MANY PEOPLE ARE DELIGHTED WITH THIS CONCEPT BECAUSE IT’S ALWAYS A MYSTERY AS TO WHICH DEPARTMENT THEY WILL NETWORK WITH ON THE DAY.
It’s as simple as it is ingenious: Mystery Coffee. Behind this name is a new opportunity to network within the BLANC & FISCHER Family Holding corporate groups. The particular highlight is that employees get to meet different colleagues from all over the world.
It couldn’t be any simpler: After signing in, the system randomly picks a colleague who you can then meet for a virtual coffee or, if possible, in person. The process is rather reminiscent of a blind date – except not with a potential partner, but with colleagues from different divisions, locations, and Group companies.
This not only allows participants to refresh their language skills, but also to learn about other cultures and ways of working that exist within the Group. Employees of B.PRO GmbH in Oberderdingen exchange ideas with colleagues from E.G.O. Nihon Co. Ltd., Kobe, in Japan, get insights into the daily work there, and learn more about the jobs, roles, and tasks of the different departments.
Employees around the world are enthusiastic about Mystery Coffee, and feedback has been consistently positive. Many people are delighted with this concept because it’s always a mystery as to which department they will network with on the day.
It certainly brings the large BLANC & FISCHER family even closer together. A strong network is important, especially in times when colleagues cannot meet face-to-face every day to talk. Thinking outside the box is also important to better understand internal processes and decisions. So, when will you meet a colleague for a (virtual) coffee break?
What’s the employees’ take?
HEIDE ASH,
BLANCO America Inc., Lumberton, USA
Blanc und Fischer Corporate Services GmbH & Co. KG,
Oberderdingen, Germany
“Mystery Coffee is a great way to grow your network in the BLANC & FISCHER Family Holding. Our Group of companies is present in 24 countries and has around 9,000 employees – in other words, a large family in three different time zones. This is a very useful, safe, and simple tool for staying in touch within this family. I’ve often been drawn for random Mystery Coffees and have been able to meet employees from E.G.O. locations, BLANCO Canada Inc., Toronto, and BLANC & FISCHER Corporate Services. It’s an inspiring platform for all of us, and I can only recommend it!”
ERDEM BULUT,
E.G.O. Elektrikli Aletler Sanayi A.S.,
Ergene, Turkey
RÜDIGER KÖGEL,
BLANCO GmbH + Co KG,
Sulzfeld, Germany
“Mystery Coffee is a wonderful platform for meeting great people and learning about their jobs or hobbies – and across the whole Group. I remember one Mystery Coffee, in particular, where I chatted with a colleague from Oberderdingen. We ended up talking about events and had the same idea that a little Christmas market could be created around neXus for all employees of the BLANC & FISCHER Family Holding to enjoy.”
“Mystery Coffee couldn’t be more apt at the moment! It enables personal exchanges with colleagues from a wide range of divisions or other Group companies without the need for business interfaces. This offers a good opportunity to network within the entire family holding and make new contacts – a great modern networking tool!”
ISABELL HUBER,
E.G.O. Elektro-Gerätebau GmbH,
Oberderdingen, Germany
BERND SCHÜTZ,
Blanc und Fischer IT Services GmbH,
Oberderdingen, Germany
“No matter how much the opportunity for virtual collaboration helps us to make the most of the current situation, social contacts and interpersonal exchanges are just as lost as the many scheduled content-related appointments we usually attend. Mystery Coffee offers a deliberate way to counter this trend. It’s a great opportunity to consciously take time to get to know people. This will also make it easier for us to work together again later on in a business context. True to the adage ‘Trust reduces complexity’. Thanks to Mystery Coffee, I’ve already been able to meet some colleagues with different backgrounds – and thus get to know them better. I was very pleased about every conversation and exchange. I’ve been part of this initiative from the very beginning, and I’m still excited to discover who I can meet at the next session.”
Because health matters most
The BLANC & FISCHER Family Holding has been relying on a diverse range of health services in its company groups for years, and this range is regularly expanded and adapted to the wishes of its employees.
