Brave New Ways #2 / New Geography of Work
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New Geography of Work
Work is changing – thanks to new technologies, shifting values and priorities, and a global pandemic. COVID-19 made the old routine of "going to work" impossible, then passé.
The new world of work is “hybrid,” according to many. But isn’t the “hybrid” workplace half-stuck in the past? Are we asking the same old questions in a moment that needs new ones? What new thinking might help you widen the conversation and reimagine work more fully?
Here are some early maps from the new world of work. They may help you shift the paradigm completely for the rest of us...
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Opportunities for Action
Is it time to challenge the fundamental assumptions of organizational design? Here’s page 1 of Henry Mintzberg’s The Structuring of Organizations (1979), a seminal text in the field:
Now is a good moment to recognize the blind spots in this core definition. What questions does it omit?
- Where are these tasks performed? (space)
- Who identifies the tasks to be performed? (power, autonomy)
- How organized can we make human activity, and still feel human? (life)
Use these maps to explore these neglected dimensions of work from your own perspective...
Spark Conversation
“Hybrid” is a commonly used word, but what does it mean to the people you work with? It is a placeholder for a better blend that has not yet been found. But a blend of what? Office and home? Your power and my power? Space for work and space for life?
Look at these landscapes from your own perspective. Share the things you see with the other people who work with you. You may not have all the answers, but you can ask the right questions to widen the conversation beyond “What are our remote-working policies?” and bring other dimensions that matter into play...
What's your perspective? Share your stories with us:
Rare Perspectives
Connect with people and ideas that can help you understand your own filters better:
- Bookmark GitLab's Guide to All-Remote Work. It's a well-trafficked manifesto + resource center maintained by one of the world's largest all-remote organizations.
- Read the Comments section of this New York Times article on remote work. Hundreds of divergent stories of the home vs office debate, all in one place.
- Listen to Orit Peleg, a mathematical biologist, talk about the emergent genius of bees and fireflies, and their insights into self-organized work.
- Listen to Frederic Laloux, an organizational theorist, explore the frontiers of reimagined work.
- Ivan Illich, philosopher
Explorers' Gym
Lessons Learned from Doing Neue Thinking Together
Hosting A Different Kind of Virtual Meeting
The symbolism of the campfire is ancient and universal. Hosting conversations for people “around the campfire" is a frame that can help everyone to bring forth new perspectives, listen deeper, and venture into difficult questions.
Here are some of the qualities of a campfire, and lessons learned in-person and online about how to do that...
Premium Content
Watch a 5-minute reflection from Chris after his recent workshop with a dozen star recruits at one of the world's largest pharmaceuticals in The Many Rooms Where it Happens.
Join this Edition's conversation at Neue Geo's Discord discussion site.
The Journey Continues...
The next Edition of BNW will help you to counter the echo-effect that algorithms have on your brain — and widen the conversations taking place in your own cognitive tribe.
🙏 Thanks for bringing your energy here. - Chris and your NeueGeo team
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