Clean: Self-management and collaboration

Uncertainty is part of working life in a modern project organization like Clean. We have to deal with it, says our COO, Henrik Bjørnager.

Clean—The Danish Water and Environment Cluster is a modern workplace where employees are enthusiasts who jump from project to project and often self-lead on tasks. At the same time, we are located in four different locations across Denmark and are also present in Colombia and Brazil.

While many of us love this way of working, it can also create uncertainty and stress. Our COO Henrik Bjørnager Jensen explains:

“We are constantly in startup mode because our projects last 2-3 years. We never know if the application for the next project will go through or if we’re still on the Finance Act. This can create uncertainty for us about our role and job security.”

A new framework for collaboration

In the fall of 2023, we merged two departments in Clean and introduced more self-management and a more agile structure. Therefore, we applied for and received DKK 220,000 from Velliv Foreningen to work with well-being and mental health. The money has been used to implement the new organization and address the stress and uncertainty caused by the changes.

We held a series of workshops for managers and employees over a period of six months. Henrik Nørgaard, Project Manager and Startup Navigator, was involved in the project and says:

“In the workshop, we’ve talked about how we can strengthen each other professionally across the organization. We might forget to involve each other because we’re not physically located in the same place. Now we have a good framework for collaboration.”

Colleagues support one other

With the new “agile” organization, we in the shifting project teams must be able to manage ourselves to a greater extent. Henrik Nørgaard says that you have to have a high degree of self-management to choose Clean as a workplace, but that there are also disadvantages:

“The downside of self-management is that you can work until the sun goes down. You’re never finished. You can always do more and you might forget to think about yourself.”

He also explains that there is a clear attitude among management that no one wants to overload the employees. We can be busy, but only for a short period of time.

COO Henrik Bjørnager Jensen agrees and adds that it is also important that we help and support each other:

“With self-management, you also have a responsibility to ask for help if you need it. And you have a responsibility to offer your help to others.”

Getting closer to each other

One of the decisions we made during the process was to focus more on well-being in the future. Among other things, there will be 1-1 meetings between manager and employee every month and 3-4 times a year the temperature of well-being will be taken. At the same time, our COO Henrik Bjørnager Jensen experiences that the project has also made a difference for the community between us:

“Things were not discussed so much before. The program has brought us closer together and it’s easier to say things directly. No one can do without their colleagues in an organization like ours.”

About Clean

Clean is Denmark’s water and environment cluster. We are approximately 30 employees who support Danish companies that develop and need to solve water and environmental challenges. Our head office is located in Sønderborg, and we also have offices in Aarhus, Copenhagen, Odense and Roskilde.

About Velliv Foreningen

Velliv Foreningen supports initiatives that strengthen mental health at workplaces and in local areas. All companies, associations and organizations can apply for the funds. Velliv Foreningen supports the project at Clean with DKK 220,000. Read more about funding opportunities at http://www.vellivforeningen.dk.