Start-up founder Florian Gschwandtner and Magenta COO Maria Zesch on new ways of working and leadership culture.
Maria Zesch and Florian Gschwandtner
A prerequisite for innovative business is also a modern management culture. New ways of working must be initiated by bosses and supported by employees. Maria Zesch and Florian Gschwandtner on the current requirements for managers.
KURIER: Both of you have often had insights into Austrian companies and their management culture. Where would you locate them? Traditional or future-oriented?
Florian Gschwandtner: The topic of leadership has become more present and corporations have also understood how important leadership topics are, what importance employees and communication have.
Maria Zesch: A company has to think about how to get talented employees who are passionate about their work. Employees are also increasingly demanding a good management culture.
Are there also thematic priorities in the management work?
Maria Zesch: Diversity in management positions is an important topic at the moment, but we're not even on par. Transparency is also central. At Magenta we use a survey tool. Any manager can send surveys to the team. You know where the problems are and you know where to focus.
Florian Gschwandtner: You have to create a feedback culture, which is very rare in companies. Too often there is mistrust. Bosses also need to learn how teams work and how to put them together. Managers must be trained on these topics. Leadership is not innate, but it can be learned.
How do you pick up employees from the home office when it comes to a cultural change in the office?
Maria Zesch: Creating trust in this hybrid world of work is not easy. Sympathy points are lost. My tip: create opportunities for personal meetings. I went for a walk in the forest with my team.
Do you still need bosses in hybrid working environments?
Florian Gschwandtner: Leadership shouldn't depend on one person. At the end of the day, there will always be a CEO who makes decisions. But: a good manager actually has little to do. The team does the work. A good leader has time for the important things and looks after those around him.
