The requirements both for organizations and the people working in them have changed significantly due to various developments, particularly technological, electronic, and societal ones, in recent years. We describe this with tendencies such as:
Dynamization
Globalization
Diversity
Digitalization
Disruption
These tendencies have increasingly created contexts that we experience as „complex“, „chaotic“, or even „hyperturbulent“, as in the rapidly changing circumstances of a pandemic – affecting almost all areas of life. Predictability and controllability have given way to a multitude of often unknown possibilities and uncertainties. This demands new competencies, and there are no „one right“ answers or concepts; instead, it requires recognizing tendencies, probabilities, and patterns. Moreover, the already recognizable potentials – as well as risks – of the use of artificial intelligence suggest that the requirements for people in organizations will become even greater in the future.
All of this requires people who are capable of cooperating meaningfully and trustfully in adaptive structures and operating systems, and people can find the most suitable solutions iteratively instead of only working linearly towards goals. And it needs people who can create suitable systems for their future and continue to develop them as needed.
The way you do your work,
shapes the world!
In what kind of world do you want to live in the future?
How do you want to work in the future?
Here are 4 areas of action.
Which one is yours?
The connection with other humans – firstly with the mother – is one of the earliest basic experiences of every human being. From this, relationship orientation develops as a basic human need. Only in relation to others do we experience ourselves in a deeper way than we could alone. This is how we develop as individuals. In this development, we move between the longing for connection and the desire for growth and change, which often brings separation as well.
This is how we grow into the world. We become grown-up.
But deep inside, the longing for connection always remains. In this connection, we also experience that we as individuals are parts of a larger whole, whose – probably only – purpose is to enjoy its existence and its development. From this awareness, the certainty arises, we do well to engage ourselves for sustainable life in all perspectives (economy, ecology, social) in order to provide the best possible support to the greater whole and to ensure a good future for ourselves and others.
Everyone can participate in this. This commitment brings joy to work and life – and makes us happy!
Trustful cooperation requires first of all that we know ourselves and we can trust ourselves; only then we are ready to taking risks. Taking risks is easy, when we can trust our co-workers and peers, that they will not take advantage against us in a risky situation, but – if necessary – rather support and protect us. By doing so we mutually achieve goals which we would never have achieved on our own.
This experience increases enjoyment at work, fosters experiments and innovations, boosts productivity and shortens the „time to market“ – and all this makes us happy!
In human nature and in human (work) relationships, it is natural to come together with great passion and joyful expectations to tackle something new. However, over time, relationships, people, and circumstances may change. Passion can turn into suffering, and unfulfilled expectations can turn into disappointments. All of this is natural and does not necessarily have to lead to the termination of work relationships.
All we need now is a helpful organizational structure, such as:
- an operating system with clear rules for both decision-making on governance and for tactical decisions for our day-to-day business;
- transparent, coordinated and customized roles with purpose, tasks, competencies and responsibilities;
- reliable agreements that can be adapted easily, if needed;
- clear processes and connections that provide reliability and ensure flexibility.
Then everything will work out nicely – and with joy and success!
The purpose of an organization is like the north star in the skies. It is a reference point that helps us with navigation, it is a guiding star that provides orientation and security. It is an emotionally attractive idea of the future that makes our work worthwhile and gives it a deeper meaning. If you add purpose and meaning to what you do, you will experience more enjoyment at work. This will transform your organization into a place for happy and healthy people. You will achieve your goals more effectively and efficiently, and you also incur fewer costs and generate more income or provide more benefits, be it that you are in the non-profit sector or work for a profit organization.
Purpose oriented work for humans with focus on sustainability.
Trustful cooperation with all stakeholders.
Clarifying roles and effectively connect roles to ensure job satisfaction and value creation.
Designing purpose-driven and transparent operating systems and organizational structures in order to save resources and drive the business.
Mindfulness to facilitate learning and change.
Solution focus for actively shaping the preferred future.
Coping with hyperturbulent (post-chaotic) situations by learning adaptive behaviors and reallocating resources.
The art of understanding each other as the basis for respect, diversity and maintaining successful relationships.
Loving clarity for both our commonalities and our differences.
Psychological safety for all.
