Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Andrzej Butra, Managing Partner of Workplace Team, located in Kraków, Poland.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am in two business areas, namely training and workplace advisory. The former comprises training, coaching, and mentoring face2face and online of managers, customer service, and sales teams, as well as running strategic and design thinking workshops. Within the workplace advisory area, I focus on workplace strategy, i.e., co-create the strategy of the workplace based on research. In order to better define the direction of changes, and the needs of particular departments or development buffers, we strive to get to know a given organization very well. This leads to creating suitable office space requirements adjusted to the needs of many employees. An office that is based on a Workplace Strategy is also an effective tool for realizing the company's business strategy.

Tell us about yourself

I worked for a number of global organizations and always felt there was something more in the game than just being a cog in the wheel. My background is training, and this is where my interest in the human being stems from. I love working and supporting people to develop, discover themselves and flourish at many levels, professionally, individually, and even spiritually. As I have worked for and with many companies, I have gained profound experience in how to build processes and teams. I think that supporting new leaders to thrive makes me really happy.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think the greatest satisfaction is that people come back to me because they trust me and want to go into new projects as they know that I will put my heart into every task I undertake. When looking at my accomplishments, I think the most interesting ones originate from people doing Harrison Assessment behavioral tests, and this opens a path to growth through coaching sessions. Another area is being able to initiate cultural changes in a large company. This really makes me proud to see a transformation process in a company that leads to a greater focus on employees and not just profit. With focus placed on people, companies start to grow, and this is cool.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I think it is a challenge to find and have the right people around. Then building your network. Another thing is always remembering a greater goal. I love Viktor Frankl's statement:

"Success, like happiness, cannot be pursued. It must ensue. And it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen".

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. It may be easy or not, but do try; you may fail, but at least you have tried. If you fail, then get up and try again and again. Just don't give up. It's all about the path of discovering what is important to oneself.
  2. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Those who will lift, support, and inspire you in difficult moments.
  3. Find time to listen to your heart (this is where you will find who you truly are and want).
  4. And by this, I mean to find time to find the balance between work and life

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://workplaceteam.pl/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrzej-butra-98abab40/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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