Summer greetings: A break with perspective

Dear colleagues,

Summer is approaching – and it's time for a real break.

We work in an industry where the pace is high, the pressure of expectations is massive and with a finish line that is always on the move. KPIs, customer meetings and deliveries fill our everyday lives, and it can often feel like we never quite reach our goal.

But even the strongest teams need breathing space – not only to be able to perform, but for both the individual and the team to find themselves and each other again.

So take a break. A break from the daily demands and deadlines. A break from the customers. Give yourself permission to recharge – not to give more afterwards, but to come back with renewed perspective.

Look up. Look far. Put on the thousand-kilometre gaze. Look beyond the horizon – beyond tasks and deadlines – take deep breaths and feel what really matters. Enjoy a good meal with friends or family. Slow down. Enjoy togetherness where nothing needs to be measured, weighed or documented. At least that's what I'm going to do.

Room for people

In a world filled with exciting efficiency agendas, it can be beneficial for me to seek the contrasts. And recently I attended a lecture on regenerative leadership, which really inspired me. At its core, it's about running businesses sustainably while maintaining business momentum and profitability.

An image that stuck with me in particular was the story of Skjern Å. In the 1960s, the river was straightened out in the name of efficiency and streamlining. It made sense in a world with a constant search for increased speed, optimization and the desire to 'win' a never-ending competition. But something was lost. Nature lost its power and complexity. 25 years later, it was decided to rewind the river to restore life, balance and direction.

That's exactly what regenerative leadership is all about: creating space for life. Not just for production, but for well-being and people.

Let's remember that when the holidays are just around the corner, but not least when we return after the summer holidays. Let us remember to continue to enjoy the good colleagueship. Spending time talking to each other. To share experiences from the summer over a cup of coffee or on a little walk in the open air.

Cultivate the community of colleagues

For us at Finansforbundet in Nordea, the meaningful working life is about more than a never-ending race against the other banks. It is also about taking care of ourselves and each other. About developing ourselves as people – and about cultivating the community of colleagues that makes it all worthwhile.

Have a great summer 🌿

Kasper Skovgaard Pedersen
President of Finansforbundet in Nordea

"Life is more than just speeding up."
– Mahatma Gandhi