Clean: Self-management and collaboration

Uncertainty is part of working life in a modern project organization like Clean. We have to deal with it, says our COO, Henrik Bjørnager.

Clean—The Danish Water and Environment Cluster is a modern workplace where employees are enthusiasts who jump from project to project and often self-lead on tasks. At the same time, we are located in five different locations across Denmark and are also present in Colombia and Brazil.

While many of us love this way of working, it can also create uncertainty and stress. Our COO Henrik Bjørnager Jensen explains:

“We are constantly in startup mode because our projects last 2-3 years. We never know if the application for the next project will go through or if we’re still on the Finance Act. This can create uncertainty for us about our role and job security.”

A new framework for collaboration

In the fall of 2023, we merged two departments in Clean and introduced more self-management and a more agile structure. Therefore, we applied for and received DKK 220,000 from Velliv Foreningen to work with well-being and mental health. The money has been used to implement the new organization and address the stress and uncertainty caused by the changes.

We held a series of workshops for managers and employees over a period of six months. Henrik Nørgaard, Project Manager and Startup Navigator, was involved in the project and says:

“In the workshop, we’ve discussed how we can strengthen each other professionally across the organization. We might forget to involve each other because we’re not physically located in the same place. Now we have a good framework for collaboration.”

Colleagues support one other

With the new “agile” organization, we in the shifting project teams must be able to manage ourselves to a greater extent. Henrik Nørgaard says that you have to have a high degree of self-management to choose Clean as a workplace:

“Self-management is a great opportunity to take control of your work and create a balance that fits your lifestyle. It’s important to remember to take breaks and prioritize self-care to maintain a healthy and productive work rhythm.”

He also explains that there is a clear attitude among management that no one wants to overload the employees. We can be busy, but only for a short period of time.

COO Henrik Bjørnager Jensen agrees and adds that it is also important that we help and support each other:

“With self-management, you also have a responsibility to ask for help if you need it. And you have a responsibility to offer your help to others.”

Getting closer to each other

One of the decisions we made during the process was to focus more on well-being in the future. Among other things, there will be 1-1 meetings between manager and employee every month and 3-4 times a year the temperature of well-being will be taken. At the same time, our COO Henrik Bjørnager Jensen experiences that the project has also made a difference for the community between us:

“Things were not discussed so much before. The program has brought us closer together and it’s easier to say things directly. No one can do without their colleagues in an organization like ours.”