The Future of Work needs Inner Work — The Online Course in the Times of Corona
A few months ago, my co-author of “New Work needs Inner Work” Bettina and I decided to design an online course about new fluid and decentralised ways to lead and collaborate. At the time, we certainly didn’t envision the world to be turned upside down by the day of the launch. But that’s just what happened and we feel that our course can make a real contribution to the crisis we are in.
In the midst of the many threats and uncertainties of the Corona pandemic, we once again see much more clearly how important inner clarity, transparent communication, empathy and intuition are — especially in our working lives.
That is why Bettina and I are excited to launch our new project: an Online Course on The Future of Work needs Inner Work.
The idea to the develop an online curriculum grew with every talk, conversation and workshop we have been holding since the publication of New Work needs Inner Work (German version). We got amazing feedback about our approach — putting inner competencies at the center of organisational transformation. But we also noticed that a book or a stand-alone workshop were not enough. Many in our audience, as well as our peers and friends wanted to deepen the topic.
For this reason, we developed an extensive Online Course with 36 videos and additional material for self-reflection and exercises in the (virtual) team. For the personal exchange of course participants we have opened a Facebook group.
We believe that especially in these challenging times of upheaval, fear and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make the world of work more holistic and effective. Suddenly more people than ever are in touch with their inner North Star — they deeply feel that many companies and professions are not creating real value and that their organisational culture could be much more authentic. That’s why we clap for care workers from our balconies and cherish those (mostly badly paid) people who uphold the infrastructure of our daily lives.
When outside structures dissolve, inner structures keep us stable and responsive
Facing an uncertain future, inner skills become all the more important. One of our central principles has been:
If we reduce external structures e.g. by flattening or completely abolishing fixed hierarchies, we lose important orientations for our own behaviour. This leads to fear and insecurity and accordingly we have to build up security elsewhere: inside ourselves.
In the corona crisis, this principle is fundamental: within a few weeks external structures have dissolved, not intentionally as part of an orchestrated change process, but completely beyond our control. In this situation a clear inner orientation is all the more important. We have to get to know ourselves better; know what is important to us, where we can find stability and comfort, which parts of our normal working lives are healthy and which are in need of an update.
Building up resilience for the crisis and developing the skills to re-build the world afterwards
Never before in my life has the world been as much in disarray and flux. This is overwhelming (and remember: today, in March 2020 we are very likely only scratching the surface of the pandemic), but it also offers an amazing opportunity: to explore who you are, how you want to live your life, what is important to you and what your contribution could be.
If used intentionally and courageously, this time can be an amazing transformational period for you and your organisation. We can use it to explore and develop those inner skills adequate for the global age. Only if we grow and mature personally, will we be able to build a fairer and healthier world after the pandemic.
We are launching the course with the special Early Bird rate of 559€. It is available until April 12. After that date, the course costs 749€.
I am looking forward to seeing you on the course and wish all of us an inspiring Future of Work exploration during these challenging and special times.
Yours Joana
PS. In case you find it hard to come up with the Early Bird rate, please drop me a note at hello@innerwork.online and we’ll find a solution.
P.P.S. You might also want to check out our new website and read the series of blogposts, Bettina, Rivka and I write for Work in Times of Corona.
