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Listen to the next episode: It’s about New Work.
And the new book by Frank Wippermann.
We look at the demands on organisations and managers and focus in particular on the topic of target agreements. A very short summary of this podcast episode can be read here:
New Work versus Old Work – How the requirements for managers differ
In organisations there is still a clear proportion of work that can and should be carried out in a standardised way and based on the division of labour. This is what we call Old Work or Work 3.0. There is classically a hierarchy which makes decisions from the ‘commanders’ hill’ and controls the completion of tasks according to given standards. The classic leadership skills are important here.
On the other hand, there are increasingly innovative tasks characterised by dynamics which require a structured and flexible approach. New Work requires managers to have a completely different understanding of their role: to come down from the hierarchical ‘commander’s hill’ and enable employees to do their work. Leadership provides the framework and coordinates, but only intervenes in exceptional situations. Otherwise, New Work for managers means: making the necessary resources available, then stepping aside and letting people really do their job.
Old Work and New Work require appropriate instruments of human resources management
Executives must therefore cover two fields of competence: both the classic competences typical for project management and agile-dynamic competences. And it is not only managers who have to adapt. Personnel management instruments, such as target agreements, should also not run counter to the new requirements under any circumstances. They should be adapted accordingly. In the book, Frank Wippermann describes it like this: “Target agreements must cover many dimensions, react to surprises and depict the interactions between actors. So why not let colleagues at the same hierarchical level reach agreements with each other? The superior manager then ‘only’ coordinates, but does not slip in from the side. You can hear more about this in this podcast.
Future Skills for leadership and organisation
The book is published by Schäffer-Poeschel.
A reading sample in German is available here.
Have fun listening to our new podcast episode.
