The reader may be afraid to tackle an unstructured – even superficial – exchange of views between two personalities from the business world and social partnership. Benoit Bazin is the current CEO of Saint Gobain and Laurent Berger is the former Secretary General of the CFDT. From the first pages, this initial impression dissipates because the book, which is easy to read, follows a common thread that facilitates reading and forces us to reflect on the causes of French social unrest and the remedies to be applied to allow a smooth transition in a disturbed world requiring great adaptability.
From the outset, the colour is announced; successful transitions are made with the staff of the companies, who must perceive opportunities in them. To do this, rather than being threatened with job losses, employees must participate, as early as possible, in the evaluation of the expected benefits and the implementation of the necessary organizational changes.
The authors insist on the humanist values that support the “passageways” allowing the control of the conflicting slippages that are always present, but which can be mitigated by a permanent dialogue in the company, which must face exacerbated competition and increasingly demanding shareholders.
Effective communication requires solid strategic thinking at all levels of the company. This strategy must be applied to all areas of the company, both operational and functional. It is essential, as it supports both performance management and social dialogue, and allows for the sharing of the “meaning” of the company, with everyone having a clear view of their contribution to the overall strategic project. ESG objectives are part of the strategic deployment in the same way as financial or commercial objectives.
Denis Molho