Team Spirit at DPD - Interview with Tilmann, Ilka and Drilon

At DPD, team spirit is at the heart of the company’s success. This interview offers a closer look at how a strong sense of unity and trust enables employees to collaborate effectively, fostering a positive and motivated work environment. Through the perspectives of three different individuals, Drilon (ICT learner), Ilka (Teamleader Central OPS Support) and Tilmann (Chief Executive Officer), we gain insight into how shared values and collective goals contribute to a workplace where everyone is driven to contribute and succeed together.

DPD: “What does “team spirit” mean to you?”

Drilon : “For me, team spirit is all about respecting each other and communicating openly. If you don’t have that spirit, group work simply doesn’t work. It’s also that sense of unity where everyone has the same goal and works together seamlessly. Team spirit creates a positive atmosphere where everyone feels appreciated and motivated to contribute to the team’s success. It’s really what makes working together more effective and enjoyable.”

DPD: “Can you give a concrete example of how team spirit has made a difference in your day-to-day work?”

Drilon : “In my case, team spirit has really made a difference in my day-to-day work. We have very collegial relationships, and we don’t just talk about work, but also about personal matters. For example, if someone is ill, we check in to see how they’re doing, which strengthens the bonds and mutual support within the team. What’s more, as I’m still at school, I’m up to date with the latest theoretical knowledge, which means I can help my colleagues on subjects they may have forgotten since they’re no longer students. In return, they help me with more practical questions that I haven’t yet had a chance to deal with. This reciprocal collaboration allows us to learn more every day.”

DPD: “How do you think DPD fosters collaboration and mutual support among colleagues?”

Tilmann : “At DPD, everything is based on trust, which we have built up from day one. We believe in the potential of every employee and allow mistakes, because without this freedom, there can be no initiative or self-improvement. Since 2016, we have been deploying a culture that promotes empowerment: the idea is that by feeling useful and supported, our employees can invest themselves fearlessly in their work and find themselves fully involved in the company’s overall objectives.

Listening and communication are essential. As soon as I arrived, I took the time to listen to and involve the teams before finalizing our strategy. Unambiguous communication (open, transparent and clear) builds trust, empowers teams and creates an environment where everyone, at every level, feels respected, listened to and involved.

We also value the diversity of our ideas, allowing our diverse personalities to express themselves. Our teams know how to confront their ideas in a respectful way to find solutions together, leaving their egos aside to focus on the collective interest. Finally, talent alone is not enough to come and work with us. Attitude and the ability to blend in with our team are more important than talent.

As a leader, I also believe in the importance of leading by example: communicating openly, recognizing what isn’t working and, with humility, listening rather than talking and asking for advice when you don’t know. I like the idea that if the CEO is the smartest person around the table, it’s because he hasn’t recruited his teams properly.

Finally, I think a shared vision is essential. We have set a clear course that speaks to everyone: firstly, to “conquer the hearts of the Swiss”, and today to embody our vision of “Progress in Motion, People at Heart”. It’s thanks to this vision, a strong culture and a stable management team since 2016, that we’re making progress every day.”

DPD: “What are the times or projects where you have felt a strong team spirit at DPD?”

Ilka : “At DPD, I felt a strong team spirit on several projects, notably the Ops Control Tower, a strategic project, on which I am currently working, where everyone actively collaborates. I worked closely with the IT department, the Data group, and Hasan, the Senior Project Manager, who were all very supportive. The team shares ideas to constantly improve the dashboard, with new functionalities. Our collaboration is fluid thanks to a group chat on Teams, where I can contact my colleagues at any time without waiting for a meeting, except for specific subjects. For me, the key element remains trust: we have the freedom to work without being micro-managed, and everyone knows exactly what to do, which makes teamwork even more effective.”

DPD: “What initiatives or practices at DPD reinforce this Team spirit within the company?”

Ilka : “I think there are several practices at DPD that reinforce team spirit on a daily basis. The events organized by the company are perfect for forging links and creating a friendly atmosphere. But for me, the key is people: everyone is friendly and open, which encourages exchanges, mutual help and natural collaboration. I’ve been working at DPD for several years, and I remember that Tilmann’s arrival marked a real turning point, with his vision focused on recruiting profiles that embody this openness and collaborative spirit. Last but not least, the emphasis on constructive discussions, even when there are disagreements, to find common solutions, goes a long way towards reinforcing this team dynamic.”

DPD: “How does team spirit vary between different levels of the organization (OPS, managers, employees)?”

Tilmann : “Team spirit at DPD is based on genuine mutual support between all the company’s divisions. During the peak season, for example, employees from different departments joined the depots to help sort parcels. During the pandemic, the sales team, in addition to managing its own customers, supported the customer service department, overwhelmed by the increase in requests. This illustrates our culture of mutual aid. We’ve gone from a culture where “it’s not my job to help others” to one where everyone pitches in to achieve common goals.

Fundamentally, the team spirit remains unchanged, based on trust, open communication, respect and collaboration around collective rather than individual objectives. However, this spirit varies in form. We recruit a wide range of profiles and personalities to enable each individual to express his or her uniqueness. Everyone transmits this spirit in their own way: I shared my vision with the board and the managers, who assimilated it in their own way before transmitting it to their teams with their own personality and sensibility. This is also how we respect everyone’s skills, allowing them to contribute to the team spirit with authenticity, while remaining aligned with our shared values.”

DPD: “What are the challenges of maintaining a strong team spirit in a large company like DPD, and how are they overcome ?”

Ilka : “I think it’s about continuing to recruit people who share the right values, such as openness, mutual aid and collaboration. Otherwise, there’s a risk of everyone working on their own, without really getting involved in the team. The recruitment phase is very important. Personally, I try to get to know the candidates’ personalities as quickly as possible, sometimes relying on instinct. The most important thing is to choose people who are open-minded, ready to collaborate and contribute to the team’s success. I really believe that it’s by paying attention to recruitment and cultivating a real culture of exchange and collaboration that we manage to keep a strong team spirit at DPD, even with the size of the company.”

DPD: “In your opinion, how does DPD encourage collaboration and support between colleagues?”

Drilon : “I think DPD doesn’t encourage collaboration and support between colleagues in just one way. For example, they organize company events that allow us to get to know each other better and create links beyond work, which strengthens team spirit. There are also team dinners, which help strengthen relationships and make collaboration easier and more natural. DPD also encourages us to work closely with other departments, to better understand how each team contributes to the objectives. And finally, the most important thing for me is that our managers give us a lot of freedom and responsibility. I think this mutual trust allows us to feel really involved and motivated in achieving common goals, and therefore in teamwork in general.”

DPD: “Which of DPD’s core values are reflected in team spirit?”

Tilmann : “Team spirit is at the heart of our culture at DPD, and I’m proud to see our human values fully reflected in it: mutual aid, solidarity, respect and a sense of sacrifice (knowing how to prioritize the common interest over one’s own). These principles guide our day-to-day actions and enable us to move forward together, with a collective commitment that is our strength. It is thanks to this spirit that we continue to meet challenges and achieve our common goals.”