do.”
Takeaway 3: AI and smart buildings can enhance the workplace experience by responding to human needs
Amanda shares her vision of how AI and smart buildings could revolutionize the workplace experience by becoming more than just automated systems. She envisions a future where buildings could actively listen to and respond to the needs of their occupants: “A building would tap into your wearables. It would know who’s got an accelerated heart rate that day, and it would deploy whatever is needed to help you calm down. It would sense your mood, your energy, and would respond to all that.”
She also discusses the potential for creating spaces that cater to different human needs: “Maybe it’s just better lighting in some cases, but if you had an actual AI augmented facility in a workplace that could listen to your needs and then provide what’s needed, then it would be a huge benefit.” Amanda stresses the importance of designing intelligence into facilities to make the environment as effective and productive as possible: “As buildings get smarter and smarter, they’re going to eventually get smart to the point where they’re going to know how to make that environment as efficient, effective, and productive for the people in that workplace as possible.”
Workplace management insights
- The concept of “invisible architecture” in workplace design refers to non-physical elements such as trust, culture, and psychological safety that shape how employees experience their work environment.
- The future of smart buildings is expected to involve not only automation but also integration with technologies such as AI and wearable devices, enabling systems to adapt to and respond to the needs of occupants.
- Workplace leaders play a role in shaping behavior and addressing business challenges, rather than simply managing day-to-day tasks.
- Engaging with AI allows professionals to better understand organizational processes, improve decision-making, and connect their work to broaden business performance.
- Clear communication and awareness of audience needs are critical skills in workplace management and are often emphasized in professional development sessions and industry events.
Do a deep dive into more workplace insights by exploring all Workplace Innovator podcast episodes.
