Sebastian Kolberg is the Change Manager for Digital Transformation at Bayer AG. In this role he supports people and teams to journey together and shape digital transformation. As a #ChangeAgent, he is particularly interested in promoting collaborations, establishing trusting networks and jointly challenging the status quo with a view toward the customer. Good reasons to introduce him here.
Dr. Elisabeth Keßeböhmer & Nicole Vogler
The world is becoming more complex every day, and organizations are facing the challenge of responding smartly. In particular, the banking industry is strongly affected by change and urgently needs to reorient and innovate. While many banks in Germany appear uncertain and are on the decline, Hamburger Sparkasse relies on good networking and is thus definitely one of the pioneers in the banking industry. With the introduction of the internal Tandemploy software as an internal networking platform (christened “FlexWorkz”), they show how flexibilization and networking can look in a modern working environment. They use Tandemploy software to better network all employees and pave the way for new modes of working. Within HASPA, employees can now easily find job sharing, knowledge sharing (expert knowledge and career tips), reverse mentoring and lunch dating. We talked with Dr. Elisabeth Keßeböhmer (Head of Human Resources) and Nicole Vogler (HR Manager & Project Manager for Tandemploy SaaS at HASPA) about the great importance of networking in the context of digital transformation, their tool “FlexWorkz,” and their first success stories.
© Simona Bednarek
Ninia “LaGrande” Binias (* 1983) lives and works in Hannover. She writes for various media, hosts events and acts as a slam poet. She moderates her own TV and podcast formats and is a regular guest at cabaret and comedy shows. She also writes columns and articles for various newspapers, magazines and online portals, including RND (RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland), Missy Magazine, and leidmedien.de. Additionally, Ninia moderates congresses, events, festivals and numerous other formats live or in front of the camera. She is the managing director of the Büro für Popkultur GmbH (Department for Pop Culture), which was honored in 2017 as the “Creative Pilot of Germany.” She volunteers as the chair of the the Advisory Board on how to promote Hannover to become Capital of Culture 2025. Ninia is also an active feminist and has been working for inclusion for many years. All good reasons to talk with Ninia about diversity in the world of work. Read more
We live in a networked world in which everything is interconnected. We have unlimited opportunities to connect with people around the globe, to find like-minded people and an expert for everything. Professional cross-company networks such as Linkedin allow us to make contacts around the world, around the clock. Why are we still so badly networked within companies? And how can internal organizational silos be reduced? Here’s why networking is the key to almost all processes of digital transformation, and what we should all do more of to improve our careers:
In this time of social media platforms, a new term comes up every now and then: flash organizations. Very briefly, flash organizations are temporary companies that can be used to quickly and effectively implement complex projects. To do this, optimal teams with the right skills are put together within a very short time. Sounds exciting. It’s reason enough to take a closer look at the “flash organization” model.
At our Berlin office, we work with the highest degree of flexibility – and think in terms of tasks, not in fixed positions. We are always trying new forms and formats of work and trying every day to live what we preach to the outside world. In our 30-member team, all colleagues work in flexible work models. Currently we have three job-sharing tandems, four interdisciplinary project teams, five freelancers and 12 colleagues with a four-day week. We want to introduce some of them today and explain why we do what we do.
The best software in the world can only change organizations as much as people and culture allow. That is why at Tandemploy we do not only believe in the tandem principle when it comes to our job: through our new partnership with nextexitfuture, we’re changing and guiding companies sustainably – and with their cumulative startup and corporate experience. Together, the 8 founders of nextexitfuture have an impressive 160 years of experience in large companies: in top management, on executive boards and supervisory boards, and as investors. They know big hierarchical constructs, silo mentality, and the “but culture” of some internal stakeholders like the backs of their hands.
Globalization, demographic change, skills shortage, technologization, automation – external factors have changed the demands on companies and thus on managers enormously. But what does that mean for managers? How must leadership look today and in the future? Which leadership do companies need for digital transformation? And what about digital leadership?
What role do networks play in digitalization? How can the digital transformation be designed effectively and how can employees be helped along the way? What else is there to digitalization apart from the buzzwords? And do we really still need HR?
Every day, we get many exciting visitors at the Tandemploy office. So, we thought we would invite these digitalization experts, role models, New Workers, digital leaders and difference makers to our Yellow Couch and ask them these and other questions. Yellow Couch Talks – our new Tandemploy format for inspiration, questions, and discussions.
We signed the Diversity Charter in September 2018 and are very excited to be part of this wonderful and important initiative. In this article, we explain the goals of the Charter, why we are part of this initiative, and how important diversity is for businesses today. Read more
Knowledge is an important topic when it comes to digital transformation in companies. Good and continuous knowledge transfer brings many benefits and can provide a competitive advantage. Similarly, conscious use of the knowledge and ability of employees is playing an increasingly important role. What knowledge already exists in your company? What skills are there? Which ones do organizations need in the future? And how can they be used strategically? A systematic skill management plan can offer solutions.
© Hendrik Lüders
Tijen Onaran is a businesswoman, presenter and speaker. With startup affairs, she advises companies on PR and publicity, as well as on building and maintaining communities, and, with her Global Digital Women initiative, is committed to the networking and visibility of women in the digital industry. In addition, Tijen Onaran regularly publishes as a member of the Handelsblatt Expert Council, as well as a columnist for Lead Digital. She has been appointed to the Faculty Board for Digital Leadership of the Management School St. Gallen and to the jury of the Digital Leader, Corporate Culture and PR Report Awards. Before becoming self-employed, Tijen Onaran worked for members of the European parliament and the Bundestag, the Federal President’s Office, and for associations and a university in leading positions. In the interview, we talked about New Work, “tomorrow’s world of work” and the key skills needed in a digital and connected world.
Be faster, improve your time management and save valuable time. If you take a look at bookstore shelves, you will find that the topic of time optimization is in vogue: here and there, you can eliminate a useless task from your life, delegate tasks or set proper priorities in your date book. The list is long and arbitrary. The paradox is that although this does indeed save time, every single person still has less and less of it. When you dedicate time in one place, it is stolen elsewhere.
In the novel “Momo” by Michael Ende, the “Men in Grey”, who were Time Thieves, mingled unnoticed among the inhabitants of a city and preached thrift as agents of the Timesavings Bank. Gradually, despite saving time, the lives of people became increasingly joyless and unhappy. Only a little girl named Momo recognized the problem and dared to fight against the seemingly overpowering “Men in Grey”.
Inspired by Momo, Jana Tepe talks about today’s world of work in her TED Talk and calls for us to “Stop the Men in Grey! – Start changing the working world today!”
Some children’s books are so wise that they should be required reading for every adult – we’ve known that since at least Momo by Michael Ende. But there are even more of these special children’s books that contain so much wisdom that you should always remember them. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren is definitely one of them.
With Pippi’s wisdom, we want to go through the New Year cheeky, wild and wonderful!
At Tandemploy, we have a special meeting: Every Monday, the team members meet and talk about Happy Moments – professionally and/or privately – from the past week. That’s the Happy Meeting. Instead of a long meeting, we just go through a quick round, and everybody starts the new week happy and motivated. As everyone knows, we like to share, so starting now, we will be showcasing some of these Happy Moments.
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I’m reading a book that inspires me to ask more questions. I like questions anyway, but in “Rock your Idea. To change the world with ideas” by Martin Gaedt, one is downright encouraged to ask excessive questions. “Questions bring ideas and change,” it says, and “questioning habits brings new things to the world.” I especially like the statement, “Everything works differently.” Because hey, why not?
The author suggests asking questions at every traffic light, in every traffic jam, in every waiting room, at every imaginable opportunity: 44 in one go. Anyone who does this regularly (practicing questioning, so to speak) increases his question fitness and comes up with completely new ideas. Even a “throw-away question” can make the difference. The chapter ends with a clear request: “Asking good questions is trainable. So, get to practicing!”
I felt directly challenged and tried to go with my gut to ask 44 questions about the world of work, the issue closest to my heart.
