MTI Newsletter

Current projects of
MACHWÜRTH TEAM INTERNATIONAL
Organisational and Personnel Development

Abstract:
In our “Experience Exchange” members from Person-
nel Development Departments, HR Departments and Björn Rühl
from managerial levels of various companies have the Junior Consultant
opportunity to exchange information about current
MACHWÜRTH TEAM
topics: INTERNATIONAL
The topic “Work-Life-Balance“ was discussed on May
12th in Bremen.

Life-Balance“ in the companies the current status of research. In

Das Machwürth Team Interna- reflects its rising importance. studies within the research pro-
tional organises… ject IPOB the interdependence
of WLB measurements like
Work-Life-Balance practical working-time regulations, the
…these events on a regular ba- perspectives and aspects in organisational design and sup-
sis in the different German re- research portive management pro-
gions North (area of Hamburg / grammes are examined regard-
Kiel), East (Berlin), South (Mu- ing the effects on companies. By
nich), West (Frankfurt / Bo- First Ms Birkner introduced the this the effect on organisational
chum). The participants receive WLB starting with the definition targets like the employer image
information on current topics in and transitioning to the current for recruitment purposes, em-
Personnel Development. They scientific research in the IPOB ployee satisfaction and individ-
also exchange ideas on different project. This project is co- ual effects like personal per-
approaches and know-how re- ordinated by the University of formance. The research focuses
lated to the respective topics in Oldenburg (Lower Saxony). At on effects of human resources
discussion. These meetings are the beginning the definition of related instruments (flexible
facilitated by MTI Consultants WLB was worked out by an in- working times, part time work,
and hosted by participants of the teractive brainstorming with the corporate kindergartens, etc.) to
“Experience Exchange” them- audience. Aspects of internal the employees’ perceptions.
selves. This is done in a rotating and external balance were ex- These perceptions influence
manner, so that every partici- amined during the brainstorm- motivation, attitude and health
pant gets the chance of hosting ing. amongst others which in total
one meeting. contribute to a higher productiv-
On May 12th in Bremen Mrs. After this Ms Birkner presented ity. This can be measured di-
Rösch from Sparkasse Bremen
hosted a meeting with the topic
„Work-Life-Balance“ (WLB). Ms
Birkner and Mr. Kamps – MTI
Consultants and members of the
MTI Expert Team “Work-Life-
Balance“ – held lectures with in-
teractive elements which re-
ceived positive feedback show-
ing the interest for the topic. Se-
quences of the meeting were
recorded by a camera team for
the German national TV (ZDF).
The documentation will display
the changing roles of men in the
social fabric of family and busi-
ness life, which also entails
WLB. In the eyes of the editors
the growing relevance of “Work-

MACHWÜRTH TEAM INTERNATIONAL • Dohrmanns Horst 19 • D-27374 Visselhövede

Phone: +49 (0) 42 62 / 93 12 - 0 • Fax: +49 (0) 42 62 / 38 12
Email: info@mwteam.com • Internet: www.mticonsultancy.com
MTI Newsletter
Current projects of
MACHWÜRTH TEAM INTERNATIONAL
Organisational and Personnel Development
rectly in economic effects like a
rising turnover, increasing profits
and a raised corporate value.
The participants followed the
lecture with interest. Numerous
interposted questions showed
this topic is very up-to-date and
a certain need for action is felt.
In the following discussion the
participants’ interest was fo-
cused on action plans and con-
crete measurements.
Sleep competence, the per-
formance booster
An important aspect of WLB
was referred to by Mr. Kamps:
The individual performance
based on sleep competence. In
his interactive lecture “Lack of
sleep, the performance killer –
Sleep competence, the per-
formance booster“ the effect of
missing sleep, the circadian
rhythm, the sleeping rhythm and
power napping at day time as
factors of the individual per-
formance were explained. This
includes preventing burn-outs by
sticking to adequate sleeping
times and breaks.
MACHWÜRTH TEAM INTERNATIONAL • Dohrmanns Horst 19 • D-27374 Visselhövede
Phone: +49 (0) 42 62 / 93 12 - 0 • Fax: +49 (0) 42 62 / 38 12
Email: info@mwteam.com • Internet: www.mticonsultancy.com
Up to 16 million people in Ger-
many suffer from a sleeping dis-
order which causes tremendous
effects on performance and
health. Lack of sleep causes –
besides a loss of performance
and a lack of concentration – a
higher sickness rate and the
danger of mobbing. The latter
was demonstrated with the case
studies of early birds and late
risers working together in a
team. In a self-test (question-
naire) the participants could find
out if they belong to the early
birds or the late risers.
To improve sleeping patterns
the knowledge about the differ-
ent sleeping phases is crucial.
The measurement of the optimal
sleeping period was explained
with reference to the sleep
rhythm and the different sleep
phases from a light slumber to
sound sleep. Did you know that
you wake up each night up to 30
times without noticing it!? De-
spite that fact your body regen-
erates each night. This was
demonstrated with a clock dis-
playing the different phases of
activity within the human organ-
ism (organ clock). This clock
displays when the different or-
gans show a higher and a minor
activity during day and night
time. This has a direct impact on
the personal performance.
The person who does not know
the optimal working times and
the individual times of his or her
inner organ clock will do the
wrong things at the wrong time.
For example, use the creativity
phases of the human for stan-
dardised tasks and finding a so-
lution for a difficult problem at
the biological bottom level of
performance. It is mandatory to
distribute the individual tasks
during the day in the right way to
reach an optimal performance.
This includes the active obser-
vance of breaks. A short slum-
ber – “power nap“ – raises the
capability and reduces the dan-
ger of a burn-out syndrome. 20
minutes spent at the right time
of the day are a good start!
Filling out a questionnaire, the
participants of the “Experience
Exchange” could examine their
own stress potential and expo-
sure to burn-out. Some partici-
pants realised the urgency of
reducing stress through a sound
sleep competence and preven-
tion of stress by an effective day
planning.
The lecture by Mr. Kamps re-
ceived a high level of interest.
The very easy-to-use tests and
questionnaires displaying the in-
terdependence of sleeping and
daily activities will remain in the
participants memories.
The reactions of the participants
showed the importance and the
need to catch up on the issues
regarding Work-Life-Balance
and health management – on an
individual and an organisational
level.
MTI Newsletter
Current projects of
MACHWÜRTH TEAM INTERNATIONAL
Organisational and Personnel Development

Members of the MTI Expert Team “Work-Life-Balance“ and “Health Management”

Stephanie Birkner

ƒ Scientific employee and Ph.D. student at the Carl von Ossietzky

University, Oldenburg:
ƒ Research focus: skill-intensive services, personnel / organisational
development, perception & impact of cognitive processes, client
“professionalization”, internationalisation
ƒ Current research project: IPOB (www.consulting-innovation.de)
ƒ Freelancing in practical projects on the above-mentioned topics
ƒ Personal Coach
ƒ Cooperation partner at MTI

Markus Kamps

ƒ Consultant MTI
ƒ First German prevention expert in sleeping and stress counselling
ƒ Moving Coach and physiotherapist
ƒ Lecturer at Textile College
ƒ Editor of the “Sleeping Campaign”

MTI

MACHWÜRTH TEAM INTERNATIONAL • Dohrmanns Horst 19 • D-27374 Visselhövede

Phone: +49 (0) 42 62 / 93 12 - 0 • Fax: +49 (0) 42 62 / 38 12
Email: info@mwteam.com • Internet: www.mticonsultancy.com