The world of work is changing, the classic career has had its day. Today, new forms of work are in demand with more opportunities for participation, flexibility and flat hierarchies. "New Work" is a megatrend that companies will hardly be able to escape in the future.

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Daniel Gobeli, what do you understand by the term "New Work"?

"New Work" is not a new term, but was developed more than 40 years ago by the Austrian-American social philosopher Frithjof Bergmann as a kind of counter-model to classical capitalism. This has given rise to numerous models and approaches in recent years, such as Holocracy, Sociocracy, Agility, Remote Work and many more. Today, New Work encompasses a hodgepodge of terms and is sometimes defined in different ways. At its core, however, it is always about using new forms of work to attract talent, promote it and retain it within the company. With New Work, we are moving away from classic wage work, where tasks are carried out according to the strict specifications of superiors. It is about breaking down hierarchies, breaking down silos of thinking, giving employees much more decision-making possibilities and flexibility, and building a culture of trust and learning.

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Why has the concept of New Work become so attractive in recent years?

Digitalisation, global competition - and not least the pandemic as an accelerator - have radically changed our working world. The needs of younger employees in the world of work look very different today than they did twenty or thirty years ago. The classic career path has become obsolete for many. Instead, the question of meaning is coming to the fore: what, how and where I work plays a far greater role today. Companies therefore need new forms of work to remain attractive and competitive as employers.

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How do you successfully implement new forms of work as a company?

The transition to New Work is a big challenge. For example, it is hardly possible to live holocracy according to the textbook from one day to the next. It is therefore important that models are adapted to one's own needs and are practicable in everyday life. Another important factor is time. All changes need time and patience. Those who want to live New Work successfully must be aware that they are embarking on a path. This requires a vision and a clear commitment from the leadership, otherwise the whole thing degenerates into a rhetorical attempt at mobilisation. Another decisive factor in New Work is the mindset. Not only organisations, but also people must be on the move in a different way.

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What does that mean in concrete terms?

Mindset is the attitude and mindset of a person. New Work has a lot to do with a new attitude. If you approach things with a "fixed mindset", you see them as given and not changeable. In New Work we strive for a "growth mindset", we see challenges and problems as opportunities to develop and grow. However, changing attitudes is one of the most difficult things to do. Therefore, we need ambassadors who demonstrate that change can be something positive and fun, and who can inspire a team.

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Interview: Lilly Toriola, Communications Manager Business School Thun

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Daniel Gobeli

Daniel Gobeli is Rector of the Thun School of Economics and a lecturer in Strategic Management at the University of Bern and the Bern University of Applied Sciences.

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Business School Thun

The Wirtschaftsschule Thun (WST) is the largest commercial vocational school in the Bernese Oberland and trains around 1100 apprentices per year in the commercial and retail trades as well as in the vocational baccalaureate. As a specialised provider of further education in the field of business, the WST offers more than 20 courses and over 50 courses. As of 1.1.2022, the Thun School of Economics will join forces with its partner school WKS KV Bildung in Bern in the area of further education. The Wirtschaftsschule Thun and WKS KV Bildung Bern have already been close partners in the area of continuing education for five years. In the past years, the cooperation has intensified steadily and five courses are now offered jointly. With the merger of the continuing education departments as of January 2022, a joint organisational umbrella will be created that will enable the consistent use of synergies and optimisation of resources. WKS KV Bildung Bern and WST will continue to operate under their own existing brands.  

You can find more information about the Business School Thun at www.wst.ch.

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