19. Automation Solutions CEO of the Year 2024: Ralf Matthews communication is nurtured, with Ralf sound in the knowledge that, “employees who are not afraid to ask questions tend to perform better.” As a part of this open communicationcentric atmosphere, Ralf is the first to admit it when he makes any mistakes, setting an example that he hopes everyone within his workforce will be quick to follow on the odd occasion where an issue may arise. Another notable element of a good leader is striking that balance between leading and allowing teams to work independently, as when it is achieved, this winning combination is instrumental in fostering continuous growth. Promoting such successes remains key as Ralf looks forward in his own career, telling us, “my career is secondary to the company’s goals”, with this CEO remaining steadfast in his commitment to his company and its people. Although such dedication will prove equally beneficial for Ralf as it will paint him in a fantastic light, that is not why he strives for excellence, rather, he has always favoured the success of the collective over his own personal goals, confident in the belief that no one person can be bigger than a company. Ralf eloquently puts it like this, “the company is the goal, not the person.” To aid him in explaining this philosophy, Ralf provides an extended metaphor, all based around the team effort involved in recognising the triumph of an individual. Ralf details a grand orchestra, explaining that people who complement each other feed into a wider collective that is ultimately bigger than themselves. Take a trombone, for example. On its own, a trombone sounds rather dull, but when it is combined with four others, it sounds much better and creates a melody. These trombones can thus be read as a team or department, and when the trombones are united with the rest of an orchestra, in this case the wider organisation, a symphony is heard, with the results being an overarching sense of enthusiasm. It is the job of the conductor to bring all this together, and although he may stand at the front, he is nothing without the fantastic instruments that produce these wonderful sounds. Ralf states, “success is achieved through the interaction of everyone involved, [with this] resulting in a successful conductor.” Ralf’s acknowledgement of the importance of this united approach alone speaks volumes about how he views himself and his team as being on an even playing field and part of something bigger, and he is more than happy to play this role of conductor. Steve Jobs famously referred to himself as leading the orchestra, a favourable comparison that Elco Industrie Automation GmbH’s Ralf Williams is happy to entertain. Contact Details Contact: Ralf Matthews Company: Elco Industrie Automation GmbH Web Address: www.elco-automation.de
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