An interview with Ben de Ridder WHAT MAKES WORKING AT ROYAL LEMKES ENJOYABLE? “The way we treat each other as colleagues. When one of us is going through a hard time, the other helps out. People do a lot for each other here.” WHAT HAS THE PERSONAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME BROUGHT YOU? “It has helped me a lot, especially on a personal level. I’ve had a hectic time and recently went through a divorce. This programme gave me the space to reflect on what I stand for and what I think is important; I never gave myself time for that before. I literally emerged from this period a different person. Because I now know what I want, I’m a lot calmer, which is a big advantage in my work. It helps me be more patient with colleagues who may be quite different from me.” WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT 2018? “In previous years, it was difficult to find enough people for production, so the work pressure was high and we worked long hours. As the pay for temporary workers has been increased, we now have many more motivated people, which makes the work a lot more fun.” HOW DO YOU GROW ‘TOGETHER’? “As a team leader, I think it’s important for everyone to feel valued. I also expect every employee to think about how we can do better each day. That’s why I try to have more oneon-one conversations with colleagues, present them with a problem and listen to their solutions. You never know what brilliant ideas they might come up with.” 23
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