Continuing with our book club, today we will focus on New Work. The practical guide “New Work Needs Inner Work,“ published in 2019 by Bettina Rollow and Joana Breidenbach, addresses the importance of inner work in the context of the constantly evolving world of work.
This is not just a management book that lists a series of buzzwords and advocates for their integration into corporate language. New Work Needs Inner Work goes much deeper. It focuses on the inner dimensions of change, which, according to the authors, are often overlooked, leading to failed transformations.
Who is Behind It?
Anyone who has heard of betterplace lab is likely familiar with Joana Breidenbach. Betterplace.org is Germany’s largest online donation platform. Building the platform has provided founder Breidenbach with several years of experience in organizational development. In the book, she takes on the perspective of an entrepreneur, while Bettina Rollow supports her as a coach. Rollow develops new organizational and leadership forms and collaborates with betterplace lab, among others. The combination of the two exemplifies how employees and teams can grow internally.
The Right Approach to Digitalization Means More Than Just Being Tech-Savvy
The book argues that successful work in the modern professional world requires not only the ability to handle technology and changing demands but also a strong sense of self-awareness and a stable inner mindset.
Specifically, the book helps you to:
- Strengthen and improve your inner work through practical exercises, examples, and guidance.
- Reduce stress and maintain a positive attitude toward work.
- Develop a clear understanding of your strengths and weaknesses to make better decisions in a professional context.
Empathy is key
Another important topic of the book is the significance of empathy and emotional intelligence in the workplace. The authors emphasize that developing an understanding of the needs and perspectives of others is crucial for successful communication and collaboration. In a modern work environment increasingly characterized by remote and cross-functional work, this often takes a backseat, even though it is likely more important than ever.
Finally, New Work Needs Inner Work addresses the importance of work-life balance. Rollow and Breidenbach argue that a balanced relationship between work and leisure is essential for staying creative and productive. While this is not a new insight, they provide practical tips and exercises to improve work-life balance and enhance well-being in the professional context.
Big surprise: One book can’t solve every Problem
After all the positive feedback about the book, one thing must be said. While New Work Needs Inner Work provides step-by-step instructions on how to implement self-organization in teams over its 150 pages, putting these ideas into practice is considerably more challenging. What sounds simple in theory appears quite different in complex dynamic systems. Therefore, it would be misleading to claim that reading this book guarantees an inner transformation. Every organization is unique, influenced by different forces, and faces distinct challenges. Nevertheless, the book offers significant food for thought regarding the reevaluation of inner structures, attitudes, and behaviors.
An Easy Read That Provokes Reflection
Overall, New Work Needs Inner Work is an important contribution to the debate on the significance of inner work in the changing world of work. It’s simply not enough to throw off “all chains” and dive into the New Work pool without a second thought. The book is relevant as it provides a much-needed perspective on the importance of inner work in a professional context. In a world where working conditions are constantly changing, it is more important than ever for people to strengthen their own inner mindset and self-awareness to work successfully. We highly recommend picking up this engaging work in bookstores.
Ted-Talk!
The topic has intrigued you, and you want the first impulse? Joana delivered a wonderful TED Talk about the book. You can find it on YouTube here: TED TALK JOANA.