Funny idea, no? Reimagining the future sounds like unthreading a knit before it was even made, enabling it to find new possible shapes. What enables wool that was bought to become a sweater to end up in a cozy scarf, 3 pairs of socks, and the fringe of a blanket instead?
I guess it is our imagination. And if we talk about a complex thing like the concept of 'work', I doubt we will get much further than 'sweater with arm cuffs' if we do not invite more beings into the imagining.
That's what we did this summer, inviting a colorful group of humans to 3-day conference on reimagining the future of work. 18 people presenting and 82 participants joined our hosting team of 5 to listen into emerging realities and hold them up to our questions & stories.
Today, I want to share the learnings of our source with you, the wonderful Amanda Zamparo. Indulge - and watch the recordings of all 3 sessiosn here!
what have I learned about reimagining the future of work? with all my persistent biases...
1. what if "work" is nothing but love moving between space and time? I have more reasons now to believe that "poetic attunement" (see Steve March's work) is a good lenses to navigate the present, past and future of work.
2. what would be possible if we were more honest about what is underneath these things we call "organizations"? every organization starts with someone having one idea they can barely articulate to a friend. what if we could support these people in their creative process instead of blaming their poor leadership skills (me included)? integrating the source model and compass that Tom speaks of with dialogic approaches seems to be a delicious recipe 😋
3. all organizations are messy living systems, some are better at pretending to be organized than others are. the attempt to constantly "organize" what is already self organizing creates empty work and empty efforts: work without life force. this is where boredom and tiredness comes from. how could people feel more ALIVE (instead of "happy") at work? can we allow ourselves to follow our aliveness at work??????
4. in an indigenous village, there is no separation between life and work. everyone works in the village, everyone lives in the village. what does this obsession with "work-life balance" tell us?
5. some people in the consulting field tell me "never chase work". I find that perspective strange, as I do need to collect and sometimes even hunt my work, and I actually like to sell. yet now, maybe I start to understand... establishing relationships for the sake of them, before wanting to make a deal: that seems more intelligent indeed. this is my personal learning right now: to connect more deeply for the sake of connection and enjoyment, before wanting to invite you to build a new world with me.
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