01/2024
How Do We Want to Work? — The Megatrend of New Work
The Future Institute has defined 12 Megatrends That serve as a model for changing our world. Megatrends influence our society, institutions, companies and individuals and therefore serve as the basis for important decisions in business, politics and on a personal level.
In this blog post, we talk about the megatrend New Work. This megatrend is concerned with how our understanding and character of work is changing. Digitalization and the post-growth movement are bringing about changes. The ideal of a classic career is fading away and we focus on creating meaning. Living and working are merging and new opportunities for productivity are being found.
Part of the Megatrend of New Work Includes the Following Four Future Propositions:
- Purpose as a Central Driver
People increasingly pursue personal inclinations and potential. As machines take over repetitive tasks, human abilities like creativity and empathy come to the forefront. The focus shifts to meaningful work and solving future challenges. - The 30-Hour Week as the New Full-Time
Work hours are reduced and adapted flexibly to life situations, increasing productivity and reducing sick leaves. - Returning to the Office Through Remote Work
Remote work fosters deep focus at home, while the office is reimagined as a space for connection and creative collaboration. Workplace relationships and authentic company culture thrive. - Work-Life Blending Instead of Work-Life Balance
The rigid boundaries between work and personal life loosen or disappear altogether. Personal schedule flexibility enhances quality of life and renews motivation for work.
The megatrend of New Work and its future propositions highlight that the workplace of tomorrow is, above all, human-centered.
To navigate and shape this transformation constructively, the targeted development of emotional skills—DeepSkills—is essential.
Organizations can drive this transformation by systematically and consistently fostering these skills at all levels.
Key DeepSkills for the Megatrend of New Work Include:
- Conveying Purpose
This involves providing employees with direction, support, and vision, clarifying the larger context and significance of their tasks. - Leading Hybrid Teams
This skill maintains team cohesion and boosts productivity despite the challenges of hybrid work environments. - Working Productively and Time-Efficiently
By effectively utilizing personal resources, employees can increase their productivity and improve the efficiency of their entire team.
Many other emotional skills are equally valuable. With the willingness to embrace trends like New Work, recognize personal opportunities within them, and develop the necessary skills, future challenges can be mastered.
Investing in emotional skill-building at a broad scale and over the long term makes New Work achievable. Employees and leaders feel comfortable in the workplace, quality of life improves, and new solutions emerge.
If you’d like to learn more about DeepSkills and our tailored learning programs for your organization, connect with our People Development Manager, Laura Kottwitz, to identify the right DeepSkills for your company. Book a Demo Today.