Comfort is no longer just about the individual. It is aligned to business success by mechanisms we understand better than ever before. It can be linked to productivity, wellbeing, recruitment and retention and even sustainability.

Comfort elevates the personal to the collective, a powerful driver for both individual and organisational growth.

Joining us is Neil Usher, a globally recognised leader in property, workplace, facilities and organisational change.

With extensive experience delivering complex transformation initiatives across diverse industries and geographies, Neil has developed a distinctive people-centric approach to shaping the modern workplace.

Author of five influential books, including “The Elemental Workplace”, in which he outlines 12 essential elements for effective design - one of which is comfort, the focus of our conversation.

Comfort is Personal and Requires Choice - it cannot be universally defined - it varies from person to person. Rather than designing for a fixed ideal, spaces should offer a range of settings that allow individuals to find their own comfort.

Psychological Comfort Matters Too - the importance of how a space makes people feel. Factors like lighting quality, ambient control and the freedom to personalise or move can profoundly affect a person’s sense of ease and satisfaction at work.

Respect for Individual Workstyles Is Essential - challenging the idea that users must conform to the intended use of a space since comfort and effectiveness are deeply personal.

When we think about comfort in the workplace, elements such as temperature and lighting often come to mind first.

But according to Dr. Nigel Oseland - environmental psychologist, workplace strategist and one of the world’s leading authorities on acoustic comfort – who we spoke with in Episode 1, sound is every bit as crucial. In fact, it’s one of the top three complaints in office environments, alongside temperature and indoor air quality.

“Noise is unwanted sound—and it's all about perception,” says Dr. Oseland. And that perception is deeply personal, influenced by task type, personality, and even our relationships with colleagues.