SMP LeaderTalks

#164 | Work as a space of hope

SMP LeaderTalks

23. September 2026

Georgiy Michailov meets Dr. Hans Rusinek

About Beta-Zone, Davkah and the Possibilists.

1h 27 Min

“What are you prepared to put up with, even if it’s frustrating? That’s a far more interesting question than: What do you enjoy doing?”

Quiet quitting, early retirement through Bitcoin, workations and the four-day week. The shift away from work takes many forms, but according to Dr Hans Rusinek, it has a common root: work is experienced as a place that wears you down rather than a place where you can grow. Is work really just something most people have to get through these days?

“If you enjoy doing it, you’ll do it well.”

Dr. Hans Rusinek erforscht an der Universität St. Gallen, was Menschen bei der Arbeit wirklich antreibt – zwischen Sinnsuche, Führung und der ständigen Versuchung, Arbeit entweder zu verklären oder totzuschweigen. Im Gespräch mit Georgiy Michailov erklärt er, warum der Mythos vom einsamen Genie oft trügt, wie starke Führung in der Krise ohne Autoritarismus gelingt und weshalb performative Sichtbarkeit die eigentliche Leistung in Unternehmen zunehmend verdrängt.

*Video only in German

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