# How one boss kept his staff motivated for over a decade. Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2023-07-18 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: How to Keep Your Employees Motivated and Engaged Meta Description: Discover how Vasco de Castro has built a successful team at Fruitful Office by fostering a sense of ownership and carefully selecting passionate staff members. URL: https://financedigest.com/how-one-boss-kept-his-staff-motivated-for-over-a-decadehtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1341238109-1736813751616-compressed.jpg) # How one boss kept his staff motivated for over a decade. Business development director, Vasco de Castro, has been instrumental in growing his office fruit delivery service [Fruitful Office](http://www.fruitfuloffice.co.uk) into a flourishing international success. Now delivering fresh fruit to businesses across the United Kingdom, Holland, Belgium and Germany, the business has been blossoming for the past eleven years. A great deal of this success rests on the shoulders of the dependable team de Castro has helped to nurture over the last fifteen years. In a recent interview, de Castro spoke in greater detail about the important role the growing Fruitful Office team has played in the success of the business as it has expanded, both in the UK and overseas: _“…as the business grows you simply can’t do everything and be everywhere – so you have to surround yourself with a great team that you trust and feel comfortable delegating to.._ _…the team must share a common goal and be passionate about achieving it – so that they [personally ‘care’ for the success](https://www.financedigest.com/gen-z-finance-banking-on-success-with-personalized-outreach.html "Gen Z & Finance – Banking on success with personalized outreach ") of the business, as if it were their own.”_ In today’s increasingly cynical and stressful working world, building a team that legitimately cares about its employer is no mean feat. So how, exactly did de Castro make it happen? To help inspire you to foster a strong team of employees who feel a positive [connection to your business](https://www.financedigest.com/new-enhancements-to-fico-platform-power-customer-connections-enable-enterprise-wide-transformation-and-drive-strategic-business-outcomes.html "New Enhancements to FICO Platform Power Customer Connections, Enable Enterprise-Wide Transformation and Drive Strategic Business Outcomes"), we’ve curated some of Vasco’s most insightful pointers and words of wisdom below for your benefit. 1. ## **Create a sense of ownership** Call it selfish, but we’re more likely to work harder and care more about things which “belong” to us. This is [true when it comes](https://www.financedigest.com/true-multi-cloud-is-the-ideal-coming-closer-to-reality.html "True multi-cloud: Is the ideal coming closer to reality?") to our jobs too. Workers who feel like they play an active role in a [company](https://www.financedigest.com/the-benefits-of-investing-in-healthtech-and-medtech-companies.html "The Benefits of Investing in Healthtech and MedTech Companies") which cares about them are more likely to feel invested in their jobs. This means harder, more motivated workers who deliver better results. As de Castro explains, a _“feeling of ‘ownership’ must be present right throughout the business – from packers to senior management.”_ So how can you help staff feel a sense of ownership? From ensuring the business has a compelling mission (Fruitful Office wants to improve health and diet in the workplace), to operating transparently, helping staff find niches they love and ensuring they feel valued, there are [lots of ways to help make this happen](https://www.insperity.com/blog/7-ways-to-encourage-employees-to-take-ownership-of-their-work/). 2. ## **Be selective** Building a dream team will take time, but taking on [staff members](https://www.financedigest.com/gumgum-appoints-new-staff-members-across-germany.html "GumGum appoints new staff members across Germany") who are a fundamentally poor fit and who drain morale and resources is not the recipe for success. One of de Castro’s [top tips](https://www.financedigest.com/young-leaders-forum-paul-forkans-top-5-tips.html "Young Leaders Forum: Paul Forkan’s Top 5 Tips") for business success is to _“Surround yourself with the right people, ensuring they share your passion and vision.”._ Carefully hand-pick staff members rather than “panic buy” when a vacancy arises in order to [grow effectively](https://www.financedigest.com/the-npwt-suction-pads-market-to-grow-on-an-effective-and-accessible-note-backed-by-innovation.html "The Npwt Suction Pads Market to grow on an effective and accessible note backed by innovation"). He recommends that you also spend time and [energy](https://www.financedigest.com/naturgys-profit-rises-on-lng-gains-soothing-shareholders-by-pietro-lombardi-madrid-reuters-spanish-power-utility-naturgy-reported-on-monday-an-88-jump-in-profit-for-the-first-six-months-of.html "Naturgy’s profit rises on LNG gains, soothing shareholders By Pietro Lombardi MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish power utility Naturgy reported on Monday an 88% jump in profit for the first six months of the year, boosted by strong earnings at its liquefied natural gas (LNG) business, which could help it to win over restive investors. Earlier this month, the company said it would increase its dividend floor through 2025 while trimming expected investment, as it sought to make rewarding shareholders a priority. Pleasing them has become a focus as Naturgy considers changes that could reshape the company and after arguments over the potential appointment of a chief executive. Naturgy’s first-half net profit jumped to 1.05 billion euros (.16 billion), boosted by its liquefied natural gas (LNG) business. Shares were down 0.2% in mid-morning trading, bucking deeper declines, in particular for Spain’s blue-chip banks and utilities after a general election on Sunday produced no clear winner. Renta 4 Banco analyst Angel Perez Llamazares said Naturgy performed better than expected, adding “cash flows also beat our expectation,” and debt fell more than expected. After natural gas prices hit record levels last year, Naturgy said a fall in procurement costs this year and hedging gains had boosed profits. In the first half of the year, the company “exceeded the objectives of operating efficiency, cash generation, investment materialisation and debt reduction,” Executive Chairman and CEO Francisco Reynes said. After rival Iberdrola named a separate CEO last year, Naturgy is the only large energy company in Spain to combine the roles of executive chairman and CEO. Earlier this month, the company raised the dividend floor to 1.40 euros a share, from 1.20 euros. Operating profit (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) is expected to reach 5.1 billion euros, compared with a previous guidance of 4.8 billion euros. It said it was targeting net profit of 1.8 billion euros in 2025. Naturgy also relaunched its plan to split regulated infrastructure operations and liberalised energy businesses into two listed companies. The project had been suspended after the Ukraine war disrupted energy markets and analysts are still sceptical. “We believe it is unlikely that Naturgy will be able to implement its asset split in the short term and it is also unlikely that a big change in the shareholding of the company would occur,” said RBC analyst Fernando Garcia. ( = 0.8986 euros) (Reporting by Pietro Lombardi, editing by Inti Landauro and Barbara Lewis)") in creating a bespoke set of interview questions that will help guide you from the very first meeting towards potential employees who are a better fit for your business. 3. ## **Empower staff** From _“Giving your team the tools to be heard and [really](https://www.financedigest.com/community-giving-an-investment-that-really-matters.html "Community Giving: An Investment That Really Matters") ‘make a difference’”_, to _“empowering them to make suggestions and take action.”_ de Castro has found that _“Making a difference is incredibly motivating and rewarding”._ If employees are able to see themselves and their contributions to the business, they will feel empowered to do more, work harder and [share insights](https://www.financedigest.com/acetate-salt-market-size-trends-share-insights-report-2026.html "Acetate Salt Market Size, Trends, Share, Insights Report 2026") into their portion of their processes, keeping them engaged and feeding the company with lots of valuable ideas and information. Here are few [tips for better employee empowerment](https://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/8-tips-for-empowering-employees.html). _Do you agree with de Castro’s motivational tips? How have you helped [staff feel empowered](https://www.financedigest.com/how-the-latest-microsoft-365-updates-are-helping-to-empower-frontline-staff.html "How the latest Microsoft 365 updates are helping to empower frontline staff") and connected within your business? Share your insights with other readers._ --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---