Sense of effort, endless work and the choice to stay — Arthur Mathias

Arthur Mathias spent more than 13 years at Procter & Gamble where he started his career as an assistant brand manager and then worked his way up to Carrefour Global Sales Senior Director for Europe and Asia. He then joined Mondelez International as Head of Sales France.

Arthur shares his thoughts on human challenges in businesses. In its methodological structure, it addresses the importance of belonging, the value of work, and the impact of technologies. His vision, nourished by a rich background in marketing and sales, offers valuable insights for HR professionals. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to developments: “You have to be ready to evolve with the changes and challenges of the market.”

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Outline of the episode with Arthur Mathias

00' — Introduction
02'32 — Three human challenges of the future for organizations
03'23 — Sense of belonging and effort
07'15 — The endless work
09'15 — Managing work overload well
13'34 — Human and business challenges
15:37 — Cultural attraction
17:26 — The deliberate choice to stay
19'09 — Improving talent retention
23'41 — The individualized course
25'20 — Diversity and inclusion: the LEAD Network
28'44 — Belief and vision
33'18 — the importance of follow-up
34'30 — The age of talent

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Part 1: Sense of Belonging

Arthur Mathias underlines the importance of a sense of belonging in companies. He says, “A sense of belonging is crucial for employee engagement,” and explores strategies to strengthen that feeling, stressing the importance of creating community within the company.

It is crucial for him to foster an environment where each employee feels valued and involved. This includes implementing diversity and inclusion policies, developing training and development programs that meet the needs of all employees, and promoting open and honest communication. It is also important to encourage collaboration and teamwork, while recognizing and celebrating individual and collective achievements. Management's commitment to supporting these initiatives is critical to their success.

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Part 2: Value of Work

Arthur discusses the value of work and its evolution, noting that: “Today, the meaning of effort and the value of work are perceived differently.”

It highlights the challenge of maintaining a strong work ethic while respecting the personal aspirations of employees. To maintain a strong work ethic, it is important to develop a culture where excellence and dedication are valued and recognized. This can be translated by imagining that it involves clearly defining expectations, encouraging autonomy and accountability, and establishing recognition mechanisms that celebrate efforts and successes.

A healthy work-life balance should also be encouraged to avoid burnout and maintain constant motivation.

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Part 3: Technologies and Work

Regarding the impact of technology, Arthur observes: “Technology is changing the nature of work, but it should not lead to endless work.”

He discusses the balance needed between taking advantage of technology and maintaining work-life balance.

To find a balance between taking advantage of technology and maintaining work-life balance, it is essential to take a measured approach. This includes establishing clear policies on the use of technology, promoting good practices for disconnecting, and encouraging a work environment where technology is a tool for efficiency and not a source of constant stress. It is also important to make employees aware of how to manage their time and the importance of maintaining moments of rest and relaxation.

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Arthur Mathias's advice

• Encourage entrepreneurship within the company: Offering employees the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial projects within their function, creates a balance between company expertise and the excitement of entrepreneurship, and improves team engagement.
• Define and embody a shared vision: ensure that all employees understand the long-term vision of the company, including aspects other than just business. Measuring employee belief in the organization's ability to achieve this vision is critical.
• Invest in talent, regardless of age: Prioritize talent development by investing in training, even for experienced employees.

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The quotes from the episode

• “For me, talent is not a question of age. You can also have talents who have a lot of experience, that doesn't prevent anything. Talent comes first and it can be people who have been in business for 30 years.”
• “You always have to ask yourself, do you prefer to have employees who are there out of habit, out of comfort, or do you prefer to have employees who have made the choice to stay every year and who have come up full speed for the year to come?”
• “Listening to the desires of your employees in their desire for a more or less diversified career does not mean being comfortable. It does not mean to compromise at all costs.”

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Key points to remember

The key points to remember from Arthur Mathias's speech in the podcast address essential themes for HR professionals: the sense of belonging, the value of work and the balance with technology. Arthur highlights the importance of creating a sense of belonging within organizations to strengthen employee engagement. This approach is fundamental to developing a strong corporate culture and a motivating work environment.

When it comes to the value of work, Arthur recognizes the current challenges associated with balancing work ethics and the personal aspirations of employees. In a world where work expectations are changing, it is crucial to find a balance that respects both business goals and employee well-being.

Finally, for the balance between technology and personal life, Arthur highlights the need to take advantage of technology while maintaining work-life balance. This means using technological tools wisely, without allowing them to excessively encroach on the personal lives of employees.

These points, while critical for human resource management, require a nuanced and thoughtful approach. As Arthur Mathias points out, it is important to adapt to changes, while maintaining the fundamental aspects of work and the well-being of employees.

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Conclusion

The discussion with Arthur Mathias in the podcast offers valuable perspectives for HR professionals. Through his observations on the meaning of belonging, the value of work and the impact of technology, Arthur highlights key issues for contemporary organizations.

These key points invite critical thinking about how HR strategies can be adapted to meet the challenges of a constantly changing business environment. They raise important questions about the adaptability of HR practices, the effective integration of technology without compromising employee well-being, and the strengthening of belonging and engagement in an increasingly flexible and decentralized work environment.

Arthur's intervention thus opens up a field of exploration for HR professionals, encouraging them to rethink their strategies and practices to stay in line with the changing expectations of employees and changes in the labor market.
To follow Arthur Mathias, find him on Linkedin.

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Watch the episode with Arthur Mathias on YouTube

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