How to ask
CFOs are fielding many requests mid-move, so we asked our own about the best way to approach him when looking to make an upgrade for your office infrastructure.
Gijs van Rhijn, CFO, Aquablu
1. Know your game.
Amenities like hydration and coffee are usually leased, so they often sit outside the fit-out budget and are therefore easy to leave out of the plan. Make them visible from the start.
2. Do your research.
Get a clear view of what’s available for improving office amenities or the F&B experience. A move is the best time to make space for change, so know what you’re working with.
3. Treat company resources like your own.
Any proposal you make should come with a price and contract duration that you’ve evaluated carefully. Be able to explain why it represents the best value for the business.
4. Frame it the way finance reads it.
Calculate the total cost of ownership. Finance needs to understand what an approval will cost the company over time, broken down by period and component.
5. Put the cost in perspective.
Cost alone shouldn’t be the decision factor. Present the proposal as an investment: if we go this route, what does the company get in return? Investing in healthier workplace alternatives can support employee satisfaction and productivity: benefits that can far outweigh the initial investment.
6. Show ownership.
Nothing builds credibility like knowing your proposal inside out. Think through the costs, commitment and benefits, and be ready to explain why you believe it’s the right investment for the business.
See the full three-year cost sheet. Ready to take to your finance team. Free to download.
To the office managers out there
So there you have it. The Aquablu x work.club Office Move Guide. A summary of our collective learnings plus insights from workplace strategists to guide your own office move, when the time comes. You will likely make some mistakes. We learned many of the lessons within this guide the hard way. But setting your priorities from the beginning and understanding what needs to be fixed before the design locks is the safest way to nail the parts that matter most.
And, like our own office manager Rebecca Baddeley,, don’t forget to bring the good vibes along the way.
“Hey, to my office managers out there: I see you, I feel you. It’s a thankless job sometimes. Actually, it’s not. I get thanked all the time, it’s a very visible role. But I think our main function is vibe-bringing. We’re out here to give people a good time. Keep things running smoothly and make sure everyone enjoys coming into the office, loves where they are, feels like they’re in a good space and enjoys working together. As long as you take the trash bags out and look after your fellow friends and make sure they’re having a good time. Smile at them, give everyone a pat on the back, tell people they’ve done a good job. That’s what it comes down to.”
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