50 Humboldt Founders at Hallesches Haus on a Wednesday evening.
That was the scene on October 18, 2023, when the annual Founders Feast of the Humboldt Founders Club took place. Alongside exchange and networking, HR expert Dr. Adiba Maignan and psychologist Dr. Elisa Lopper gave talks. Adiba spoke about the Dos and Don’ts of the Employee Lifecycle, while Elisa discussed Job Crafting. We spoke with both of them about their insights.
Hello Adiba, what mistakes do founders make regarding the “Employee Lifecycle”?
Adiba: The most common mistake founders make is that they don’t take the topic of “People & Culture” into account from the very beginning. There are many mistakes that could easily be avoided if, as a founding team or founder, I asked myself early on: What should our culture look like? Which HR processes do we need? What should we develop at each stage? This way, when growth happens, I can rely on solid processes.
Do you have a specific tip you’d like to give founders that they can use right from the start?
Adiba: I would always advise considering the Employee Lifecycle from the very beginning and evaluating it at regular intervals to check: Are we well prepared for the next phase of our company? Do we have everything we need? Are we well equipped?
Hello Elisa, what exactly is Job Crafting?
Elisa: Job Crafting is a bottom-up redesign of work that employees initiate themselves. That means they try to change or adapt their work or certain aspects of their job according to their own needs or preferences.
What’s your experience? Are employers already prepared to engage with this topic?
Elisa: Absolutely. At least, they should be. I think it’s more of a necessity. So the question isn’t really whether they already are, because given circumstances like changes in the world of work, employee expectations, or the shortage of skilled workers, employers need to take action. They should therefore create a work environment that enables their employees to be proactive, for example in crafting their own jobs.
Thank you both for your time!
