“The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have never viewed the world.”
This quote is often attributed to Alexander von Humboldt. I find it so fitting because I constantly encounter executives and top managers who have no real idea about their customers or the important jobs their employees do. They make decisions for a world they only know second-hand.
A picture-book story: The top CEO announces their visit. What happens next? The red carpet is rolled out. The finest food is served. Laughter fills the air, and every wrinkle in the company is smoothed out for the visit. Oh, how perfectly everything seems to shine and run!
But what if this top CEO were to visit their own company incognito—without anyone knowing who they are? Have they ever spoken with customers who didn’t know their title? Have they ever taken the time to experience their own products or services from a customer’s perspective? Have they personally tested the ordering process, the delivery service, or the complaints procedure?
Because, honestly, I sometimes wonder who makes the decisions at the top of some companies. Too often, everything revolves around maximizing profit. The people—whether employees or customers—don’t seem to matter to these decision-makers. Services are cut more and more, quality declines, but hey, as long as the numbers look good, the money keeps flowing.
For now. Because people are tired of being fooled.
Do you work in a Caring Company? A company that genuinely cares about your well-being? Where you are valued as a person? Or have you been just an employee number for years, categorized and managed like a statistic?
The future belongs to companies that recognize and support the human being behind the employee. I see this so clearly in the companies I visit for my talks—where it works, the company culture is fantastic, even if the economy is struggling.
I was reminded of this once again during one of our ship journeys. Doreen, the General Manager of Mein Schiff 3, came up with a wonderful initiative for the guests:
Our route took us from Bremerhaven to Barbados and back. She had the total nautical miles calculated, divided them by the number of guests, and translated that into the number of laps needed on the ship’s Deck 14 running track. And guess what? It was theoretically possible!
So, she put out a call to all passengers. Suddenly, there was a clear and exciting goal that everyone could contribute to—no matter their pace. Every lap counted. From the captain to the kitchen apprentices, from children to seniors—everyone ran, lap after lap, day after day, towards this shared goal. Some ran many laps, some just a few. But every single person who completed at least one lap received a certificate.
The result? The whole ship became more active than ever before. Everyone had fun, and many guests encouraged others to join in. In the end, out of over 2,500 guests, only a small double-digit number didn’t walk a single lap. And yes—we actually achieved our goal!
Can you take your employees on a journey like this in your company? A journey that makes sense, brings joy, and benefits everyone—not just the numbers?
Because leadership doesn’t start at the top—it starts at the very bottom. Understand the intern, take a close look at your customers, and ask them the right questions. Because your own opinion about your company often differs dramatically from theirs.
Turn your company into a Caring Company. My talks and workshops will definitely help you with that.
