I asked 10 people where they thought this picture was taken. 10 out of 10 said it was the wellness section of some hotel. Some guessed the city, one even the hotel. The truth is that the picture was taken at the top floor of the business office of one of our clients.
Is there room for culture in the office?
Then I asked them if this room with that view was in their office, what would be the function of it? 6 said it would be a meeting room for clients, 4 said it would be the CEO’s office. None of them said that it would be, just like on the picture, a recreational, relaxation, resting, quiet space for staff for a quick recharge, a power nap, a peace of mind room that is free of mobile phones, smart watches or any other electronic equipment. Because it is not in their frame of reference. In their world, office, culture such a function, such a room does not exist.
In that company it is there for all employees, the prime location devoted to the prime goal of keeping ourselves sane, energized, focused, balanced. On the day of my visit there weren’t many users of this opportunity, but I hear the location is properly used for the function. And more.
Can a quiet room speak louder than words?
It is not only a recreation room. It is a manifesto of value. It is leadership in action. It is the reality of putting people first. It is the reaction on the understanding of the needs of others who are important to us. It is care, service, dedication, commitment beyond words. A reminder of who we are, how we relate to our work and to each other. And more.
The company is in the road transportation business. I was also in a very senior position once in a similar company. The core is a group of lone riders living their life on the road, engine below them, cargo behind them. The drivers, the leaders. You can list the disadvantages of their work until the cows come home, but they have one benefit, they get the best view, first row, first seat on the left. Legal regulations bind them to rest regularly for their and for others’ safety. Providing an opportunity to rest for the office staff is not a regulation. It is a choice. We are defined by our choices. Leaders lead through their choices.
Some choose to provide a space to share their view with the team, to let them revisit it every now and then, to let them relate to it, and to allow them to rest and make balanced decisions.
Péter Papp
I’ve been working in HR field at companies for 27 years, 24 out of these as HR manager. I gained experience in companies of all types and sizes, from large American multinationals to large Hungarian companies, from FMCG to agriculture and the IT Telco sector.
Organization Development Consultant, Leadership Expert, Facilitator and Business Simulations Trainer. Partner and Consultant at Flow Group in Central Asia. Professionally helps people and organizations to reinvent and transform through changes to build lasting impact.
Co-Founder of FLOW Group International, I combine a passion for future trends and innovative approaches to life improvement, with expertise in People, Organizations and Culture Development.
Ian’s talent is translating complexity into simplicity. This applies especially well in his chosen areas of M&A, Leadership, Executive Coaching, Executive Team Alignment, Change Management & Strategy which he performs all over the world.
I am a qualified economist and have an MBA degree. After 7 years in HR consulting I spent 4 years in senior management positions working for ICT companies. I returned to consulting in the spring of 2005 as an associate managing director of Creanova; I work as a partner and senior consultant/trainer of the Flow Group.
Starting out at the University of Economics and most of all with the priceless experience AIESEC provided to me in as a student, I can now look back on a multifarious, colorful and successful career of 20 years.
Economist by education, Organization Development consultant by profession, one of the founding partners of Flow. I had my share of middle and top-level management exercise in multinational environment at the early years of my professional career. During the 35 years gained experience in the airline and courier industries, built a few successful consulting organizations, steered a school and a technology start-up. Experienced in leadership on the practical and the development sides as well. Recently I’ve enjoyed working in agile leadership and Organizational Network Analysis.
I am an organization development consultant, a senior trainer, a founding member and the managing partner of the Flow Group. I have been into organization development for 15 years and have 20 years of experience with running training courses.
Andrea Frenyo
