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David Joosten , CEO of Vodafone US , tells Business Chief how organisations have the chance to build a trusting and empowering relationship between employer and employees
WRITTEN BY : KATE BIRCH
Listen more than you speak ’ is a leadership mantra David Joosten , CEO and President of Vodafone US , lives by . And it ’ s a mantra that has served him well during his more than 20 years as a leader in IT and telecoms , and especially over the last few years of leading people remotely .
David tells Business Chief that during the pandemic , keeping people motivated and connected was the main priority at Vodafone , as well as being empathic to their situation . “ Communication was critical , listening to people key , and coming out of the pandemic , I certainly learned how to do this more effectively and collaboratively ,” he says .
This is just one of many silver linings David attributes to the pandemic . While acknowledging that the last few years have been tough and that challenges remain , he says the pandemic has provided an “ opportunity to change how we work ” and “ how and where we will collaborate with each other in the future ”.
David believes hybrid work and flexible hours are here to stay , and that getting it right will be a continuous learning curve and challenge for business leaders and IT teams – but a huge opportunity too .
“ In the future , organisations should prioritise flexibility , remove location as a role requirement ( where possible ), use better digital tools to support in-person and virtual collaboration and innovation , and creatively evolve office space to help these ways of working ,” he argues .
While Vodafone was an early adopter of flexible working many years ago , the company is taking its learnings from the pandemic and gathering input from its employees worldwide on what to do next , noting that what started as an experiment is now the norm .
“ Greater flexibility in working location supports our unique culture at Vodafone , giving individuals and teams the freedom to tailor the way they work based on customer and personal needs .
72 September 2022