Captain calls for interaction and connection

Before he became a union representative, Ole was not quite aware of the type of club that union representatives are a part of.

"It seemed interesting, and you knew that, on the other side of the door, something important was going on which might have an impact on all of us. But you didn't really know what it was," Ole Nielsen explains.

Therefore, when a couple of colleagues one day encouraged Ole to become a candidate, his curiosity had already been aroused. 

“I believe that the colleagues often sense who they want as a union representative. It’s like they nose about for the right qualities.”

But what qualities does the private customer adviser from northern Jutland possess that are beneficial in his role as a union representative?

Responsibility to others and to yourself

“To put it in words from the world of sports: the captain is the union representative, the coach is the manager, and the players are the employees. The union representative must assume the responsibility of the captain to ensure there’s interaction and that everybody feels connected.”

However, in addition to the responsibility towards colleagues and management, another equally important responsibility exists: the responsibility to yourself in terms of what not to prioritise and what to agree to.

“In the beginning, everyone's problems were also my problems, and no issue was too small. I have had to learn how to figure out what issues to get involved in, where something can be done, and what cannot be changed.”

And right there, the considerable network you gain as a union representative is priceless.

“You get to know your own organisation much better, but the network extends far beyond your own department and company. As union representatives in the same sector, we consult with each other and benefit from each other's experience, and that is truly valuable.