Everything New, Everything Different, Everything Better?

Exploring the New Work Landscape with Stefan Knopf 

It's undeniable: Our world has changed due to advancing globalization and digitalization. These changes affect almost every aspect of our daily lives, including an essential part—our work environment. The new digital possibilities lead us to rethink - as a community. That's why there's increasing talk about "New Work," literally signifying a new way of working for both employees and employers. 

Who is our guest for today's discussion? 

For this topic, we've invited Stefan Knopf, who labels himself as a "New Work - Working Dad." As a family man, Stefan has been running his own architecture business for several years, successfully balancing family and career. Apart from client meetings, Stefan works exclusively remotely, and shares insights from previous roles that frequently involved unnecessary and lengthy commutes. According to him, too much working time is lost due to unnecessary office commutes, and the concept of "New Work" is a crucial step to change this. 

How did Stefan get into the subject of new work in the first place? 

In 2012, while studying interior design, Stefan became interested in the ideas of the influential New Work pioneer Frithjof Bergmann. Even back then, Stefan couldn't imagine taking a traditional office job. As he sought a viable alternative, he delved deeper into the "New Work" concept. Fast forward a few years, and amid a pandemic, the relevance of the topic has grown. In today's "War for Talents," companies must create attractive working conditions to attract and retain employees. Stefan strongly believes that trying to integrate new methods into old business models is challenging. A quick adoption of new working methods to stay attractive in the job market won't work. Companies need to fundamentally rethink and reinvent themselves. 

What is New Work compared to the "old" way of working? 

According to Stefan, New Work aligns with agile working methods. Following the Stacey Method, a distinctive work process gradually emerges from complexity. Traditional 'assembly line work,' where everyone follows a monotonous process, is giving way to a new approach. As an interior architect, Stefan advocates for spaces that facilitate flexible work according to individual conditions and company requirements. The focus is on individual work processes, and the workspace needs to support this. For instance, there are times when a team requires a big area for collaborative and creative work, while at other times, individual and focused work is needed. An office should accommodate these various needs. "A few years ago, these ideas were often ignored, but now we are in the middle of a change." 

What role does home office play in this context? 

"An office without an option for home office is non-negotiable for 90% of employees," says Stefan. The pandemic sparked a significant and open thought process. The challenge in this innovative shift is that many expensive office spaces are now and will remain vacant. Additionally, there is often a lack of suitable space and technology for meaningful hybrid work. 

Apart from physical spaces, there are other challenges: "Many things are still happening in parallel," says Stefan. The seamless integration of individual processes is missing. Some companies also lack foresight regarding their employees. Working from home saves a significant amount of time, a desire shared by many. Some employees endure daily hours of (unpaid) commuting. Flexible work at home would mean employees can save time commuting every day. 

Many companies complain about the lack of a sense of community in such a concept. But how can employers address this issue? 

"Actively care for your employees!" is Stefan's advice for motivated companies. There are various ways to foster a sense of community, such as through diverse events. The introduction of a Community Manager can also help. 

There are not only organizational levers but also "physical" ones. 

Stefan's role as an architect is to plan spaces for these new ways of working. Some fundamental questions must be considered: How do employees work, and how do individual activities (settings) unfold? From these settings, an individual scenario emerges, which Stefan must consider and integrate into his planning. Unfortunately, employers often fail to ask these questions or do so far too late: "Companies haven't understood what their employees actually do," Stefan often observes. An aesthetic workspace is important, but it's not the foundation of effective work. It should be practical and supportive. For example, if I regularly have workshops where my furniture needs to be moved from A to B, as a company, I should invest in lightweight furniture. 

Can we assume that flexible working is more than just a trend? 

The need for massive changes is there and is not diminishing. Quite the opposite. Therefore, companies are practically forced to restructure. The significant challenge is to think about spaces outside the traditional office. "For several years, there have been no spatial boundaries. Work happens everywhere," something many companies still need to internalize, and not superficially, but much more profoundly than before. Location-independent working is seen by many employers as a trend that will come and go. Stefan argues that offering employees, for example, 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home will lead to losing them in the long run. "If you give your employee 2 days a week of 'freedom,' why would they stay with your company when they can work 'freely' 5 days a week at another company?" Companies must not dismiss flexible working as a fleeting trend. 

Speaking of trends; What office trends are currently noticeable? 

Virtual working is the actual "trend." Decentralized offices, spread across the city and therefore more accessible for nearby employees, are also well-received. Hand in hand with digitization, technical trends are naturally emerging. This includes both hardware, such as modern conference monitors and cameras in offices, and software. There are numerous solutions, from seat reservation tools to comprehensive space management and analysis systems. 

What role do hardware and software play in New Work? 

New Work means a new way of working overall. It's not just about the office or home office; a well-functioning software that supports one's activities and office processes is equally important. The tool setup must be comprehensive. A good calendar and time tracking for sensible planning and overview of work are a must. The concept of New Work puts freedom in the hands of employees, but this also means they have much more responsibility. How does one design their day effectively to have time for private matters like family tasks and hobbies? Software can significantly simplify this planning. "The simpler and more intuitive the tools are, the more enjoyable they are to use," Stefan knows from his own experience. 

Back to the office itself. The space requirement will likely decrease - how does that influence the work of space planners? 

Space planning doesn't focus on the next 10 years but rather on 30, 40 years. Aspects like how to get quickly and easily from A to B, how to ideally distribute employees on the given space, must be considered. As an architect, Stefan ensures that no unnecessary obstacles are created—impractical doors that block rather than remain open, unnecessary detours, and sources of disturbance are avoidable. In virtual work, "desk sharing" is a crucial point. Virtual processes are part of enormous flexibility in working life. This flexibility allows adapting to increasing or decreasing space demand. 

What implications does space planning have for employers in its implementation? 

"I work ahead of the classic architect," says Stefan. Only this way can he provide individual advice and contribute to planning. Consultation is crucial, especially for companies that are skeptical or uncertain. Software architects and architects will undoubtedly collaborate more in the future to pave the way for companies to adopt the New Work method and secure their place in a new digital world. 

If companies improve their digital processes and set up virtually frictionless, the ideal combination of hybrid working and efficient space management succeeds. Physical, real, and digital components must go hand in hand. Only then can New Work truly work for all companies and their employees. Too many employers still try to cling to old work processes. They are moving in the opposite direction—away from New Work. In doing so, they miss the opportunity to keep up with the times and discover benefits for themselves and their employees. 

Stefan Knopf 

Consultant for Hybrid Work Environments & Office Usage Strategy | New Work Facilitator

"I advocate for a (work) world where satisfied individuals work on meaningful goals, in healthy spaces, with sustainable products and services. In doing so, they contribute their part to an (economic) environment in which we, as people, can live better."

Web: Link 

Mail: info@stefanknopf.com 

New Work is all well and good, but how with which means and tools? Feel free to reach out to us. You can directly schedule an appointment with us here!