In this episode, Rufus talks with Carsten Gratopp about his role as a change manager at Thomas and about how to get people on board with change — whether at work or in handball.
Carsten Gratopp is a Senior Supply Chain Consultant at Thomas. Thirty years ago, he completed his apprenticeship as an industrial clerk at the company. But the podcast focuses on a different role: as a change manager, Carsten also oversees change processes within the company.
It’s an important task. After all, we live in a time of constant change. Some welcome change. Others tend to see the risks. What’s particularly important to Carsten: Both perspectives are absolutely valid.
When he’s brought into a project and has completed his initial analyses, he therefore speaks with both sides—the advocates and the skeptics. Always strictly confidential. On the one hand, to give space to different perspectives so that everyone feels heard and included. On the other hand, to honestly assess the risks of a project. “Having a certain amount of skepticism and addressing concerns is good!” he says. After all, it serves no one’s interests if you only realize after the project is completed that you’ve overlooked something.
Empathy and confidentiality are essential for a task like this. Carsten listens attentively to concerns and problems, always maintains a neutral stance, and acts as a mediator. Among the most rewarding moments, he says, is when two people realize that their viewpoints aren’t as far apart as they initially thought. And, of course, when a path is found that everyone can follow. After all, only the destination is set—and often, there are multiple routes leading there.
In his free time, Carsten used to play handball. Today, he coaches the A-youth team. And here, too, he says, change is a constant companion. Today’s youngsters will be tomorrow’s veterans. Every season, he explains, it’s important to make adjustments, pay attention to concerns and needs, and treat everyone with trust.
If you want to know more — like what a SWOT analysis is and how Carsten used it with his A-youth team, what his motto is, what else he does in his free time, and what his favorite snack is — just hit the play button!
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