Did you know that leadership style is a crucial aspect of management that can make or break the success of an organization?

In a conversation with Mr.Gabor Fluit, CEO Asia at Royal De Heus and newly elected EuroCham chairman for 2023, effective leadership was discussed as crucial for talent retention, innovation, diversity, and business expansion. Mr. Gabor emphasized the importance of retaining talented employees by building trust, offering new opportunities, fair compensation, and creating a positive work environment.

Mr. Gabor Fluit, who transitioned from Finance to the Agricultural industry, has been driving De Heus' expansion in Vietnam and South-East Asia since 2008. In a recent episode of our ASIAN TYDE podcast, he shared his insights on various aspects of business management, highlighting the importance of culture in leadership. In Vietnam, leaders should prioritize open and positive communication to foster an innovative culture. Mr. Gabor believes in empowering employees to make decisions and take initiative, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility that can motivate them to stay with the organization.

*** Click here watch the full podcast episode

PEOPLE ARE KEY TO BUSINESS GROWTH

At the time when Mr. Gabor switched from Finance to Agricultural Industry, he didn’t know anything about this new field. “Luckily, I was able to find some talented people, and many of them still work with me today. Otherwise, I would never have been able to be successful.” - he shared.

Retaining talented people is crucial for the success and growth of any organization. Talented employees are the backbone of any business, and losing them can be detrimental. How did he retain his teams to work with him for so long? Here are 4 strategies that he shared with us:

1. Build trust:

Trust is an essential component of any relationship, and it is no different in the workplace. Employees who feel that they are trusted are more likely to stay with an organization. Besides, they need to have trust in their leaders too.

2. Offer New Opportunities:

Leaders can keep their talented employees engaged by:

• offering them new roles at higher levels or working abroad,
• providing opportunities for growth and development in other positions,
• and creating space for new talent.

Remember to constantly challenge them and not let many people stuck in the same position for a long time.

3. Pay Fairly::

Paying a fair salary is one of the key factors of employee retention. While it may not be the only factor, it is undoubtedly an essential one. Leaders should conduct market research and ensure that their employees are paid fairly for their skills and experience.

4. Create a Positive Work Environment:

The main driver for employees to stay or leave is an environment where they feel respected, safe, and have fun working. This includes offering flexibility, fostering a sense of community, and prioritizing work-life balance.

WESTERN CULTURE VS ASIAN CULTURE

To introduce an innovative culture in Vietnam, leaders should prioritize open and positive communication.

While the Western country has an open culture, where people can raise their voices and share freely without worrying about being judged by others, Vietnamese people prefer top-down leadership.

According to Mr. Gabor Fluit, “I don’t believe in top-down management… When you want to grow fast, you need people who make decisions. Better to make the wrong decision than no decision. Waiting, comparing, and analyzing is demotivating.”

For De Heus, “Diversity accelerates progress”. In other words, diversity is an engine for long-term success. Therefore, to drive change and change the mindset of people, leaders need time and consistent effort to convince small groups of early adopters who can become their ambassadors. From there, it creates a big impact on the industry.

As a top leader, it is important to create growth plans with concrete short-term steps, long-term goals, and a clear vision. Leaders have to become more proactive because sometimes, it’s hard to focus on the long term when we have so much short-term pressure to perform. “If you are too conservative, it’s not really inspiring for people. “ - told Mr. Gabor.

COLLABORATION STARTS WITH COMMUNICATION

As a person who receives a lot of respect from many people in the industry, Mr. Gabor shared that he always shows respect to others. Directly talking to employees, farmers, and customers gives him an overview of all the stakeholders of De Heus supply chain, by understanding their role, knowing the entire process and defining areas to improve.

To collaborate effectively, the CEO shared the power of informal context. It brings people in the organization together and helps them be close to operational teams.

How to create informal moments:

1. Organise events such as celebrations of birthdays, and big milestones of the company or just celebrate the small successes of departments.

2. Leaders show the example to follow, by mingling and talking to everyone, to every department, despite their responsibilities or titles.

3. Create a feeling of belong, and bridge the gap between everyone.

USEFUL ADVICE TO LEADERS WHO WANT TO EXPAND BUSINESS IN VIETNAM

1. Accept the truth that there are many competitors in your field in Asia while there is a whole new generation growing up, which is a huge opportunity for you to invest in.

2. Think carefully about what you want to achieve, and what are your strengths. Build a strong foundation by knowing your strength, and become an expert in your knowledge before expanding.

In conclusion, Mr. Gabor emphasizes the importance of retaining talented employees for business growth. To reach this goal: building trust, offering new opportunities, paying fairly, and creating a positive work environment. Besides, to drive sustainable growth and expand your business in Asia, leaders should focus on developing communication and collaboration skills.

Do you want to master the art of adaptive communication? Our Process Communication Model training is what you need. Let Tyde support you in bridging the gap between people and bringing everyone together. Book our training now to advance your career and growth!