Oldendorff Centenary Book - Flipbook - Page 59
If you had asked the 16-yearold Egon Oldendorff what he
wanted to do for a living, he
may well have said he wanted
to be a farmer.
example, spent many long hours
re-designing the sale & purchase
(S&P) database. It had to be just
so. Indeed, the design of the book
you hold in your hands was also
carefully overseen.
The layout of the new office in
Lübeck was not delegated either.
Henning personally chose all the
elements, insisting on certain
features and colour schemes.
Indeed, few people wanted to
express an opinion.
It was on the coastal flats of
Alsum, north of Bremerhaven,
that he served an apprenticeship
on his uncle’s farm, and where he
may also have seen the passing
ships and felt the calling for a
career in the maritime trade.
Frank Helinski recalls Henning
asking what he thought of the new
desks. “Very nice,” he replied. “I don’t
like the colour though.”
“You’re the only one who said that,”
Henning replied.
“Maybe I’m the only one being honest.”
Most of the time Oldendorff is a
meritocracy, where the best people
are given the most freedom. The
culture is one of freedom and
entrepreneurialism. Do as you will.
Have a nice day.
Throughout his career, he
maintained an interest – and
investment – in farms. He
would send detailed letters
with instruction on how farms
should be managed. This same
attention to detail went into
the management of his
shipping interests.
But Egon and Henning are from the
same stock and Henning’s desire
to nurture the organisation and
the people within it is immensely
important to him as an individual.
His management style is a liberal
one, but there is a perfectionist
in there too, so not everything is
delegated. And the colour of the
desks didn’t change.
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