body to work, but their heart and mind stay somewhere else. They will sneak out for long lunch breaks.” Then comes Level 3. It is orderly, efficient, and


appears on the surface to be productive. However, if you dig deeper you will find rigid control, micromanagement, and a business paying a heavy price, that is, stifled innovation and talent that is planning to look elsewhere for job and personal fulfilment. “Knowledge workers don’t like to be micromanaged,”


Professor Hlupic warned. “The research shows that they will go somewhere else, even for a lower salary.” At Level 3, organisations are often led by big bosses


who have big egos as well, she said, and who manage rules and regulations and who control the culture. “Sometimes we need elements of Level Three for safety,


security and compliance purposes,” Professor Hlupic said. “But if we are stuck at level three as organisation, there will be lack of innovation, and there will be lack of purpose and passion for work. In most cases, you will not be able to retain talent, especially knowledge workers.” She explained that knowledge workers don't like


to be micromanaged. They need to be treated as associates, not as subordinates. If they are not treated as individuals with needs they will just withdraw silently their cooperation and go somewhere else. The answer


to this leadership and corporate


malaise and waste of human talent is Level 4, where the real transformation takes place. Here, the mindset is enthusiastic, and the culture is innovative and collaborative. It is a working environment where trust replaces fear, purpose fuels performance, and teams don’t just survive, but thrive and work together. “When the shift to Level Four happens, the keywords


are trust, transparency, purpose, collaboration, giving back to society, having fun, working on something bigger than ourselves,” she explained. According to Professor Hlupic, this is where everything


improves – innovation, engagement, wellbeing, and profit. She has seen profits double within a year when the organisations she works with fully embrace this shift. “The big shift is when leaders, employees and the


entire culture shifts from Level Three to Level Four, she explained. “Then something magical happens and everything changes and everything gets better. Not only that, we create happier and healthier workplaces, and that is priceless, because we know from many research studies that people get sick from stress from work.” She emphasised that leadership really is important,


and that it can change lives and change organisations. At Level Four, compassionate and insightful leadership enables you to lead from London, Nairobi or Lagos or anywhere in the world.


9


“ The big shift is when leaders, employees and the entire culture shifts from Level Three to Level Four. Then something magical happens and everything changes and everything gets better.” PROFESSOR DAME VLATKA HLUPIC


Professor Dame Vlatka Ariaana Hlupic speaking at the 2025 Think Global People & Relocate Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony


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