What is an ideal working environment for you? Your own office room, an open-plan office or a so-called e-space without a fixed workstation? In the increasingly dynamic world of work, new work concepts are constantly being developed and implemented. From furnishings to lighting to climate, room design is being optimized according to current findings. All this in the hope that employees will be more satisfied and ultimately work better and achieve more.
But the work environment is more than just the workplace. It is the interpersonal relationships, manners and customs in which we work. Every manager knows that he or she has an important role to play in shaping it. Our interview partner of the month, Zeno Hurt, also has clear ideas about his working environment, which he significantly influences, due to his multi-layered life and leadership experience.
Trained as a mechanical draftsman, he has spent his long career working in both the mechanical and apparatus engineering industry and the aviation industry. He also completed part-time commercial pilot training and worked in aviation for several years. Today, he is a member of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall AG's Air Defence and Radar Systems business unit, which manufactures complex, high-performance and automated air defence solutions. Find out more about Zeno Hurt, his professional and private interests and the most important lessons learned on his career path so far in our interview.
Mr. Hurt, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?
"Of course, when I was young I also had various other options and dream jobs in mind, such as pilot or astronaut. However, it is often the case that at the time when you have to make the first decision, you are actually still far too young to be able to assess the consequences of your decision. To shape, move and create something that benefits others has always been deep inside me. So today I have no other career aspirations. What has remained is my passion for flying, which I have made my second profession.
What would you work for free for a week?
"For international aid organizations that benefit disadvantaged and endangered children on this earth. For that, I would also work longer than a week for free."
What was the best professional advice you ever received?
""Follow your heart and your intuition, not money, and never blame others for any failure."" This advice comes from my father, who never forced me to do anything - not even to study - but exemplified this and thus became a role model."
How do you face setbacks and deal with difficulties?
"Setbacks and mistakes are the best and most valuable life lessons. If you fail to use them as a challenge to do better, you run the risk of repeating the same mistakes. Mastering difficulties are daily challenges in my job and a main part of my tasks. In this respect, it is also part of my passion to solve difficulties together with a team in a targeted manner."
What is especially important to you in your work environment and what is definitely not coming into the office?
"I do everything I can to create a working environment in which constructive criticism is seen as a challenge and accepted by everyone involved. Teamwork is a top priority. My job is to lay the foundations so that the team can achieve the tasks and goals set for it. This includes ensuring the right organization, structures and processes, as well as the best tools and infrastructure necessary for implementation.
My office is both a workplace and a place where ideas and decisions are generated together, and the door is always open when I'm not busy. That's why I don't have a radio or music at work, but I do have a coffee machine.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Hurt for his contribution to this article. This interview was conducted in writing.
Editor: Neslihan Steiner
Batterman Consulting Basel AG
Executive Search,
Byfangweg 1a, CH-4051 Basel
T +41 58 680 55 55
basel@batterman.ch
