Why I am grateful to be an intern in the era of New Work

Before setting foot into the business world, I had only read about organizations undergoing significant change and how many of them are struggling in doing so. I read about how rapid technological improvement has led us into a highly digitalized, interconnected era. I understood there was a shift from an industrial to a knowledge-based economy, pressuring firms for continuous innovation. It sure sounded like we have challenging, but very exciting times ahead.

However, I didn’t know what exactly that would mean for me as a future employee and how my actions could contribute to navigating businesses through this era until I joined an emerging startup with a slightly different approach towards doing business.

Due to market volatility, uncertainty, complexity & ambiguity (VUCA), many companies mainly focus on what’s going on around them — I’m not implying they shouldn’t, but they must also listen to the individual key drivers of productivity, sustainability and finally, long-term growth within their organizations: While repetitive tasks have already been automated, soft skills, creativity & the ability to think on your feet have become more important. In an ever-changing environment, these attributes are essential, not only in order to adapt to a new environment, but also to remain agile for what the future holds. This implies a re-consideration of entire business strategies.

Make work more personal

I’m sure we all know people, who only work for pay-day or Fridays to come –maybe you’re even one of them! However, over the past decade, the desire to actually feel comfortable at work and to make a valuable contribution to the firm has become stronger. Home office was one revolution, promoting work-life balance. Today, instead of bringing work home, we started bringing our personal life to work. Facebook, Google & Co. were pioneers in the field of this so-called work-life blending, creating a setting at work which doesn’t really feel like work — led by the motto ‘Work, but make it fun’.

Many companies have come to understand that not only their employees gain great value from freedom and flexibility, but also the businesses themselves: From personal experience (& backed by research studies), sharing information and a regular exchange of ideas increases creativity and overall performance.

Making work more personal and having goals which emerged from my own ideas is what motivates me every day.

Organizations— grow up and show up

However, let’s not be too naïve: changing mindsets and practices within an organization and breaking down old barriers isn’t that simple. The newly emerging perspectives, such as purpose instead of profit, are driven by a solid foundation of transparency & uninterrupted communication. Team members who know each other’s strengths can more effectively relate to one another, avoiding potential conflicts and boosting group cohesion. One example of a good business reorganization and reconstruction of its internal processes is when it is delegating the decision power across all business lines and throughout all teams, promoting autonomy while slowly eliminating classical hierarchical structures. You probably know the saying: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone — If you want to go far, go together’, which can also be applied to business. This is something I have also experienced working as an intern at 1789 Innovations, where autonomy is one of the core values.

You may ask yourself: how is this supposed to work? Well, in an environment where every team member is trusted and can strongly be relied on, sharing knowledge and making our actions transparent seems like the only plausible way to follow our vision.

For me and many of my fellow students, it’s not about monetary incentives anymore: Our motivation to go to work on a Monday morning is intrinsic, wanting to pursue meaningful work and questioning previous methods on ‘getting things done’. In today’s conceptional era, employees seem to favour continuous interaction and cultural exchange over solitary work. By generating ideas within a community instead of relying on experts, employees are given incentives to unfold their creativity, making a valuable contribution towards the company’s goals and embodying its values.

Experience the impact

So far, the greatest learning during my internship with 1789, a self-organized start-up, has been: Everyone is trusted in making significant decisions — but importantly, everyone is given the chance of taking responsibility and bearing the consequences in case we don’t make the right ones.

During our weekly retrospective sessions, we re-capture what went well, areas of improvement and our biggest learnings. In the context of the latter, one of my colleagues shared: ‘If you don’t treat interns like interns, they are capable of doing incredible things.’ Two weeks into my internship, you can imagine the impact of words like these. Retaining motivation and promoting eagerness to learn are essential — not only for one’s personal development, but also to ensure sustainable business development.

Bottom line, converting to a New Work organization does not just happen overnight. It shouldn’t be seen as a ‘one-time-mission’, but rather as an effort to create a framework in which change comes naturally. New Work is not a fixed setting one can apply to any type of business by ordering colourful furniture, offering VR games in the office or by calling yourself agile.

I wish frameworks in which employees are given the freedom to express their ideas and are trusted to make mistakes will be seen as a common thing in the future.

Facing new challenges and creating the perfect mix of working within — but also outside of your comfort zone enables not only personal but also professional development. Personally, I believe reflections, feedback and open communication are essential for continuous business (and self-) improvement. Many start-ups prove that transparency, delegating responsibility and consequently replacing hierarchy with self-organisation are key features when it comes to running an agile business, attracting even more creative and innovative minds. But the largest benefit from an intern’s perspective, is working in a setting in which the ‘Monday-blues’ are non-existent.

I am Daniela, team member at 1789 — Beyond Revolution , a strategic consultancy with a focus on helping organizations create new structures and embrace innovative culture. Do you agree? I am looking forward to reading about your journey!