New Ways of Working #8
Hello again 👋 I’m serving up four seriously tasty dishes this week! And before I do, as always, I’ll share the purpose of this menu/newsletter:
To help you to taste, explore and practise new ways of working.
In this edition, I’m sharing:
A short book that blends new ways of working, permaculture, complexity, child-led education, and org design with a dash of Lady and the Tramp! Delicous.
A blog that blew my mind by expertly covering agile, change, complexity and mindset in under ten minutes.
A beautifully simple new ways of working hack.
Plus a free event designed to help you to meet other new ways of working enthusiasts.
And if you simply cannot wait for the event to meet some new ways of working nerds like me, then you can join this community of 1,000 right now. Here goes:
Book 📖
Mono-culture, a lack of diversity, the exploitation of precious resources... these are just some of the ways in which we’re causing huge damage to not only the natural world, but to human nature in the workplace. The human instinct to interfere is the root cause of both these catastrophes. Yet, it also points us towards the simplest of possible solutions: to get out the way.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Wilding Organisations: A ramble about human growth at work is the most original take I’ve read on new ways of working. Download it for free or receive a copy for the cost of printing and postage only. Because the author, Jon Barnes, is lovely. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Blog 📝
New ways of working borrows plenty from the world of Agile, which until reading this, felt like quite a confusing world to me. This article is packed full of wisdom and clarity not only about Agile, but also complexity, change, values, working environment and crucially, mindset. It helped a few things slot into place for me. 👏👏👏 (9 min read).
Stop! 🛑
Experimenting with new ways of working is an excellent idea. But experimenting needn’t always mean starting new initiatives. Try this beautifully simple new ways of working hack shared by Corporate Rebels. What could you stop doing? Make a list with your team, check it’s safe to stop and if it is, then stop! (2 min read).
Event 📅
Would you like to connect with others who are interested in new ways of working? Then join this Reinventing Work: Connections event. The purpose is to facilitate connections and discussions with other ‘Reinventors’ around the world, using cool facilitation techniques that you can pop in your pocket and use with your own teams. I’d love to see you there 🤗 (Feb 18 @ 17.30 GMT).
Help 🙏
I’m feeling confident that 2021 is going to be another huge year for new ways of working. And to help ensure this I’m asking for a favour. I’d love for you to share this newsletter with one or more colleagues or networks who might be curious or find it helpful. The more awareness we raise, the sooner we reduce the woeful statistic that 85% of us are disengaged at work. That is the problem, and we are the solution 💪
Until next time, you can find me here.
About Mark Eddleston
I’m a new ways of working consultant, coach, and facilitator. For years I’ve been practising progressive ways of working whilst synthesising the mountain of information out there.
I came across new ways of working in New Zealand in 2015 after spending a frustrating decade in traditional workplaces. It was the first time I found consistent fulfilment in work. This beautiful and challenging experience was with a law firm and community organisation that features on the distinguished Corporate Rebels ‘bucket list’. Once you taste this way of working, it’s impossible to go back. I’ve now been a member of staff in three organisations that embraced progressive leadership, so come with plenty of lived experience.
I’m co-founder of Reinventing Work, a global community and playground for people interested in decentralised, purposeful and self-organised ways of working. So far we’ve gathered in over 25 cities across five continents, including in Bristol (where it began) London, Berlin, Melbourne, Montreal and New York. I’ve delivered online sessions to thousands, spoken about new ways of working at The University of Oxford, and facilitated at Meaning Fringe. I’ve also appeared on the wonderful Leadermorphosis podcast and the University of the West of England’s MSc Occupational Psychology programme discussing the future of work.
My services: https://www.marco.work.
