Respect Built on Personal Reputation Simply Gets Tested

Answers to questions from Hospodářské noviny on leading people, April 2025.

What do you expect from a leader at this moment, what should they definitely have and, conversely, not have?

I consider authenticity an essential prerequisite for carrying out any activity. This applies especially to the role of managers, where it carries with it the fulfilment of expected qualities and skills, such as competence, reliability, empathy, communication skills, character, a certain commitment, mutually good energy and so on. And, of course, the necessary loyalty towards the trust placed in them.

For the sake of credibility, they should not behave differently in front of their employees and in front of their employer, not because of the employer, but for their own sake and, in the end, for the sake of everyone.

How do you manage to find such a person?

The search was and is demanding, and the qualities described are in fact somewhat characteristic of our leader, whom we approached on the basis of personal knowledge and experience of his work in a leadership position. By contrast, we are not always successful with standard recruitment of staff or through agencies. Respect built on personal reputation is simply put to the test. As it happens, most of our good workers began working with us on the basis of personal experience or some relationship.