• MDI
  • German version
  • Contact us
MDI Management Development
  • Agile leadership
  • Lateral Leadership
  • Leadership Impact
  • Leadership Development
Select Page
How to strengthen social capital in the workplace

How to strengthen social capital in the workplace

by Jana Wölfl | Jan 26, 2023 | Digital Transformation, Leadership Impact, Leadership Tips | 0 comments

Why do you like your job?

Is it the work, the salary, or perhaps the interaction with your colleagues? 

The latter is being neglected in many companies, especially during the pandemic. Until then, people had lunch together from time to time, chatted briefly at the coffee machine or worked together on projects.

How to foster exhange and strengthen social capital in the workplace.

But how do you foster this exchange, this connection in a hybrid or even virtual environment?

Find out here in this article. 

(more…)

Workation evaluation – lessons we have learned so far

Workation evaluation – lessons we have learned so far

by Jana Wölfl | Nov 28, 2022 | Agile Leadership, Best Practice, MDI Inside | 0 comments

Vacation during working hours seems like a dream – but is it really?

We provide a workation evaluation, weigh the pros and cons and look at the lessons we have learned so far.

* Workation evaluation – Lessons Learned so far

Workation – Work and Vacation – has become a popular tool in recent years for companies to give employees a little relief. After all, who doesn’t want to escape the gray daily work life for a few weeks?

In this article, you’ll learn a little more about what we have learned from our workation experiences so far, and what possible consequences it could entail.

Work on vacation

At first glance, it seems strange to put the two words work and vacation together. Normally, when we are on vacation, we don’t want to think about our job, we want to switch off.

In the past, digital nomads in particular, i.e. remote workers, were not tied to a specific workplace. But in the age of digitalization and technological progress, more employees get the opportunity – regardless of the industry – to work from somewhere else.

Workation is about escaping your work routine.

For a limited time, employees can travel to a specific country and do their work from there. Whether from the beach, a big city or the mountains – the location doesn’t matter. The only important thing is that the Internet connection is stable enough and that the agreed times are adhered to. The rest is mostly up to the employees.

Is all that glitters gold?

Workation evaluation – Lessons Learned so far

Vacation during working hours seems like a dream at first. But is this concept really ideal? We weigh the pros and cons.

Pros:

  • The advantages are obvious. You discover new places and experience a different culture.
  • In addition to the usual work tasks, you can relax a little.
  • Change of scenery: Everyone needs a change from the usual four office walls.
  • Travel stimulates creativity. New impulses arise from new impressions.
  • Flexibility – employees are free to decide where they want to work from.
  • Traveling with other team members can additionally be a good way to get to know each other better and build a stronger team

2022 Facts and figures about workation

Clearly, the concept of Workation is extremely attractive to employees.

But we also come across some benefits for companies themselves. According to statistics from workation.com

  • 93% of employees are more productive than before.
  • This increases the performance of remote working by 20% overall.
  • In turn, the company saves per remote employee $11,000 per year.
  • In addition, 86% of Millennials want more flexibility in the workplace.
  • Workation can be a great solution to create more agility and increase employee satisfaction.

Cons:

  • Complete relaxation is not guaranteed. You probably think about work most of the time and so you can’t switch off completely. Especially when your job is hectic and you have a lot to do it’s hard to enjoy the vacation part of workation.
  • Your technical equipment – laptop, cables, etc. – adds extra baggage.
  • If the Internet connection is not stable, you can hardly do your job.

Maintaining a better work-life balance with workation

In the end, however, it is worth giving the concept of workation a chance. In most cases, employees return more relaxed and can continue working with renewed energy. Complications can’t be avoided, but after all, they also arise during normal travel.

We at MDI have already tested workation ourselves. If you want to know how it went, you can read about it here 🙂

  • Third Workplace – Can you really work from anywhere?
  • Third Workplace – a plea for more flexibility

What serves you next?

One Size Fits None: An Appeal for Better Leaders

by Hamza Khan | 27. February 2023 | International leadership development, Leadership Impact, Leadership Tips | 0 Comments

One Size Fits None: An Appeal for Better Leaders According to Deloitte University Press, 86% of companies have identified developing new leaders as an "urgent" need. And upon closer inspection, it’s clear to see why.  Incompetency as a Norm When it comes to managers'...
Read More

Greater employee retention through generational diversity

by Karen McCullough | 27. February 2023 | Best Practice, Leadership Impact, Leadership Tips | 0 Comments

Greater employee retention through generational diversity Over the last few decades, generational diversity in the workplace has increased significantly. The youngest Generation Z brings in new energy, while the oldest - Traditionalist Generation - often clings to...
Read More

Being a servant leader – Servant Leadership

by Gunther Fürstberger | 14. February 2023 | Leadership Impact, Leadership Tips, MDI Inside | 0 Comments

Being a servant leader "Servant Leadership" is a concept by Robert Greenleaf that describes the manager as a servant to their employees. What this model is specifically about and what its strengths are, you can read in this article. The origin of the approach In...
Read More

How to strengthen social capital in the workplace

by Jana Wölfl | 26. January 2023 | Digital Transformation, Leadership Impact, Leadership Tips | 0 Comments

Why do you like your job? Is it the work, the salary, or perhaps the interaction with your colleagues?  The latter is being neglected in many companies, especially during the pandemic. Until then, people had lunch together from time to time, chatted briefly at the...
Read More

Workation evaluation – lessons we have learned so far

by Jana Wölfl | 28. November 2022 | Agile Leadership, Best Practice, MDI Inside | 0 Comments

Vacation during working hours seems like a dream - but is it really? We provide a workation evaluation, weigh the pros and cons and look at the lessons we have learned so far.* Workation evaluation – Lessons Learned so far Workation - Work and Vacation - has become a...
Read More

Agile mindset beyond company boundaries

by Book "Agile Leadership Development", Marina Begic | 20. October 2022 | Agile Leadership, Digital Transformation | 0 Comments

Agile mindset beyond company boundaries In order to compete in a constantly changing market, companies must be able to react quickly to changes.Strong networking, increased knowledge exchange and an agile mindset beyond company boundaries are crucial.Leadership in...
Read More

How to become resilient? Your personal superpower

by Anita Berger, ARD | 26. September 2022 | Agile Leadership, Leadership Tips | 0 Comments

How to become resilient? Your personal superpower Meeting the challenges in the VUCA/BANI world In this article you will get an insight into key competencies as well as starting points to strengthen your own resilience. Concrete reflection questions and tips for...
Read More

Learning in the agile age: waterfall or cycle?

by Dominik Etzl | 28. June 2022 | Agile Leadership, Best Practice, MDI Inside | 0 Comments

What is the reality of learning in large companies today? We often see in a wide variety of companies that there is a department that is single-handedly responsible for designing training programs, then planning them through from A to Z in advance, with a strong focus...
Read More

3 P’s – The 3 success factors of hybrid leadership

by Dominik Etzl, Gunther Fürstberger, Peter Grabuschnig | 23. June 2022 | Digital Transformation, Leadership Tips, MDI Inside | 0 Comments

The 3 P's - The 3 success factors of hybrid leadership Basically, the concept of leadership in a hybrid set-up can be broken down to 3 main factors: Purpose, People and Performance. Each of these factors is an important piece of the puzzle that allows us to work...
Read More

The 3 biggest challenges of hybrid work

by Statements from the personaList community | 27. May 2022 | Customer Story, Digital Transformation, Leadership in the digital transformation | 0 Comments

The 3 biggest challenges of hybrid work - voices from the personalist.at community In the course of an Leadership Horizon Conference competition, some members of the personalist.at community asked themselves the following question - What are my 3 biggest challenges...
Read More

Young, working & thriving – Dreams & expectations of the new Gen Z

Young, working & thriving – Dreams & expectations of the new Gen Z

by Jana Wölfl | Jul 21, 2022 | MDI Inside | 0 comments

Young, working & thriving – Dreams and expectations of the new Gen Z

According to PwC, Millennials will make up 50% of the workforce by 2030. But as quickly as Millennials have moved into the workforce, another, even larger generation is coming along:

Generation Z.

And they are capable of being a disruptive force in the workplace. They are more diverse, more technologically advanced and, even though Millennials and members of Generation Z are close in age, their belief systems are verry different.

The way employees, managers and HR professionals interact with this new group of professionals will determine whether they create an amazing corporate culture that benefits both employees and the employer – or miss the mark entirely.

How do leaders and companies need to adapt?

That’s what we try to find out in an interview with MDI’s youngest team member, Jana! Born in 2003, she is part of the Generation Z.

About Jana

In her gap year after high school and before university, Jana started as a team assistant at MDI.

In April she went on an Interrail trip where she discovered 7 cities in Europe. Besides traveling, she likes to spend her time on creative outlets like crocheting, photography or cooking.

Being part of Generation Z, her cell phone is naturally a bigger part of her life than she would like.

Dear Jana, Let’s Spill the Tea on Generation Z 🙂

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

What are your professional interests and what further education do you aspire to?

My professional interests actually change all the time. Right now, though, I’m about to start my bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands – International Studies at Leiden University. It’s an interdisciplinary degree that studies economics, culture, language, and politics based on a specific world region. So it’s perfect for someone like me who has no idea what exactly she’s interested in or what she wants to do later on.

However, I could well imagine going in a creative direction later on (e.g. in the field of graphic design) or writing and reporting for media as I am doing right now at MDI.

What would an employer have to offer (website, job advertisement, etc.) to appeal to you?

First, the price-performance ratio needs to be right – I don’t want to do more work than I get paid for. At the same time, I must get the feeling that I fit in with this company – this can happen through a nicely designed website, a pleasant ad or an exciting job description.

Requirements currently too high

But it’s also important that the employer doesn’t set too many conditions that I can’t fulfil. A common problem in my environment is that you don´t have as much previous professional experience due to school and university as is often required. Right now, it´s really hard to find even an easy job where experience in 10 different fields or a personal contact isn´t essential.

In general, do you already know what is important to you in your job?

No, not yet exactly. I know that I don’t want to spend 100% of my working time behind a screen. And this is going to sound banal, but I expect my job to make me want to go there and maybe even develop a passion for what I do. I can’t imagine anything worse than a workplace where my stomach clenches every time I think about it.

What motivates you in a professional context?

On one hand, as I said,

  • the interest in the job
  • and the fact that I enjoy going to work.
  • On the other hand, the people I cooperate with play a big role.

Team cohesion

I feel incredibly comfortable at MDI, mainly because we have great team cohesion. That motivates me – I always enjoy going into the office and chatting with my colleagues.

Recognition and feedback

Another factor for me, of course, is the recognition and feedback I get for the tasks I complete. It’s important for me to know that what I do for MDI every day is well received or that I’m doing a valuable job for the company. And if that’s not the case, I want that to be communicated honestly and transparently as well, so I know how I can improve.

What are professional must haves & no go’s for you?

For example, in terms of working hours, work models, on and offline work, etc.

Must-Have 

A must-have is the option of home office or third place working. For example, last week I was in quarantine, and it really helped that I could keep my mind busy, even at home. Also, I am very grateful that I can arrange my own working hours. Of course, I know that this is a privilege, and I don’t expect it to be the same later when I work more.

No-Go

A no-go for me would be if people don’t talk to me respectfully & eye to eye. In addition, I always want to be able to combine my private life with my professional life and not have to drown in my work.

Do you prefer home office, third place working, F2F working in the office or a mix of the above?

Hybrid Working

Definitely a mix. I still prefer to physically go to the office because I can socialize with my colleagues there. But also because I can separate my private life from my professional life more clearly there. In the office, my concentration is much higher and I’m not as easily distracted (e.g. by a spontaneous tidy-up).

Third Place Working

Nevertheless, every now and then I’m happy to be able to do my work from home or – even better – from a third location like a nice café.

What channels (social media) should an employer use to reach you?

Personally, I only use Instagram. However, I think it makes sense to display advertisements on all channels possible (Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok, …). After all, that’s where most young people spend their time and why not apply for a job right away if you’re already using the app?

What are your expectations from your direct manager?

I want to be appreciated for what I do. I don’t think much of hierarchical structures, so it’s important to me that my leadership doesn’t patronize me and meets me on the same level. And, as I said before, transparent and honest communication is a must for me.

How important is the age structure of your team to you?

I haven’t given that much thought yet. But basically, I’m always happy to see diversity – which means age diversity, too. It’s definitely important that the company consists of people of different ages, so that knowledge and experience can be drawn from different generations.

Diversity is more

But you have to remember that diversity is not just about age, but almost more about including different ethnicities, gender identities and people with disabilities.

How important are non-work social events with colleagues to you?

Very. Every lunch with the whole team brings me great joy. It’s nice to be able to talk not only about work, but also about our personal lives. I also particularly appreciate that at MDI – there are always opportunities to network outside of the professional context. Great regulars’ tables and parties are organized, where you can get a bit closer to each other.

Dear Jana, last question 😉 Make a choice ... a lot of money, but a job that makes little sense to you or vice versa?

I can answer this question in two ways.

On one hand, it clearly helps me for my current life situation to earn a lot of money in order to save something or to spend it on things that are important to me (my first apartment, traveling, etc.).

On the other hand, in the future, when I am employed full time in a company or maybe even self-employed, I would prefer to work in something that I also see a personal meaning in – even if I don’t earn much for it.

What serves you next?

One Size Fits None: An Appeal for Better Leaders

by Hamza Khan | 27. February 2023 | International leadership development, Leadership Impact, Leadership Tips | 0 Comments

One Size Fits None: An Appeal for Better Leaders According to Deloitte University Press, 86% of companies have identified developing new leaders as an "urgent" need. And upon closer inspection, it’s clear to see why.  Incompetency as a Norm When it comes to managers'...
Read More

Greater employee retention through generational diversity

by Karen McCullough | 27. February 2023 | Best Practice, Leadership Impact, Leadership Tips | 0 Comments

Greater employee retention through generational diversity Over the last few decades, generational diversity in the workplace has increased significantly. The youngest Generation Z brings in new energy, while the oldest - Traditionalist Generation - often clings to...
Read More

Being a servant leader – Servant Leadership

by Gunther Fürstberger | 14. February 2023 | Leadership Impact, Leadership Tips, MDI Inside | 0 Comments

Being a servant leader "Servant Leadership" is a concept by Robert Greenleaf that describes the manager as a servant to their employees. What this model is specifically about and what its strengths are, you can read in this article. The origin of the approach In...
Read More

How to strengthen social capital in the workplace

by Jana Wölfl | 26. January 2023 | Digital Transformation, Leadership Impact, Leadership Tips | 0 Comments

Why do you like your job? Is it the work, the salary, or perhaps the interaction with your colleagues?  The latter is being neglected in many companies, especially during the pandemic. Until then, people had lunch together from time to time, chatted briefly at the...
Read More

Workation evaluation – lessons we have learned so far

by Jana Wölfl | 28. November 2022 | Agile Leadership, Best Practice, MDI Inside | 0 Comments

Vacation during working hours seems like a dream - but is it really? We provide a workation evaluation, weigh the pros and cons and look at the lessons we have learned so far.* Workation evaluation – Lessons Learned so far Workation - Work and Vacation - has become a...
Read More

Agile mindset beyond company boundaries

by Book "Agile Leadership Development", Marina Begic | 20. October 2022 | Agile Leadership, Digital Transformation | 0 Comments

Agile mindset beyond company boundaries In order to compete in a constantly changing market, companies must be able to react quickly to changes.Strong networking, increased knowledge exchange and an agile mindset beyond company boundaries are crucial.Leadership in...
Read More

How to become resilient? Your personal superpower

by Anita Berger, ARD | 26. September 2022 | Agile Leadership, Leadership Tips | 0 Comments

How to become resilient? Your personal superpower Meeting the challenges in the VUCA/BANI world In this article you will get an insight into key competencies as well as starting points to strengthen your own resilience. Concrete reflection questions and tips for...
Read More

Learning in the agile age: waterfall or cycle?

by Dominik Etzl | 28. June 2022 | Agile Leadership, Best Practice, MDI Inside | 0 Comments

What is the reality of learning in large companies today? We often see in a wide variety of companies that there is a department that is single-handedly responsible for designing training programs, then planning them through from A to Z in advance, with a strong focus...
Read More

3 P’s – The 3 success factors of hybrid leadership

by Dominik Etzl, Gunther Fürstberger, Peter Grabuschnig | 23. June 2022 | Digital Transformation, Leadership Tips, MDI Inside | 0 Comments

The 3 P's - The 3 success factors of hybrid leadership Basically, the concept of leadership in a hybrid set-up can be broken down to 3 main factors: Purpose, People and Performance. Each of these factors is an important piece of the puzzle that allows us to work...
Read More

The 3 biggest challenges of hybrid work

by Statements from the personaList community | 27. May 2022 | Customer Story, Digital Transformation, Leadership in the digital transformation | 0 Comments

The 3 biggest challenges of hybrid work - voices from the personalist.at community In the course of an Leadership Horizon Conference competition, some members of the personalist.at community asked themselves the following question - What are my 3 biggest challenges...
Read More

Information

  • Imprint
  • MDI company website

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn

© MDI Management Development Institute, 2020