In 2024 the joy has been even greater: we have relaunched the Universitas Leading Self programme in a face-to-face format. In addition, my mother is very happy that the campus is now here in Madrid – as we Madrilenians say – so I can sleep over at her house and we can have our little moments of quality and warmth.
At Telefónica, we connect people’s lives, to make the world more human. And in the really important moments, when it really counts, we don’t just make the grade, we really kick ass. The latest example of this is our colleagues’ response to the DANA in Valencia. Both from our operations, restoring communications so that people can communicate with their loved ones, and from the Foundation, with its many volunteer actions, the response has once again been exemplary. It is these moments that, after more than thirty years at Telefónica, continue to make me feel proud of ‘la Casa’, and of the people who make it up.
Day to day
And on a day-to-day basis? When times are at their most urgent, do we connect the lives of our employees, to make their world more human? Of course, technology allows us to work remotely, and that is an advantage, no doubt about it.
I myself enjoy the days when I don’t have to spend a lot of time in the car (and the traffic jams in Munich are like a toy compared to those on the M-40), and I can organise my schedule for sports and/or shopping, as well as fulfilling all my work obligations and attending all my meetings. But if I don’t go to the office at least three days a week, I also miss it, and I don’t go because I’m forced to (in fact, we have total flexibility), but because I feel like it.
A more humane Distrito
I think this is the crux of the matter: how can we make Distrito more attractive and human? It’s not about forcing us to work in person, it’s about us choosing to do it. You can do a lot of things in Teams, even create a Joint Venture like VMO2, but can you give a hug? Not two pats on the back out of commitment, no. I’m talking about a long, warm hug, the kind that lasts so long that it takes the stress away. Don’t you believe it? Neuroscience has proven it, after a few seconds (8 or 10) of hugging, the body starts to secrete oxytocin, the love hormone, and this reduces the level of cortisol, which causes stress. But I’m going off the deep end. District. Universitas on Campus is already a step in the right direction. Face-to-face and experiential programmes like Leading Self connect us on a human level. That’s where we give good hugs. The Foundation team has also moved from Gran Via to Distrito, and we have Escuela 42.
Why not do more things that are attractive to us, that give us reasons to experience the Campus? I’m sure you have already seen the model of Gran Vía made in Lego. I know we have a few ‘legeros’ among the ‘telephoners’. We have the people and the space, let’s have a Lego workshop. Let’s share our hobbies, yoga, book club, pilates -or tai chi, I’m getting old-, volunteering workshops, cooking classes, chess club…. Those things that we like, and that in one way or another also give us a sense of purpose, why not also do them at Telefónica, with ‘telefónicos’?
And of course, opening our doors to those who want to share with us a more human Telefónica. And who is going to do this? It’s about you; it’s you and me who have to do it, not wait for it to be done: dream it, think it up, ask for permission and do it. That’s how it works. I’m willing to set up my free hug stall during lunchtime when I’m in Distrito. And you, what are you up for?
