"What if...?" That's not a question that particularly interests Urs Grütter. Alternative present scenarios are of less concern to the pragmatic CEO of the Aesch-based logistics company Stöcklin than exciting plans for the future.
Stöcklin Logistik AG has been offering innovative solutions for internal logistics for more than 80 years. The company, which specializes in the manufacture of materials handling and warehousing equipment, was taken over by Urs Grütter in 1995 and has since been managed by him operationally as CEO and strategically as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Since mid-2020, Stöcklin Logistik AG has been located at the new site in Laufen with its completely newly built Technology Center. New manufacturing buildings, an office building including its own staff restaurant, and a high-bay warehouse for pallets and containers have been built on around 35,000 square meters.
Setting new standards with innovations, expanding worldwide and bringing the traditional company rooted in Switzerland to the top: None of this would have been possible without Mr. Grütter's pragmatism. As a goal-oriented entrepreneur, he is above all interested in solutions, because: Those who find solutions are successful. This quality is also important to him in his employees. And although he is not a fan of "What if..." questions, Mr. Grütter also answered our hypothetical questions.
Learn more about our Person of the Month in the interview and read, among other things, what his best professional advice is and how he faces difficulties in life.
Mr. Grütter, if you had taken a different path when you were younger, what would you have become?
"Actually, I do what has driven me since I was young. Namely, to make a difference, to get teams behind an idea or a goal, to exercise leadership and responsibility, and ultimately to succeed. The fact that I have been able to achieve all this in my company makes me very satisfied. Since I'm also very fascinated by technology, I probably wouldn't have done too badly with a technical career either."
What would you work for free for a week?
"A week at a mountain hut of the SAC's (Swiss Alpine Club, editor's note). The fascination and tranquility of the mountain world, combined with the daily routine at a hut, reduce many things back to the essentials."
What was the best professional advice you ever received?
"Don't waste time on things you can't change. Instead, invest your time and energy in things you can influence."
How do you face setbacks and deal with difficulties?
"Setbacks and difficulties that arise are part of life. How you deal with such moments is crucial. Can I derive something from what I have experienced that will then help me to master upcoming challenges or, at best, to avoid such events as best as possible in the future?
Today, this is probably somewhat age-related, I see some things with more composure and also react much less impulsively. I try - of course I don't always succeed - to react as calmly and objectively as possible to events."
What is especially important to you in your work environment and what is definitely not coming into the office?
"Positive people! There is nothing worse than having people around you who are grouchy and somehow unhappy and who transfer their bad mood to those around them. I don't like it at all when employees present problems without thinking about how to solve them."
We would like to thank Mr. Grütter for his contribution to this article. This interview was conducted in writing.
Your turn!
Would you also like to tell their story and share the insights gained with our readers? We are always interested in portraying exciting companies and personalities. Get in touch with us and maybe we'll soon be putting our "5 questions" to you.
Editor: Neslihan Steiner
Batterman Consulting Basel AG
Executive Search,
Byfangweg 1a, CH-4051 Basel
T +41 58 680 55 55
basel@batterman.ch
