Our press release from February 2023
When work becomes something that empowers people
New Work expert Dr Michael Trautmann visits Kasendorf
The two medium-sized companies Richter Steuerungstechnik GmbH and W.E.T. Wasser.Energie.Technologie GmbH from Kasendorf prove that „New Work” can not only be lived in large global corporations from Hamburg, Munich or Berlin. Under the umbrella of the joint holding company inuwat AG, the two companies have been following unusual paths in the areas of employee management and corporate culture for years. On 28 February 2023, Dr Michael Trautmann, a true great of the New Work movement, was a guest in Krumme Fohre, not only to exchange professional views, but also to record a podcast of the well-known series „On the way to New Work” with Managing Director Michael Otte.
The world of work is changing. Whereas in earlier times work was a means to an end and the prospect of a career and money was what made a job attractive, today other values are also important. The younger generation in particular does not want to be trapped in a hamster wheel where work determines life and time for family, friends and themselves falls by the wayside. The question of one’s own individual needs is raised: freedom, flexibility and satisfaction. People are still willing to work hard – but under different conditions and with the premise that what they are doing is right and important.
This purpose at the inuwat companies lies in the innovations developed here together in the areas of environmental, water and automation technology. Every day, the employees make their contribution to the active protection of the valuable resources energy and water. „It simply feels good to know that you can contribute your ideas and work on new, sustainable technologies, such as the recycling of rinse water,” reports Matthias Sesselmann, sales manager at W.E.T. GmbH.
Another example of a successful implementation of the New Work philosophy is the planning and implementation of the new administration building, which will be completed in April 2022. When the decision for the new building was made two years ago, it was clear from the beginning: The building should not meet the taste of the management, but become a space where the employees can meet, feel comfortable and thus also work more effectively. „That’s why all employees were asked individually about their wishes and needs and involved in architectural and design issues,” says Otte. „This also meant that, for example, the floor plan had to be changed again in the middle of construction to allow the staff small meeting and retreat rooms.” The communicative cooperation paid off and within nine months the modern office building, which is unparalleled in the region, was completed.
During his visit, Dr Michael Trautmann was also impressed by the unique building and the development history behind it. „It takes spaces where people meet. Only through encounters and humanity can you also be creative – and that has more than succeeded here,” enthused the Hamburg New Work expert, who is an entrepreneur, author and podcaster at the same time. After a guided tour of the company premises and the joint podcast, Trautmann gladly took the time for an exclusive lecture in the evening, to which employees, friends and partners of the companies were invited. In doing so, he took the audience on the „New Work” journey he has been on for six years now and used many different practical examples to show how work can become something that strengthens people instead of weakening them. In a relaxed atmosphere, the participants took the opportunity to discuss what they had heard and to get to know Dr. Michael Trautmann personally.
About Dr Michael Trautmann
Dr Michael Trautmann was a managing partner at Springer & Jacoby and, as Global CMO, the youngest top manager at Audi AG. Today he accompanies companies, brands and people in working on their alignment. He is co-host of the podcast „On The Way to New Work” and co-founder of NWMS GmbH (New Work Masterskills).
After studying business administration and obtaining a doctorate in the field of ecology-oriented marketing, he started his career at Bossard Consultants and held positions as Managing Director at Springer & Jacoby and as Global CMO at Audi. In 2004, together with André Kemper, he founded the advertising agency kempertrautmann, which became thjnk AG. Michael is also co-founder of Hyrox, the world’s first fitness competition for everyone. In January 2021, he founded NWMS GmbH (New Work Masterskills) together with Swantje Allmers and can be heard once a week as a co-host on the podcast „On The Way to New Work”.