New Work — is this concept still sustainable in view of the numerous challenges we are currently facing? Can new work methods be used to adapt companies to a changing working world and changing economic conditions? A simple “yes” or “no” is unfortunately not enough here.
What do you understand by “new work”? What do your colleagues or company managers understand by this? I'm sure that if you ask 10 people, you'll get 10 different answers. But in my experience, there is a core that almost always resonates: It is about shaping the working world. It is about changes that benefit working people. However, it is also about efficiency and economic success.
Interestingly enough, for the past two years, there has been this New Work Barometer from SRH Hochschule Berlin. A look at the ones listed here parameters illustrates the complexity of the concept. Today, Frithjof Bergmann's original approach is a long way off.
Work-location autonomy is at the top of the ranking — unsurprisingly at the moment. I find that exciting, because before the pandemic, this was rarely an issue in many SMEs and corporations. Today, many work in a hybrid way — partly from home, partly at the usual workplace. Hybridity is the keyword here for the working world of the future.
Also exciting: How clearly new work and agility go hand in hand when companies see themselves as learning organizations in a changing working world. I was pleasantly surprised that self-organization and participation play such an important role, especially among SMEs. This makes profound change processes possible. The comparison between SMEs and large companies in particular shows that the former have plenty of leeway to position themselves in a future-oriented manner. And it is also a fact: Not all job seekers are necessarily drawn to large companies or corporations. Many prefer manageable, agile structures. These open up other career paths, in particular for applicants who do not have a straight curriculum vitae, but have worked in various areas and jobs.
I am all the more interested in which parameters of New Work are important to you in your company and what role hybridity plays in this. So don't be surprised if I ask you about it during our free strategy talk. Yes, I too have Live New Work, for example at my new hybrid consulting service. What is behind this in terms of content is Sharo Safaei from Curia Consulting in a interview described. Feel free to drop by and above all: Make an initial free consultation appointment. I'm looking forward to meeting you!
