An Interview with Alexander Herzberg:
1. As a manager of global companies such as Procter & Gamble or Wella, you have grown into an expert in strategic, customer-oriented, and people-oriented leadership of large international organizations. You now share your expertise in your lectures. How does the digital revolution change the requirements for a leader of today?
- On the one hand, employees of large companies today live in the so-called Work 4.0 world. Intelligent platforms and perfect technology dominate the work environment. On the other hand, studies show that in this time, employees feel neglected and mistreated by their leaders. Lack of appreciation, no praise, no recognition for what employees achieve daily. Leaders today more than ever need to take care of their people in the company, because without them, there will be no future.
2. The fear of many people is that their jobs could soon become obsolete due to the increasing technological advancements in companies. Do you think this fear is justified?
- No, I believe that humans and employees will be more important than ever. Of course, technological advancement cannot be stopped, but it also does not replace valuable customer relationships and values such as trust, reliability towards customers, and within the company. The art lies in balancing both sensibly.
3. As a leader, am I now required to alleviate my employees' fear of change?
- The change has already taken place and will continue. No one will stop it. Forward-thinking companies and their leaders tell their employees how important they are to the company and that they are needed in the future. More than ever, because customers want to be loved, and a machine cannot do that. Not now, not in the future.
4. Where do you think the human factor will shine in the future? Which areas will machines not be able to compete with humans in the near future?
- Clearly in sales, customer service, CRM. Successful companies worldwide are putting a lot of thought into how they can practice more service orientation and customer proximity. In almost all areas, it is necessary to spread humanity like confetti.
5. Production may be done by machines, but it is still bought by people. Is there great potential for the flesh-and-blood employee in interacting with the customer?
- Success needs a face" - this is a message for the future. In a time when products are becoming more and more similar, the human element is more important than ever.
More information about Top 100 Entrepreneur Alexander Herzberg: https://www.excellente-unternehmer.de/redner/alexander-herzberg.html
You may also be interested in:
https://www.speakers-excellence.de/se/blog/interview-patric-heizmann/
https://www.speakers-excellence.de/se/blog/dipl-psych-rolf-schmiel-im-interview/
