“A constructive attitude is always rewarded”

One wave has just passed, and another one is coming. And no, this is not about surfing, but about the complex world in which we operate as floriculture entrepreneurs. Major challenges follow one after the other. How do you keep yourself afloat? Good leadership is a solution, says professor and advisor Freek Peters (Tilburg University and Galan Group). “Essentially, leadership is about getting things done, together.”

A leader is the person whose name appears as director or manager on his or her business card, right?

“That has traditionally been the case. One leader who directs everything from above. We call that the lion on the rock. Nowadays, that is no longer tenable. In principle, anyone can be a leader. A leader stands alongside the people in the organization instead of above them. It is simply no longer the case that people will do something because you say so. Now you motivate in this way because you work on solutions together.”

We growers are now doing business in complex times. Isn't that when a firm hand is needed?

“The opposite is true. Suppose you tell your crop manager that he should do his job better so that fewer pesticides are needed. That will probably result in him digging his heels in. It is better to start by investing in trust. Let your crop manager know that you will get this done together. You don't just communicate that feeling by saying it, but mainly by doing it. For example, by thinking about a new cultivation plan together. That way you show that you mean business. And if there are any unpleasant issues, just be transparent about them. Don't beat around the bush. Instead, say: we are facing this challenge, how can we work together to solve it as best as possible?

As a leader, you will encounter all kinds of things along the way that distract you from your goal. How do you deal with that?

“The second important characteristic of a leader is what I call cheerful resilience. It means that you remain positive, even when things go wrong or turn out differently than expected. A mentality of: come on, let's get to work. Take the war in Ukraine, for example. It had and continues to have a significant impact on many floriculture entrepreneurs. As a leader, you can be angry about that. But that achieves nothing. It is very important not to sit back and do nothing. That also demands something of your strategic ability. Of course you have a goal in mind: you want to grow certain plants or flowers, ensure certain sales, keep customers satisfied, achieve healthy product revenues. The road to get there is probably not a straight one. And that is where another important characteristic of a leader comes in: adaptability. Keeping your eye on the goal and accepting that the route there can be winding. You prepare for that. For example, by working with the organization to outline a range of scenarios: what do we do if new rules are introduced, if costs rise significantly or if we no longer export abroad as much as expected? That makes you more resilient in such a complex world. And it strengthens mutual trust.”

Are these leadership qualities only useful for us as entrepreneurs, or also for Royal FloraHolland as a cooperative?

“Absolutely. As a rule, I see that cooperatives are doing very well. But the fact remains that in such a rapidly changing world, you can never please everyone. Then it is important to act fairly as a leader and therefore as a cooperative. That means representing everyone's interests. I sometimes say that a cooperative does well when everyone is equally dissatisfied. That may sound silly, but what I mean is that you share the burden and are transparent about it. In the end, that is what a cooperative is all about. My message is: we live in a complex world. That requires a constructive attitude from leaders and members alike. Such an attitude is always rewarded.

This is an article from the Royal FloraHolland Members' Newspaper. You can read the rest of the Members' Newspaper here in digital form: The Members' Newspaper