Philip Aarsman, Business Lease: “We expect companies to outsource more the functions that are not directly connected to their core business”

“2021 has the difficult mission of making all the troubles of the past year disappear. It is not going to be easy as we come after a year of many new and extraordinary challenges that has changed our businesses routines. Therefore, it is understandable why most companies prefer to take small steps and engage less in long term projects,” Philip Aarsman, managing director Business Lease told The Diplomat-Bucharest.

“Given the complex circumstances and the multitude of factors companies need to consider, it is important for them to remain focused on what is meaningful and directly connected to their core business. We therefore expect them to outsource more the functions that are not directly connected to that.”

What do you think will be the main business drivers for business growth in your company in 2021?

2021 has the difficult mission of making all the troubles of the past year disappear. It is not going to be easy as we come after a year of many new and extraordinary challenges that has changed our businesses routines. Therefore, it is understandable why most companies prefer to take small steps and engage less in long term projects. We have always considered this need for more flexibility and this is how our product, Short Term Lease, appeared. This offers our clients the possibility to start and stop the contract when they want, while enjoying all the services an operational leasing contract accommodates.

On the other hand, given the complex circumstances and the multitude of factors companies need to consider, it is important for them to remain focused on what is meaningful and directly connected to their core business. We therefore expect them to outsource more the functions that are not directly connected to that.

Will we assist to a Great Reset-oriented strategy in business or returning to business-as-usual?

Our public and working lives have slowed down considerably in the past year. Many of us started remote work with surprising efficiency. We could spend more time with our families and gained all the time we used to spend commuting. Many of us got back to old hobbies and started cooking, painting, or gardening. This has given us a glimpse of how our life could look like in a more sustainable, slower paced environment.

Of course, there were minuses too. Home-schooling cannot be anyhow sugar-coated. It must have been a stressful experience for many parents.

The Covid-19 crisis has also shown us that we live in a deeply interconnected world. It has pointed it out clear that climate, environment, health, and prosperity are strongly connected. We can use these lessons to rethink our ways of doing business and focus on a green and sustainable recovery.

What is the flag-ship project of 2020 in your company?

We are committed to providing sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. So, helping our clients to go as green as possible will remain our focus. We constantly propose our clients solutions to make their fleets more efficient, stay up to date with the latest technologies and drive fewer polluting vehicles.

What kind of workspace culture & values is to be consolidated in your company in 2021? 

Who we are matters inside the company and out. We’ve built a corporate culture in which CARE is our constant concern. Our common goal is to be the company that embraces our clients’ and colleagues needs and anticipates the next ones. In order to achieve this, we take ownership and strive for constant improvement, we demonstrate mutual respect at all levels and go above and beyond for a smile.

What is a manager’s role and skills in order to maintain and enhance a team’s cohesion?

Team cohesion occurs when people feel connected and driven to achieve a common goal. An important role in team cohesion is maintaining the level of engagement and being able to feel that every member contributed to the success of the team. That involves mutual respect, trust that everybody is engaged at the same level, supporting each other, and working within the team with the whole in mind.

Cohesive team, though might be made up of people with diverse talents and backgrounds, are tied together by the string sense of identity drawn by our organization. They all share our values, goals and follow the same processes. The role of the manager in Business Lease is essential in bringing all these together and nurturing the feeling of belonging and responsibility within the teams.

What kind of skills and capabilities need to be improved in your company / team in 2021?

Our business is constantly evolving, we integrate new technologies, we adapt to the market demands and respond to our clients, drivers and suppliers needs. Business transformation is part of our corporate DNA. This takes people out of their comfort zone very often and can get overwhelming unless they have the commitment to constantly learn new things and communicate.

In term of general business & teams’ core-values, which are your 3 power words for 2021?

Our mission is built on three pillars that define our attitudes. Therefore “we combine our passion, care and expertise to deliver superior mobility solutions,” maintaining in the middle of all our concerns and actions our clients, our drivers, our suppliers, and our people.