I make no apologies for repeating myself on this one – work shouldn’t be a miserable experience. We know that when we get it right with our people great things can happen. And we know that designing great employee experiences that unlock engagement is what makes all the difference.
This might sound simple on paper, but I also know it’s tough out there for practitioners. Budgets are being cut, we’re being asked to do more with less, our work isn’t always taken seriously, there’s a lack of investment in line managers, employees are burnt out and so the list goes on.
Right now, often the experience isn’t great for employees. And I know this is frustrating for the dedicated practitioners out there who, like me, are committed to changing this.
I’ve spent the last year or so, taking time to really listen to what EX and engagement practitioners want and need to turn this around. I’ve heard loud and clear that we need to elevate the profession of EX and engagement, to make it simple to find and use tools that actually work. To create a community where we can share and learn from each other. And most of all I have seen the passion, energy and commitment practitioners have, to transform the experiences at work for the people they work with.
I feel privileged to be a part of this community. But I have also felt increasingly frustrated that I couldn’t do more.
And then I realised that I could.
A chance conversation with my old friend Lee Smith, sparked the seed of an idea, which we have grown and nurtured together.
I’ve known Lee for nearly two decades, but most of you will know him from his days as the co-founder of Gatehouse, the strategic internal communication agency. It was there that Lee and I worked together on the design and delivery of the highly acclaimed IOIC Accelerate learning programme.
Gatehouse was acquired by Gallagher a few years ago, but Lee and I have always stayed in touch. And I’m absolutely delighted to share with you the news that Lee and I are now working together, to bring you something new and very exciting, The EX Space.
Launching this spring The EX Space is all about you – the folk on the front line.
We’re creating a shared space where practitioners from diverse backgrounds can meet, learn and together, transform the world of work. Both Lee and I care deeply about learning and development.
I started my career as a uni lecturer and over the years I have designed and delivered 1000s of courses, workshops, seminars and lectures to all sorts of people, in all sorts of places. So at the heart of The EX Space, will be an accredited learning programme which, for the first time, brings together employee experience AND employee engagement in one place, breaking down the barriers between these two closely related, but often confused concepts.
We’ll share more updates over the coming weeks, but you can expect to see learning, case-studies, webinars, diagnostics, practical tools, peer-to-peer support, networking and much more. In summary, our mission is to enable the EX era, by equipping practitioners and people leaders of tomorrow, with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to design experiences that deliver engagement.
The EX Space will run alongside People Lab, which continues to go from strength to strength providing EX and engagement consultancy to organisations around the world.
I’m really excited about this new chapter and can’t wait to tell you more. If you’d like to be the first to know what is happening with The EX Space, please sign up here.
