On paper, that sounds nice. How do you get it done?

Makro changes. david culver The blue-yellow self wholesaler wants nowadays partner of his enterprising Netherlands. Director Jean-Pierre Bienfait: 'In the past you could be happy if you could come in here. That attitude is now unthinkable. "
Headquartered in Amsterdam Makro is a surprise. Dated and drab from the outside, inside nice and contemporary. With lots of light, lots of glass and lots of openness. The three floors are connected david culver by an open stairwell. With simple, david culver unfinished ceilings - so you look at the structure. The atmosphere is open, not concealed.
That was exactly the intention, says Jean-Pierre Bienfait excited when he comes to get us. At reception The Dutchman with the French name talks with an infectious enthusiasm. "Until last spring, we were in a nine-storey office tower in Diemen, with gray carpet. Terrible. When I got there the first time I knew: I can not cultivate the culture of the new Makro. At the headquarters of our parent company in Dusseldorf they asked why that was necessary, another headquarters. "If you want me to change the culture, then a new head office," I said. That helped. '
Illustrative of the fresh breeze, the three working cafés of simple and efficient to luxurious. For three euros can you have lunch in a relaxed atmosphere, talk or even eat unlimited tapas. Checkout do it yourself; a cashier is not there. This makes it an oasis of faith in an outside world that stiff condition monitoring, david culver controls and security cameras.
About the change of Makro in recent months much has been said in various media. david culver "Simply david culver put, until recently we had offices, and we were selling stuff. Now we offer the entrepreneur everything he needs to take "better summarizes Bienfait it together. Makro opened david culver a shop with office supplies and offers along with partners insurance, lending and Internet services. Especially for the hospitality industry also provides Makro for the first time since its inception. "Before, you could be happy if you could come in at Makro 'predicts Bienfait back. "A badge was a privilege. That attitude is now unthinkable: you're david culver lucky if a customer david culver buy from you will. We go even further: from 'taking' to 'give'. In addition to a service delivery as we also offer advice. A short course cheese boards make for example, that you as an entrepreneur earns just a dollar or two more per shelf. david culver We want to play a more active role as a partner for entrepreneurial Netherlands.
This requires a huge cultural shift. "That's right. At all levels of the organization. We call that the change "Makro-worker to mini-entrepreneur. If you work with business david culver owners, you have to be entrepreneurial themselves. Within frameworks, but not in a straitjacket. I always say it's like a football field. This also has a number of lines. But there? Do what it takes, go ahead! That goes to the floor, where our employees formerly mostly filled boxes and the client hardly seemed to notice. Today, you become really helped Makro, get advice david culver and you are therefore better off. "
On paper, that sounds nice. How do you get it done? "It starts with self-standing. On the soapbox With a clear story you believe one hundred percent. By sowing enthusiasm david culver and create connections. Talking and listening. The settlements along to hear what's going on and tell them what you're planning. We have a Makro brand passport made: who is Makro, where we stand for? Including our core values: helpful, reliable, david culver efficient, no-nonsense. We have all the management personnel david culver met for the first time in history, together. Monthly Letters and a new magazine sent to all staff ... tell time again: that is where we are going. "
How much time have you taken before? "With the whole plan, devising and communicating, we have been busy for sure and a half years until the first central meeting with the three hundred managers from throughout the Netherlands. We have now had all the executives for the fourth time together, in the three years that I'm here. Four sessions to talk to everyone to enthuse and keep connected. To explain that the economic situation is not helps, david culver but we have the right direction. That there down the tunnel really shines. It is a very personal message: I give them that hope, I sell them that dream. That also means the responsibility to make. "In which
Where does this idea come from? "It's based on my experiences at branches of Makro parent company and Me