Recently Dirk Harm Eijssen, Founder and Partner of Gwynt was interviewed by Link Magazine about his views on the challenges companies have with corporate culture, especially focusing on the family business.
The article discusses the challenges companies currently face, such as labor market tightness and the need to increase productivity. Dirk Harm emphasizes that family businesses can make improvements faster because they work more closely with the owners. However, many family businesses operate intuitively without rigid goals, which can lead to problems with larger clients who expect predictability and professionalism.
Professionalization and digitization are essential to increase productivity, but this often requires changes in corporate culture. Family businesses must strike a balance between motivating both young employees and older, experienced employees. Young people want clarity, development opportunities and work that is meaningful, while older workers often cling to existing routines and loyalty.
The article highlights the role of emotions in the workplace, where negative emotions such as anxiety can hurt productivity. Social dynamics play a crucial role in creating a productive corporate culture. Finally, it lists six guiding principles for a productive culture:
- Focus on customer value
- Clarity in responsibilities
- Standardization
- Continuous improvement
- Skilled employees
- Effective collaboration.
Final conclusion is that family businesses need to professionalize and think strategically ahead to remain successful in a complex and changing market.
You can read the full article here.
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