Language in the workplace
Extra appreciation is a wonderful side effect
Blokker
Conversations run more smoothly and team leaders have more direct contact with their employees. These are the results of the training courses that TopTaal organized at Blokker over the past year. Merel Aaldering from Blokker looks back on the process with satisfaction.
Blokker Holding is a Dutch retail group with four store formulas. The Dutch stores are supplied from the distribution center in Geldermalsen. The e-commerce distribution center is located in Gouda, from where internet orders received via the webshop are prepared for shipment. To optimize the work processes in the distribution centers, good communication on the shop floor is of great importance. That is why Blokker approached TopTaal to analyze the language requirements on the shop floor and subsequently develop a tailored training program.
They visited us and joined us on the shop floor
Merel Aaldering explains: 'Blokker as an organization is undergoing significant change. This means that the management style is also evolving. In that light, we took a close look at the way our managers currently lead their people and also at what is desirable for the future. We launched a project for this some time ago. What we want is for team leaders to engage in better conversations with their team members. They must be able to conduct a dialogue about more personal subjects. "Are you enjoying your work? What challenges are you facing? What obstacles do you encounter? And how can you better organize your work?" These are questions that we find increasingly important within Blokker. Assistant team leaders must also be able to do this in the long term.'
Shop floor
The Polish temporary workers that Blokker frequently works with often had difficulty finding the right words. Therefore, Blokker organized a course for five Polish assistant team leaders together with TopTaal. Themes that were addressed included speaking in front of a group and expanding vocabulary. In addition, special attention was paid to conveying a message and giving positive feedback. Because the training used Blokker's own documents, the examples directly related to the students' daily practice.
Merel finds working with TopTaal very pleasant. 'They visited us and joined us on the shop floor. By immersing themselves in the language that our Polish assistant team leaders need, they were able to put together a customized program. The teacher looked closely at the needs of each student. Interactive exercises ensured that the lessons did not become boring. The participants have completed the language track. That was also very nice, with flowers and a personal word from the teacher. We now see that their speaking skills have improved significantly. With the training, we have given our Polish colleagues the opportunity to develop. The fact that they feel extra appreciated as a result is a wonderful side effect.'