Lufthansa Airlines CEO, Jens Ritter, recently took an unconventional approach to leadership by working as a cabin crew member on flights from Frankfurt to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. His motive? To gain a fresh perspective and deeper understanding of the challenges faced by his team.
In a post on LinkedIn, Ritter expressed his excitement and shared his experience, stating, “Sometimes, you need to change perspectives in order to gain new insights.” Although having been with the Lufthansa Group for many years, this was his first stint as part of the cabin crew.
Ritter described the role as both “interesting” and “challenging”. He noted some unexpected surprises, such as discrepancies between the meals mentioned on menu cards and those loaded on the plane. Attending to passengers and managing different energies were among the tasks that stood out to him.
Having previously flown as a pilot, Ritter believed he understood the intricacies of a nighttime flight. However, he admitted, “But to be present and attentive and charming – when the biological clock just tells you to sleep – was something entirely different.”
Ritter didn’t limit himself to just one area of the plane. He assisted in the business class on his journey to Riyadh and switched to taking care of passengers in the economy class on his return to Frankfurt. The CEO highlighted that every moment of this experience was enjoyable for him.
Reflecting on the brief yet impactful experience, Ritter was profoundly grateful. “Deciding things in the office will be different after really feeling the decisions on board,” he remarked, expressing his gratitude to the cabin crew, passengers, and everyone who made this unique experience possible.
