My working day: – Increased pace and short-term gains
– An ever-increasing pace and spotlight on short-term gains are the biggest challenges now, says chief safety representative Ola Laukeland Knapstad in Nordea.
Name / role / place of work / age:
Ola Laukeland Knapstad, 34 years old, chief safety representative and full-time shop steward at Nordea.
Coffee or tea?
Coffee, black. I have never understood anything special about tea.
What do you have on the bedside table?
Dominus: A novel about the Roman Empire by Steven Saylor, the cell phone and my faithful water bottle.
When in the morning do you start thinking about jobs?
Takes a quick look in the mailbox and calendar on my mobile when I wake up. Have prepared myself for today’s agenda before I go to bed, so it’s just to see if anything new has come in and to freshen up a bit.
How does the corona outbreak affect your workday?
As the chief safety representative, there have been countless meetings in the crisis management team and various and new situations that have been handled. Apart from this, my everyday work has probably been affected in the same way as many others with a home office over long periods. Personally, I like working in the office best. Have missed the daily conversation with colleagues, both professionally and not.
Tell about an incident at work that you remember particularly well
When I fell asleep for the morning flight to Copenhagen where I was to attend a Nordic all-day meeting. It’s a few years ago and it was not a pleasant experience. Instead, it became a full-day meeting on Skype too much that day. Fortunately, that has not happened again.
What is the most fun thing you do at work?
To help my colleagues contribute to as good a working day as possible for the employees. Find good solutions in difficult situations.
What do you do to stay up to date in an industry with big changes?
Reads Finansfokus and keeps much updated in general through news images and through discussions with colleagues and managers. Also participates in various courses and conferences through Finansforbundet.
If you could digitize any work task, what would you choose?
Minutes and protocols.
What are the biggest challenges in the financial industry right now (in general and where you work)?
An ever-increasing pace and spotlight on short-term gains. We are in a transition and are dependent on a certain pace to adapt, but we have time and must take the time to make this transition in a good way.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Read books, watch a good movie, eat good food and be with friends and family. Preferably after a run. I love to live in peace and it always tastes best after a run.
Who inspires you and how / why?
Leaders who see the people behind the employees and as understanding and willingness to handle the different life situations employees are in and who do what they can to play them well and lift them forward. Leaders who see solutions in challenges, and do not focus on problems.
What makes you stop on social media?
Very little really. Tends to get caught up in such video carousels with funny clips. An hour disappears quite quickly without you noticing it.
What is the longest you have managed to be without your mobile?
I do not know. Have not tried to be outside for long periods, but have probably happened that it has gone up to a day without having been through it.
When do you log off for the evening?
In terms of work, I round off when I close the laptop, usually in the 16/17 time. Apart from that, I can drop by the inbox on mobile once or twice during the evening to see if anything important has come up. Take one last look at the calendar to prepare for tomorrow, before I go to bed in the evening, between 22 – 00 once.