For the third year in a row, DHL Express tops the list as Europeè檚 Best Multinational Workplace. With 16 of their European offices ranking on the national Great Place To Work lists, DHL Express proves that people are at the heart of their strategy.
Global CEO John Pearson and Supervisor Mohammed Aziman explain why accountability, involvement, and trust are the key to their success. And why 45,000 DHL employees in Europe feel truly heard.
è淎 short time ago on Instagram, a Navy Seal posted that the three primary values of leadership are humility, humility, and humility,è� John begins. è淟eaders need humility. About their position, about their role. That gives an immediate level of authenticity to any interaction. When I truly interact with people on the work floor, I respect the interaction by demonstrating pure authenticity and trust. Someone is always trying to rush me through these interactions to get to some meeting or another, but I know that taking a few minutes to interact can really mean a lot to people.è�
According to Mohammed, that kind of authenticity is an essential component of DHL Europeè檚 culture. è淒HL Expressè檚 leaders keep their promises, and they are respected for who they are. I feel most supported because itè檚 always about people. Iè檓 proud to feel that my colleagues can count on me. It genuinely makes me happy.è�
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As a supervisor, Mohammed knows heè檚 got a big role to play in ensuring his team never forgets they can trust him. è淭he first thing I do in the morning is greet my team. In the 12 years Iè檝e worked here, Iè檝e built very strong relationships with my colleagues, and DHL Express encourages this. The DHL formula of working è楢s Oneè� is really effective. Iè檝e seen it myself with the strong results my team has achieved. Teamwork and è楢s Oneè� are key to our success.è�
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è淎t DHL Express, Iè檓 not a number. Iè檓 a person, a face, an individual,è� Mohammed says. è淭o achieve our goal, we all have to work together and do our part, but we work with people of different nationalities, different cultures. Taking a walk through the warehouse feels like a world tour. But I havenè檛 experienced anywhere else how much our individual talents are recognised and nurtured. The trust you receive is a tremendous boost.è�
John is working towards ensuring that every employee feels that appreciation boost. è淲e always say that DHL Express needs to be a great place to work for all. Not just for some or most. For all. Itè檚 a realistic ambition, and our Appreciation Week program is just one way we try to ensure that every single DHL colleague feels seen and heard.è�
John says making sure he truly hears his employees comes from a piece of simple advice he received. è淵ouè檝e got two ears and one mouth, and you should use them in that proportion,è� he says. è淚 want to create an atmosphere in which people want to be involved. Interested in learning about the company, eager for those after-work drinks, willing to volunteer to help out with a company event, and more. Involvement builds trust. Trust is actually a very complex thing, it depends so much on who is asking for it, and whoè檚 giving it. People will only say as much as they feel theyè檙e expected or allowed to say. But when people feel comfortable saying more, youè檙e able to learn more from them.è�
è淭here are several initiatives that encourage employees to share ideas and give feedback, like the Employee Opinion Survey (EOS) and the Smart Connect employee app,è� Mohammed agrees. è淏ut the quickest way is simply to approach the responsible parties. DHL Express is open to new projects and encourages people to take initiative, so all you have to do is speak up.è�
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John explains why actions are so much more powerful than words. è淓very company says that people are at the center of everything they do. But only if you live that out authentically and can point to dozens of proof points that demonstrate it, then theyè檙e just words. Being named Europeè檚 Best Workplace for the third year in a row shows how happy our people are. Theyè檙e proud to go home and say, è業 work for the #1è�. They tell friends to come and work with us. I talk to investors and they want to hear all about our ranking and what it means. I think thereè檚 no limit to the extent to which we find the Best Workplace ranking valuable.è�
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Want to be a global leader and a Great Place To Work? Listen more than you talk. Practice authentic humility that builds trust. And make sure everyone in your organisation is celebrated for their contribution and commitment. When you truly recognise each employee as a valuable individual, youè檒l unlock their true potential. Whether youè檝e got 45 employees or 45,000.