In March we hosted our Fishbowl event, where we brought together thought-leaders from the world of work to share their insights into how we make work, work for everyone. We were joined by Perry Timms, Jon Barnes, Mel Ross and Cathryn Barnard, who all have vast knowledge and experience in making work better for people and the planet.
While our line-up of experts was impressive, the beauty of a Fishbowl is the shared participation, core to our philosophy here at Semco. As well as getting to hear insights and wisdom from those actively working in the arena of change, it’s the questions and conversations sparked by attendees that truly make a Fishbowl the vibrant event it is.
Our heads were buzzing from the exploration we took into how we can change work to work for everyone. Some of the topics we dived into included; the future of leadership, the pains of progressive work, and rehumanising workplaces amongst the obsession for tech.
Here we’ve debriefed just a handful of the conversations we got to enjoy.
An awakening has arrived
“Awakening” - “As a human race we’re waking up. We’re waking up to our purpose. We’re waking up to what work is for us.” - Mel Ross
A theme during the Fishbowl that had us all nodding in agreement was the fact that covid provided us with an awakening to work that had been long overdue.
There have been times in history where external influences have gone on to change work. The industrial revolution and the tech boom, to name a few.
But as Mel Ross passionately shared with us all, we’re waking up. We’re waking up to being more purpose-driven, we’re waking up to what work is for us, and we’re waking up to where our beliefs and values lie.
Without a doubt, this ‘awakening’ has led to such occurrences as ‘The Great Resignation’ and ‘Quiet Quitting’.
“New ways of working is the zeitgeist of right now. Because we’ve seen how things can be.” - “We are in a messy middle. In the end of mechanisation, to a renaissance of humanisation.” - Perry Timms
Growing pains
“I could be in the most free environment ever, and not have freedom from my mind.” - “Creating developmental workplaces is hard. You have to grow up. Growth isn’t pretty.” - Jon Barnes
During the Fishbowl there was a consensus that now, more than before, we’re seeing companies actively pursuing new ways of working. As Perry Timms put it - “new ways of working is the zeitgeist of right now.”
While this excites us all, of course it does; the reality hits hard that progressive ways of working aren’t some fad or trend to jump on, it’s deep, tough, sometimes uncomfortable work. It requires focus, participation from all and a recognition that you won’t get everything right first time. Experimentation, fail fast, take the learning, are key to success!
Jon Barnes, shared this hard-hitting truth, because as he put it, “self-management is like an assault course for personal development. It makes you grow up!”
The growing pains of new ways of working calls for us to do the work, not just on our organisations, but also on ourselves. We have to reflect and become aware of all the ways in which we too have been part of the system, and the habits and mindsets we’ve collected along the way.
The emergence of new leaders
“At the moment there are far too many people holding power that are preventing the shifts that need to happen.” - Perry Timms
During one breakout discussion, leadership was the hot topic on everyone’s lips. After all, leadership is hard, and there is A LOT expected of today’s leaders – they're expected to be leading the strategy and vision of the company, making key financial decisions, and then be an inspiring people leader, and let’s not forget those leaders who are still very much active in the ‘doing’ part of the business. Just writing it out is exhausting, let alone living the life of the ‘hero leader’. Is it any surprise that today’s founders are the one’s burning out?
This old way of leading is dangerously unhealthy, and unproductive for teams and the success of the company in the long run. But we recognise that this is the default trap of leadership that all too many fall into.
One area of leadership that was brought to the surface is how we are educating leaders in the first place. After all, much of the outdated approach to leadership is no longer effective for the world we now live in. Admittedly, there are theories we should keep, but there are also academic methods and theories that we should throw away as they’re not serving anyone.
For many of those who work in more progressive ways of working, or be familiar with Semco Style, the truth is, we need more leaders in organisations. Self-management and other decentralised ways of working are often labelled as “bossless”, but the truth is these organisations are leader-full, as more people are encouraged to lead.
The shared belief in our group was that leadership is not just a title and a position, but a way of being. Leadership is seeing others potential, knowing when to step out of the way, holding space for others to grow their own sense of leadership, and being self-aware enough to know when your ego is for good use, or when it’s blinding you.
We also chatted about how leadership has for too long been attached to an authoritarian, masculine style that asks of people to be loud, domineering, aggressive and extrovert. Unfortunately, some of these styles are still present in the world today.
However, in a complex world where we need more diversity of thought and experience, we also need people who show their authentic leadership style. Who show us that it’s ok to be vulnerable, quiet, empathetic and considered. One great example of this recently was the way in which Jacinda Ardern stepped down from her Prime Ministerial duties.
As we shared in the group discussion, along history there have been those who have shown us what true leadership looks like. Those who didn’t seek glory or fame, or run after power – but held space for the communities and causes they represent.
Got a little bit of FOMO from missing the Fishbowl? Join our next event here, and don’t forget to sign-up to our email newsletter to be updated on our event calendar.
