He commanded an elite unit of the Czech army, participated in operations in foreign missions and currently serves as the chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic. „Leadership is an art, but also a skill that can be learned and practiced. It is important that the system is set up to function in a crisis,” says General Karel Řehka about leadership in the army, which he spoke about at another CzechCrunche event from the People First series.
In his work, he meets with the command on a daily basis. As he himself says, he wanted to be a soldier since childhood, which is why he graduated from the Military Academy in Brno. He is so used to orders – whether from the position of the one who fulfills them, or, conversely, the one who gives them out. However, according to Karel Řehka, leadership is about something else.
„Command is being given authority, but that doesn’t make you a leader.” explained the general, adding that leadership can be learned. According to him, however, it is necessary to be able to operate promptly in such a role. “One can make good or bad decisions. Both can be justified, lessons can be learned from both. It is unacceptable when a person cannot make a decision at all,” said a military officer and security expert at the CzechCrunche event, the recording of which can be played by CC+ members now.
Gen Z is not lazier or worse. She is just different from us and we have to learn to work with her.
According to Řehka, even unpopular decisions are needed from the leader – even more so in the army, where human lives are often at stake. “I try to do the best for people and for the organization. But sometimes people don’t know that and they don’t like it,” explained a man whose approach combines military discipline, strategic vision and an emphasis on adapting to new challenges.
According to him, there are also diverse people in the army, with whom it is necessary to learn to work specifically. He also says that about young people. “Gen Z is not lazier or worse. She is just different from us and we have to learn to work with her, to communicate,” said the Chief of the General Staff, adding: “From our experience, it’s going well.”
Jana Sedláková, the founder of the law firm Sedlakova Legal, also spoke about the specific nature of young people at the event from the People First series, where we take an in-depth look at important topics related to people in companies. She didn’t like the way law firms were run, so she started her own. “I felt that our generation didn’t have many chances. And if we didn’t do something about it, nothing would change.” stated Sedláková, saying that she simply wanted to do things her way.
As she herself explains, she has been very lucky in her career so far with people who decided to give her an opportunity. It is with such a mission that he is now trying to lead his company, which operates on the most transparent principle of equality. “I want to be a person who gives people a chance,” added.
It is the desire to do things differently and in her own way that Sedláková shares with another speaker who appeared at the event: Filip Kirschner, founder of the digital agency Applifting. He, too, is trying to eliminate hierarchical job titles in his company. “We knew how we didn’t want it to be. That’s why we decided not to have bosses, and that’s how we stayed.” explained Kirschner.
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At Applifting, among other things, they have a system of mentors who are supposed to help employees with an adequate career path. According to Kirschner, such assistance is crucial in the development of people. “If a person has room to grow in the company, they must also be provided with adequate means for this. If he doesn’t have them, he has no room for growth.” stated
Such a setting can also work according to Pavel Běťák, who works as IT Area Lead at Česká spořitelna. The key is for each person to identify their strengths and then use them in a given direction. „It’s best to find someone at work, for example, who you see every day and learn from them.” summed up Běťák.
Another part of the People First edition by CzechCrunch, this time focused on Leadership, took place on Monday, August 26, at the Karlín premises of the technology company STRV. Almost 150 guests were taken care of by, among others, Prokop, which provided its famous croissants, or the FreshPoint company. She prepared small snacks for the guests in the form of Caesar salads, wraps, sandwiches or baguettes, as well as sweet puddings.
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