News and Views | The Great Room

Workplace Wellness: Be Well, Work Well

April 1, 2024July 16, 2020 by wanqian

Wellness is the key to unlocking your best self both at work and at play. We help you – and your team – achieve optimal wellbeing and operate at peak level.

Endorphin-releasing breathing exercises. Chakra- balancing practices. Qi-circulation improving massages. While these can seem esoteric to some, taking care of wellness – from physical, mental to emotional and spiritual – is all part and parcel of ensuring that you perform your best. For we are not cold machinery, but flesh and blood with complex sensation and emotion.

The Great Roomies Go Rhythm Cycling, in collaboration with Absolute You, Bangkok

Here at The Great Room, we understand the human condition. Committed to improving workplace wellness for our staff and members, we offer a holistic suite of events and initiatives – from wellness workshops to rhythm cycling sessions through Great Roomies Go, our signature events where we take you out of the workspace and into another. Our goal: to help you and your team set strong foundations to a great wellness journey.

A peace of mind

“High stress impairs our attention, decision-making, working memory, and multitasking abilities – all of which we need to be productive in life and to have more balance,” observes Brenda Wang, co-founder and CEO at Bird Meditation – our session partner for Hong Kong Great Roomies Go. Yet with chaotic work schedules and pressures to “staying ahead of the game”, timeout has become an after-thought. But does always being in a high tension state of business make you a better worker? “We’ve convinced ourselves that there is so much to do in so little time. Operating in this way unmanaged can leave us stressed, disengaged and as a result, less productive,” warns psychotherapist Astrid Merkt at Balance Health, speaker at our digital wellness workshop on Mental Resilience.

As part of The Great Room Hong Kong’s Corporate Wellness Day initiative, Astrid shared the power of breathwork – the practice of consciously controlling one’s breathing to therapeutic effect on the mind and body. Other alternative therapies – such as meditation, a practice to actively train and strengthen our minds for focus and clarity has also been proven to effectively manage stress and in-turn boost productivity – are also useful tools for maintaining one’s mental health.

Community wellness session in The Great Room One Taikoo Place

Astrid highlights that such techniques serve as preventative and prescriptive strategies to develop resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity/trauma – something especially important in times of great turbulence. Through learning how to “gain control of our internal environment”, Astrid proposes that we will be able to better cope and respond to changes in our external environment. “We become able to adapt to psychological and physiological stressors while being able to maintain well-being. This enables us to be in a better state emotionally, and thus also have a positive impact on our interpersonal relationships at work and at home. When we learn to design a lifestyle that can handle stress, we thrive in performance and productivity!”

Co-working, co-workout

We all know the science behind why a good workout really goes well beyond physical benefit, but sometimes – especially when it’s just one wave after another at work – you just need that nudge to get back into a good exercise rhythm.

Sweat & Chat in collaboration with Lululemon & Rebelhouse

Being in a community that shares your wellness priorities is critical – and we actively build that support system for you at The Great Room. Partnerships and special events that allow our members to build bonds over brawn-building are purpose-designed to build an active work tribe. Over Sweat & Chat with Lululemon & Rebelhouse for our Singapore members, a round of invigorating morning yoga was followed by a stimulating breakfast discussion on the role of businesses in creating community impact. The Great Roomies Go Boxing saw our members sweating it out together with a boxing and HIIT session led by Uppercut Boxing. Be it a calming and toning session of core strength exercises or a high-intensity, adrenalin-pumping workout you seek, we’ve got you covered.

Food for thought

We always knew that food would impact the way we work – thus our carefully curated Monday Breakfast Club spreads, and yes, we love feeding our members hot chocolate and cookies just like your favourite aunt would. Yet more than a source of comfort, food is nutrition, and according to Adelyn Khoo, the senior dietitian of CircleDNA – The Great Room’s wellness partner, which conducts comprehensive DNA testing that covers over 500 aspects of an individual’s health – eating right can help boost your focus, memory and help to manage stress better.

Fresh Food Market in The Great Room One Taikoo Place

What’s right could be dictated by more than common conventions on healthy eating. “Every individual’s need is unique, based on his/her environment, lifestyle, goals, dietary habits, and their current health data,” says Adelyn. “Understanding your DNA is only part of the puzzle – research has shown that your genetics contribute to 30% of your overall health outcome, while the remaining 70% is from our lifestyle and the environment. This means that understanding your genes can significantly improve and help you control your health risks.”

Knowing your body’s specific needs takes the guess work out of creating a diet for yourself – so you know exactly how to eat well, to live, work and play well.

Team Work, Dream Work – Tried and Tested Practices in the Workplace

April 1, 2024July 9, 2020 by wanqian

At The Great Room, we are all about going the distance together. We speak to three companies that share our people-forward values – and how their team-building philosophies have strengthened the company.

PWC SINGAPORE

United by mission

Think team drinks are frivolous? Think again. Harvard Business Review writes that “people intrinsically seek joy. And joy connects people more powerfully than almost any other human experience,” – and PwC Singapore’s partner Fang Eu-Lin certainly knows that. During the Circuit Breaker period where her entire team worked apart, she ordered a round of drinks, “Just for fun!” shares the leader for assurance, tax and consulting services firm’s Sustainability & Climate Change division. “The drinks were labelled with acronyms which we often use in our work. I think it was a hit!”

*Fang Eu-Lin, Partner and Sustainability & Climate Change Leader, PwC Singapore*

She heads a team that manages a complex, wide-ranging and ever-evolving area of work that require constant research of best practices, collaboration and enhancement of approaches to support their clients. The tangible, positive impact of the team’s work helps to keep team members energised, Eu-Lin feels. “One thing that I share as a guiding principle for whether or not you feel entrenched in your organisation are what I call the 3Ps – Purpose, Progression and People. Does your role give you a sense of purpose? Does your role allow you to progress and move closer to your desires and ambitions? Do you have good mentors and colleagues? I believe if you have broadly these areas satisfied, this is a strong foundation which will allow you to continue to flourish and commit to the cause.”

Even so, Eu-Lin acknowledges that the demands of the job can take a toll on her team members. She practices a “Go High, Go Deep” approach and is always ready to going down into trenches with the team. “This helps reiterate that you are alongside them, and at the same time be able to understand the ground issues intimately and be au fait on the topic. This allows us to move forward with conviction and confidence.”

The foundation work she set down for building a strong, cohesive team paid off during the Circuit Breaker. “Interestingly, I feel that we have grown closer rather than apart during the COVID-19 period!” shares Eu-Lin. “This was a nice surprise. Technology has enabled us to keep even more connected (even socially!), and we are better for it. Applying some set cadence helps – weekly and daily catch ups for example. We are also only a phone call or text away from each other.”

While technology enabled the communication, it was how Eu-Lin leveraged on it that made a difference. While the team is working apart, she makes sure that everybody is on the same page through clear and increased communication. “Speak more often as a group, and be clear and concise about your top points, goals and strategy for the specific time frame,” she recommends. “And ask for feedback.” Transparency is also important: “Be authentic and transparent about the situation, even where you don’t have a solution. This is especially important during times of crisis,” she shares. Leading with empathy is also critical: “Individuals are impacted differently by the pandemic, and some face more pressures than others. Sometimes these struggles are not apparent and therefore it might be good to be more observant during this period. You may not be able to solve all their problems but we can certainly listen and be there for them. There is power in empathy and there can be beauty in being vulnerable.”

LONGCHAMP

From Me to We

When social distancing measures were implemented, the Longchamp team on the ground managed to put together a complete, organised and professional Home Delivery Service in record time – despite not even having an E-Commerce platform at that point. Mollie Jean De Dieu, the French fashion and accessory company’s general manager for Singapore and Malaysia, attributes it to the seamless teamwork within the company. “Everyone rallied together and made it so that we were able to run a sustainable business whilst the circuit breaker was still on,” shares Mollie.

“Building a spirit of resilience – where proactivity can be gained – can only happen through heightened communication, and through allowing each other’s humanness to shine through,” says Mollie. “I believe in harbouring a work culture where my employees feel comfortable to speak up about their emotions; and where they are reminded that doing so does not equate to weakness or unprofessionalism. Quite the opposite: it is our humanness that ties us together. As a leader, I also need to show what that looks like—making myself vulnerable and sharing with my team some struggles that I might be going through, gives my team the permission and the confidence to do so too.”

While team meals and CSR activities have been brought to a halt, the bonding doesn’t. “Now, taking the time to stop and have a conversation to check in with each other on an individualised basis,” says Mollie who is also a strong advocate for wellness in the workforce. Thus, she makes a point to check on each staffs’ emotional well-being at the start of their ‘virtual’ meetings, and invites them to speak about their challenges openly. “Bring your full self to work and dare to share how you feel: it allows for authentic sharing and creativity to take place in a very big way,” says the nurturing leader who believes that companies should invest in a trained professional in their organisations to address the emotional state of their employees. “(The aftermath of the global pandemic) is ‘our new norm’ and one that we will not quickly forget even as life moves on.”

BYND ARTISAN

Creating demand – and purpose

The return to office is a process to be eased into, and at The Great Room, we’ve introduced new protocols that put health and hygiene of our members front and centre. We haven’t forgotten the little details either: at the doors of each of the dedicated offices in our Singapore venues, a bottle of hand sanitiser hangs from a stylish holder, each handcrafted from supple leather by the people behind Singapore-based book binder and leather crafts atelier, Bynd Artisan.

Releasing a hand sanitiser holder in April 2020 was a lot more than creating a product to meet the changing demands of the market for the company. “The #ByndUnited leather hand sanitiser holder project was our way to let our craftsmen at the retail forefront continue to feel useful,” shares co-founders James Quan and Winnie Chan. “We wanted this project to keep our craftsmen occupied and most importantly, make them feel useful and confident that they can continue to contribute to the company.”

*James Quan and Winnie Chan, Cofounders of Bynd Artisan*

The hands-on leaders have always placed an emphasis on fostering a family-like culture at Bynd Artisan, and this openness has allowed them to be sensitive to the needs of their team. “Since February, our Bynd Artisan craftsmen have been very stressed. Their purpose has always been to welcome customers into our ateliers and to craft that meaningful personalised gift for them and their loved ones,” shares the couple. “They have been trying their best to stay motivated – but a shadow of fear has been cast over their hearts as they witness the impact covid-19 brings. Being in the service line, they know they can’t work really from home.” To allay fears, the company quickly came up with take-home kits for their craftsmen to work from home. Crafting the sanitisers and fulfilling the webstore orders kept them busy and gave them purpose. Their social media and digital team also found new ways to engage their customers and followers. “In line with Bynd Artisan’s spirit to be an enabler and platform for community building, we organized a Wonder Woman Zoom Forum online where entrepreneurs and professionals came together to share about their industry challenges,” shares James and Winnie.

This strong foundation allows them to keep closely connected even while working apart. “At a time when expressions are hard to decipher behind masks and working from home means you read a person’s body language to reinforce a message, communication has to take on a different style. Our strategy has been to combine hope with emotional sensitivity,” they say. “We made sure to keep in touch with our team during this time, to check in with those working from home, and to communicate and over-communicate. This ensures that everyone is rowing the boat in the same direction and there is no miscommunication.”

“Leaders feel fear too, but we have learnt that we should put the needs of our team before our own. And embracing our fears, talking about what is in our minds and communicating this to the team has helped everyone to understand the problem and to stay resilient and united in our purpose,” shares James and Winnie. “We need to stay calm during a crisis, embrace uncertainties, and stand up as a leader to rally our people, even as we ourselves do not know what lies ahead of us with this Covid-19 pandemic.”

Meeting Expectations: Working Digital Engagement Platforms to your Advantage

April 1, 2024July 3, 2020 by wanqian

The Great Room invites communications strategist Tan Shou Chen and voice and presentation coach Petrina Kow to share insights on nailing those virtual meetings.

Video-conferences and meetings seemed like the perfect solution in the age of social distancing. But are they? Slow servers and poor internet connection can easily kill the momentum of a discussion; a whirring fan in the background of one attendee becomes a distraction for everybody; and let’s not even start on “Zoom fatigue”, which has become a trending topic. This isn’t to say that we cannot interact and engage as effectively virtually though – we simply need to work the medium to our advantage. Over a series of three Webinars, communications strategist Tan Shou Chen and voice and presentation coach Petrina Kow showed The Great Room’s co-working members exactly how to do that.

Here are some of their insights:

Know the medium

Do you find yourself speaking louder when faced with a larger Zoom room group? That’s because our brains are wired to tell us to do so in group settings. Yet, there is absolutely no need to do so in virtual meetings , regardless of the number of attendees. “You don’t have to do a stadium emcee shout out – because your audience is alone,” says Petrina, illustrating one of the many ways virtual meetings are different from conventional ones. “Whether there are three attendees or 25, the message is still being delivered to the attendees as solo individuals.” Being aware of the differences such as this is critical, for only then can you adapt and adjust to its quirks – and work it to your advantage.

Minimise distractions

“Unlike physical meetings where the environment is controlled and purpose-built, virtual meeting rooms are mediated by technology, and has a lot more distractions,” highlights Shou Chen. “For example, whenever a participant in a Zoom call says something – and it could just be an unconscious ‘OK’ – everybody else is cut off.” While distractions from other meeting participants are not within your control, you certainly can help yourself still: “But don’t let technology sabotage you: invest in better equipment, have somebody give you feedback so you know how you sound, or if you tech is not working,” shares Shou Chen.

Structure for success

Given that the interruptions in virtual meetings are a lot more pronounced, having a clear agenda and meeting plan becomes especially important. This helps everybody to focus, and also allows the host to think about how to leverage on the tech tools to make the session more effective. “For example, at a presentation-heavy Zoom session, the host could mute all participates during the first part; and then unmute-all when proceeding to the discussion after the presentation,” illustrates Shou Chen.

Ways of seeing

“Use the right medium for your goal. If you don’t need to do a video call – don’t,” says Shou Chen. So, if the objective is just to download information to a group, hold a webinar. And let’s not forget the good old phone call either – in fact, Shou Chen facilitated this interview over a three-way call. Petrina also highlights that appearing in front of a camera can be a source of anxiety for some. “While seeing somebody on the screen gives that extra warmth to the interaction, there are many reasons why some people might not want to turn on their camera. If possible, give people options about what they are comfortable with,” she says.

More than ever, virtual meetings have also made us more aware of how we look and sound – and some of us might not be exactly happy with what we see and hear. “Some people literally cringe when they hear themselves, but you have to be kind to yourself and not judge yourself,” says Petrina. “Rather than get more self-conscious about how you look or sound, be more concerned about how you feel when you are presenting. Your emotions feed your voice, so you should be feeling good while making a presentation, rather than be in a state of heightened stress.”

Be authentic. Be human.

“The camera does not lie. In fact, it enhances the truth,” says Shou Chen, illustrating the heightened need for authentic communication in virtual meetings. This is an impetus to hone your charisma – not just as a presenter, but also as a person.

“A crying child might be seen as an interruption because of the boundaries we used to draw between work and our private life. But with people working from home, that line is blurred. While it is the employee’s responsibility to commit to their work in this new setting, that an employee can’t even take two minutes out from a meeting to settle a domestic issue says something about a company’s culture,” says Shou Chen. “If you are in a position of leadership and you are positive with how you deal with the distractions, it sends a strong message across,” echoes Petrina.

Just as the human approach guides the design of every of The Great Room’s venues, it takes a human touch to transform meetings over digital platforms into meaningful sessions that connect both hearts and minds.

Here’s Why Offices Are Here to Stay

April 1, 2024June 25, 2020 by wanqian

Work-from-home might be the order of the day, but it is far from over for workspaces.

Confession: we love working from home too. We can wake up to a session of morning yoga or even an F45 set, sit down to a proper breakfast with our family, change into comfortable house clothes, and commence work. And it is only 8.30am.

Here’s the thing though: while work commute might be a bane, offices are a boon. Not even taking into account the professional resources (or air-conditioning, for that matter) offered, offices offer a whole lot more than we realise.

A ritual to wake the work-warrior

Precious time is indeed saved when we can be at work just by flipping open our laptops – but are you really working as efficiently and effectively as you normally are? We all play so many roles in our lives outside of work that it is sometimes hard to snap into work mode fully. Like how Clark Kent needs to go into a telephone booth to transform into Superman, the routine of putting together a spiffy outfit, organising our work kit, or even making our way to the office, is something that helps many to focus our thoughts and switch into work-warrior mode. Furthermore, the familiarity of this process is a rock for those seeking a sense of stability in times of uncertainty.

An environment optimised for productivity

As we always say at The Great Room – it’s all work, it’s all play. We love that working from home is getting more people to understand that achieving work-life balance isn’t about choosing between one or the other, but having and managing both in harmony. However, not all homes are made equal (and offices, for that matter); and when you need to hunker down for an intensive session, being in an environment purpose-built for productivity makes all the difference. From lighting, acoustics to aesthetics, a thoughtfully-designed workspace sets the stage for you to give your best performance. Situated in prime locations, our premium co-working destinations in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok also offer superb accessibility – so you and your team can shorten your work commute and maximise the precious hours in a day.

Culture club

In the words of The New York Times columnist Jennifer Senior, the office is “a physical manifestation of a corporate ethos”. But it’s called “work culture” for a reason: and beyond being a business, a company is really a collective of people who share the same ethics, purpose, world view – and sometimes the same taste in other things in life, even. Within this space, we don’t just work together – we also learn from and influence each other.

The Great Room founder Jaelle Ang proposes that offices and co-working spaces will become the modern agora. “When things are changing faster than we can figure it all out, then learning and application must be the most valuable skills to have. In the offices of today, especially in the best of co-working spaces, you see a plethora of painstakingly curated events covering learning, motivation and well-being. We can certainly conduct these sessions virtually, but when everyone has spent the day on Zoom calls, it is inevitable that we will be less receptive to doing another learning or social session facing the screen. Sharing a laugh with a roomful of like-minded attendees, with a drink in hand, is a much more appealing proposition.”

Social studies

Yet more important than anything else, perhaps, is the social aspect of going into an office. You might not think much of casual banter with your colleagues, but a casual collision and a serendipitous chat can often bring about an exponential burst of ideas. “Offices house relationships with trust and rapport; and valuable communities with friction of ideas and are designed for spontaneous engagement, deep collaboration and productivity,” says Jaelle. “Companies and teams will still see the need for physical space to collaborate, benefit from technology, see colleagues and clients, and build routine and culture in a local environment.”

The need for in-person interaction goes beyond our natural instinct as social creatures: “The social capital accumulated prior is the reason why we have been able to cope with working from home with some resemblance of productivity,” says Jaelle. “We can draw from this reserve for problem-solving, ideation, or peer inspiration perhaps for a couple of months. However, we will need to top up this capital soon – through face-to-face interaction, in a physical space .”

Why you need a work tribe – and how to identify them

April 1, 2024June 18, 2020 by wanqian

Finding kindred spirits within – and beyond – your workplace might be the best thing you do for your professional growth

As children, we knew instinctively who our friends were. We dig the same games, pore over the same books, and obsess over the same music. We are our best selves around each other, comfortable in our own skin and unafraid to express our views. We egg each other to go further with our pursuits and go deeper into our passions, no matter how trivial they may seem. Our friends were our tribe, our pillar of support in the journey of growing up.

Such kinship of spirit remains critical in our development as professionals in the working world. The rules of engagement might be different from that of the school yard, but the rudiments to finding people who you connect and belong with remain the same.

Know your own values

To find your tribe, you have to first find yourself. Ask fundamental questions: What is my purpose? What are my non-negotiables? What do I value? Find the answers through deep introspection and you will be able to identify a like-minded person easily. This is especially important when expanding your tribe beyond the usual circle of colleagues and trade connections, and embracing new, inspiring people into your fold.

Go beyond your industry circle

It’s always great to have people who speak the same language – and you will often find them within your own industry. But in the age of disruption – especially one accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic – you would be doing yourself a favour by expanding your tribe beyond folks from your own trade. It isn’t just about networking, but about expanding your horizons. At our co-working spaces at Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok – each venue a natural ecosystem that has attracted a diverse pool of professionals – we’ve witnessed how sparks fly when people from different industries hit off. Diverse points of view – underscored by shared values – can often result in fresh ideas and radical collaborations. With talent from industries spanning Fintech and Venture Capital to Fashion and F&B, every casual encounter at lunch, or even that mid-day cuppa shared with a co-worker, could be an opportunity to grow your tribe beyond industry contacts.

Free up your calendar

That social invitation or lunchtime talk is all too easy to turn down, especially when deadlines are looming. Yet each activity is a window to inspiring teachings and enlightening encounters – all you need is an open, positive attitude. At The Great Room, a host of activities and perks – from our boisterous monthly networking event Great Thirstday to our Spend the Night business learning sessions – bring a host of professionals from a diverse spectrum of industries together. These are prime opportunities for seeking out members of your tribe.

Let your tribe evolve

A common misconception many have is that our tribe sticks with us for life. Yet, we change as we grow in experience and wisdom: we might discover new facets to ourselves, or even a paradigm shift in our values. It is critical thus to find people whom you can connect with, at different phases of your professional growth. Says thought leader and depth psychologist Anne Davin: “Don’t be disillusioned if your “tribe” goes by the wayside—many have. Do what the ancients did: Go find another one or start one yourself… Modern-day tribes must be fluid, flexible, and have open boundaries. What remains constant is the ‘village heart’ that tethers everyone together with a feeling of belonging that transcends time and change.”

Get to know our new CFO: Philip Lam

April 1, 2024May 28, 2020 by wanqian

What is your morning hack for a productive day?
2 cups of coffee – one right out of bed, and another before work begins. If it’s important, best to speak to me after that.

Do you have a favourite accessory that you rely on for that important meeting?
People sometimes gift me nice pens since they always see my with my plastic Pilot pen, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

What is the best $100 or less purchase you have done recently that has upped your game at work?
For now, I’ll have to go with something low tech: An Ikea table and chair I got for my 16 month old daughter. She’s amusing herself endlessly there now, so mum and dad can actually WFH properly.

If you weren’t in the coworking industry, what would you be doing instead?
I get a lot of energy from startups, so I’m sure I’d be involved in one.

What is the last book you read that created an impact on you?
I found Laura Huang’s “Edge” to be an interesting read, and the final point in the book to be worth remembering – people may care where you’re from, but they care even more about where you’re going.

The Great Return: Post-Pandemic Coworking

October 17, 2023May 21, 2020 by wanqian

Re-thinking the way we work in a post-pandemic world

As cities around the world ease regulations, it is back to business for many. But let’s face it: returning to your job post-pandemic isn’t going to be like heading back to the office after a long vacation. Just as it has shown the resilience of the workforce, the pandemic has also put the spotlight on the fissures between traditional ways of running a company and the needs of the people who make it.

We spot the big trends that will change the way we work: and some of them are pretty welcoming.

Breathing room in workspaces

It’s in with more personal space and out with densely packed offices. Global commercial real estate services organisation Colliers International notes that, given the recommended six-foot social distancing recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), office layouts will have to change. This could mean repurposing work areas, such as converting conference rooms into workspaces. Speaking to VOX, Kate North, vice president of workplace strategy at Colliers International real estate company also shares that every floor plan should be assessed for distancing and safety as we move into a post-pandemic future.

Stay nimble

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, large corporations had started placing some employees in coworking spaces as a way to accommodate remote workers. This is likely to continue given the trend to “de-densify” – and also the heightened need to stay financially nimble in uncertain times. At The Great Room’s Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong venues, our multi-tasking spaces stand as a premium solution for corporations – from expanding firms seeking flexible options to house remote teams to those who want to improve agility by transitioning from traditional office space commitments to flexible or coworking space arrangements. Speaking to Recode by Vox, Julie Whelan, Americas Head of Occupier Research at CBRE, weighs in: “If anything, this crisis highlights why flexibility is valuable for companies,”

Wellness at the office

We aren’t talking about ergonomic furniture or fancy sleep cocoons. A Forbes article proposes that, post-pandemic, companies should go straight back to basics when it comes to caring for the wellness of their staff, such as having good air quality and lots of natural light. Yet staff wellbeing is not just about the workplace environment, it is also in the simple, little things that impact emotional wellness: little perk-me-up treats just before the day closes, just to get to charging full speed to the finishing line; meaningful afterwork sessions that are enriching in many ways. Undeniably, not every company’s HR team will have the capacity to think so deeply into the ways to maintain staff wellness – which is why, at The Great Room, we do the thinking for you, offering a host of perks and activities for your staff. After all, our ethos is it’s all work, it’s all play.

A community that works together, recovers together

As the saying goes: if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Corporations and individuals alike need to stand together to face tough times, and to do that, having a community is key. The benefits are multi-fold: having a business community means the possibility of sharing resources – from costly IT infrastructure to something as miniscule as stationery. This spreads the financial outlay across more users, translating to better cost efficiency. Having a business community also accords one support – be it through collaborations or simply through knowledge sharing. And in that sense, coworking spaces are economic engines in their own right, says Forbes. Indeed, those who work together, also grow together.

Find out how we can help your business adapt to the flexible future of work.
Select the city below for more details.

Untold Founder Stories: Shuhei Morofuji, Reapra

April 1, 2024May 14, 2020 by wanqian

As one of the youngest and fastest entrepreneurs in Japan to reach an IPO for a startup, Shuhei Morofuji shares how a journey fuelled by curiosity led the way to success.

One’s twenties are often remembered as a time of uncertainty and struggle, but by the time Shuhei Morofuji was 25, he was laser-focused in leading his startup, SMS Co Ltd, to an IPO in just five years. Pleasantly surprised at how well SMS, a website operator focusing on elderly care, did, Morofuji realised his true passion was in trying to understand and manage complex things in an equally complex yet structured way.

After 11 years serving as SMS’ CEO, Morofuji indulged his curiosity by starting Reapra, a venture builder and investment group based in Singapore. Rather than become just another opportunistic, profit-chasing investing machine, Morofuji is in it for the long haul with the founders Reapra chooses to work with. We sit down with one of Japan’s brightest sparks — and one of The Great Room’s newest tenants — to pick his brains on the skills that got him this far.

When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?

I don’t believe that my talent emerged all of a sudden at any point in time. However, I do think that my innate sense of curiosity, present since childhood, played a crucial role. This means I have a tendency to not only view reality as complex, but to also fit it into a high complex environment, where it can only be unravelled by learning over time. Learning through experience in this environment cultivated my skills and talents as an entrepreneur.

So what was the impetus for founding SMS?

The economic bubble burst during my college days and seeing large companies go out of business shocked me. That was when I realised that landing a job at a big firm does not ensure job security, and considered starting my own. By my fourth year in university, I noticed how everyone was talking about the increasing aging population of Japan, and realised that the elder care industry was still small, but represented a high growth trajectory. After graduating, I found a job but left shortly after to start SMS in 2004.

Were there any life experiences that contributed to your success?

Somewhat paradoxically, I believe my lack of noteworthy life experiences in the past may have led to my success. I never excelled in my studies and I had a self-concept that I was nothing. Because of this foundation I wanted to see reality as complex, and I believed starting a business would achieve this.

What was the biggest mistake you learned from on your journey?

Not addressing human resource development in the early stages of SMS. As I was doing business in an industry of high growth, the size of the company was rapidly expanding. Regardless, I focused only on the product and not on the organisation that would support it. But this realisation helped the company grow even after I leave. As such, when Reapra was established, I aimed to create and environment where I could not only learn and grow by myself, but also where the people around me could grow together.

Grit and resourcefulness tend to be qualities those in business would like to nurture. What other characteristics do you find invaluable?

I refer to these necessary qualities as the “mastery of co-creating with society”. And it is present not just in entrepreneurs, but in anyone who is able to make an impact on society. It means that to be a market leader, you must first understand your own identity, and then improve on your proficiency through experiential learning.

So you believe that such qualities can be learned?

The question of what is inborn and what is acquired is contentious in academia but I personally believe that the desirable qualities of an entrepreneur can be largely acquired. I used to think of myself as a “nobody” but with the multitude of experiences that come with setting up a company, I learned to overcome my weaknesses and developed an entrepreneurial nature. Moreover, I don’t think there are many people who are born with the aforementioned “mastery” at a high level anyway. That’s why Reapra accompanies the transformation of the individual through hands-on support.

It’s important to unwind to avoid burnout. Do you have any daily rituals that help you stay sane?

I have two. Before I go to sleep and after I wake up, I reflect on the day and come up with whatever measures I need because I can organise my thoughts better during those times. My other routine is to simply walk because that too, helps my thinking process. Sometimes I walk two hours a day. I also have a personal rule not to work on holidays, as I like to spend them fishing and playing with my children.

Scribbles from Su Anne Mi, Director of Asset Management

April 1, 2024May 7, 2020 by wanqian

What is your morning hack for a productive day?

Wake up an hour earlier. Bonus if I can start with a small accomplishment like a workout.

What’s your super-hero costume and/or accessory that you rely on for the most important business meetings?

A good blazer. In COVID-times, I’m loving interesting skype/zoom backgrounds. My favourite is The Great Room Hong Kong background—the dappled light and warm colours totally changes the ambiance of business meetings.

What is the best $100 or less purchase you have made recently that have upped your game at work?

I used to be a big notebook advocate but could never refer back quickly to my archived notes. Now I use “Notes” on my phone and computer, sort them by categories, and I can always access it anywhere in an instant. Just $2.99/month for iCloud to sync!

Dream job?

Surfing and skiing the world with my family

Top read and why?

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight. A few quotes I loved that captured the essence of his rollercoaster ride:

“Life is growth. You grow or you die.”

“The art of competing, I’d learned from track, was the art of forgetting, and I now reminded myself of that fact. You must forget your limits. You must forget your doubts, your pain, your past.”

Lights, Action: How Lighting Affects your Productivity

April 1, 2024April 29, 2020 by wanqian

There is more than meets the eye in the lighting design applied in The Great Room venues

Your hair is perfectly coiffured, your outfit making just the right statement, and the perfect background of your favourite The Great Room venue is set up. You are ready for that big presentation from home, yet somehow, you find yourself not looking quite as sharp on screen as you usually do. What you are missing: the finely calibrated lighting at The Great Room, purpose-designed by internationally acclaimed lighting designers DJCoalition.

Yet good lighting does a lot more than, well, make one look good. “There is a well-researched science behind light and its effect on productivity. In simple terms: light has to enable our visual tasks, encourage connectivity to the environment around us and reinforce our physiology. When it does this, we are more productive,” explains David Skelley, the Chairman of DJCoalition.

“The Great Room has the opportunity to be at the forefront of good office lighting design – which needs to be focused on people and offer personalised solutions,” opines David. “Conventional office space lighting design needs to catch up to co-working spaces where lighting solutions are more flexible and variable to suit the task and the user.”

Drawing Room – The Great Room One Taikoo Place, Hong Kong

Different lights for different tasks

“If you are relationship-building with a member of the co-working community over a drink or two, you want to get everybody relaxed – the lighting needs to be warm and inviting and at a low scale. This means using floor lamps, desk lights, wall lights, sconce lights… not just light beaming down from the seating,” details David.

The meeting rooms, on the other hand, feature three different light settings: brighter wall and ceiling up-lighting to create a more for formal atmosphere; dim ambient lighting with the light focused on the speaker for presentations; and even, neutral lighting throughout the room for video conferences to avoid stark contrasts between faces and the background. Colour correctness is also critical.

At The Great Room, David uses high quality LED lighting that mixes a wide spectrum of lights to recreate a “white” light: “Our physiology needs the whole spectrum of light in natural daylight to function at the right level. It is what allows us to see red as red, rather than a dirty brownish hue; and it gives everybody a healthier skintone for that video call,” shares David.

Stateroom – The Great Room Ngee Ann City, Singapore

In the work hall where members are popping in for a couple of hours to bang out something within short deadlines in between appointments, or someone who needs to turn-off all distractions down and hunker down for some deep work, white light – also known as daylight in the lighting industry – will help one to be more alert and focused. “Optimum light performance at work stations has many variables, such as surface colours, material reflections, type of task, length of time doing the task, time in the day, age and culture of the worker. Thus the best lighting solution is one that is flexible.

One general rule that does help concentration is to have the working surface brighter than the overall ambient light levels, this helps our brains to focus on the task.” He also recommends even lighting in the room so as to prevent the eyes from having to adjust to contrasting levels of brightness constantly, which can cause fatigue.

David cautions against prolonged exposure to white light, though: “Daylight helps you concentrate, but it is not good for long tasks because it creates serotonin and suppresses melatonin. If you sit under a 5000 Kelvin white downlight all day, your body will not get the chance to relax, and wind down at the end of the day, and you will end up feeling tired.”

Be well to work well

Indeed, David’s top consideration when it comes to lighting design is wellness. Wellness in lighting terms has three aspects: good colour quality – where colours are can be perceived accurately, flexibility in brightness settings, and overall room ambience. “People don’t realise how lighting affects our well-being, yet it is so obvious. We are sensitive to lighting – not just how it affects visibility, but also our mood and how we interact with people.”

The Circle – The Great Room Centennial Tower, Singapore

Natural daylight is the optimum light for working, as its natural rhythm of change in intensity and colour during the day fits to our in-built biorhythms, shares David. “Natural daylight also fills a room rendering its surfaces with light to give a comfortable ambience. This background room ambience is as critical as lighting a work surface.” While David feels that there is no such thing as too much natural daylight, he also works alongside interior designers to minimise the chance of glare caused by natural light source.

And while not everybody has the luxury of working in a room with lots of daylight, David prescribes this: get yourself a task lamp over your work desk. “Find something that is adjustable in terms of both brightness levels and angles, and preferably one with a solid metal shade that bounces the light down towards the work surface. Find a design that you love, and plug it in. It is a really simply thing to do for yourself.”