When people in a company no longer see themselves as small wheels on the big crank, but can develop their creativity in a self-determined way without being inhibited by hierarchical structures, this is known as holacracy. Sociologists see this as the epitome of the New Work. But what exactly does it mean?
There has always been a tendency to develop complicated words from simple things. Holacracy is one of them. It means nothing other than the dissolution of hierarchical structures within a company towards the individual. In earlier times, it was considered normal that at the top there was a supervisor and below that were the employees. In larger companies, however, one person alone at the top was usually not enough. Instead, several superiors shared the tasks, duties and responsibilities. A pyramid system was created. With one clear disadvantage: less responsibility also means less motivation for the content of the job. Those who have little to say also want to share little. No creativity develops from this strict construct, no real work motivation and consequently hardly any new processes and ideas. So a new approach is needed.
Holacracy requires a radical dissolution of entrenched structures
Many companies tried to create this by attempting to change structures. But this only worked to a limited extent. It had to happen more radically in order to demonstrate success. The pyramid had to become a circle. One in which every employee is of equal value and therefore receives the same appreciation from colleagues. This is the only way to create an oasis of well-being and give people room to discover their own creativity, to show up to work motivated and to perform their work conscientiously. Not for extrinsic factors such as a higher paycheck, but purely for the sake of one’s own enjoyment. The key word here is participation, or holacracy. It requires a change in mentality, a move away from fixed structures toward more self-determination for each individual.
Holacracy in the age of digitization
Conveniently, the new concept of New Work is occurring virtually simultaneously with another exciting development: digitization. Thanks to the concept of cloud-based work using digital media, it is now possible to work from anywhere and at any time. Fixed corporate structures are no longer needed to really reach every employee. All that is needed is a concept, a plan for working effectively. And that requires flexibility and a willingness to learn. Both qualities that experts attribute to the younger generation in particular. While everyone secretly dreams of living, thinking and acting in a self-determined way, this is not the case in many areas of work. But this does not have to be the case. New technologies make it possible to offer everyone the same basic conditions for a fulfilling working life.
Recognizing and seizing opportunities is the motto
At the same time, these opportunities are also linked to a simple foundation, that of reliability. Holacracy can only work where employees are ready to embrace this new world of work. Where they welcome and desire change. Where they are willing to go above and beyond. Where work can surprise them every day. This then includes not only dissolved hierarchies, but also dissolved workplaces and ever new content. Those who are prepared to embrace the concept of lifelong learning, to see it as a challenge and to integrate it into their everyday working lives, will be successful in this new world of work, will be able to enjoy the New Work and benefit from it. Others, on the other hand, could fall by the wayside because they don’t have the necessary flexibility.
It is therefore high time that not only companies rethink in this regard, completely dissolve old structures and familiarize themselves with the latest technological developments. It is just as important that applicants for future jobs also grasp the diverse opportunities as such and embrace the New Work. Internalizing its fundamentals means experiencing and living Holacracy. This offers professional satisfaction that also carries over into private everyday life.
Image copyright: Belle Co
