Publications

Each week, a different partner answers selected “life questions” based on the well-known questionnaire by the writer Max Frisch (source: “Fragebogen,” Suhrkamp Verlag 1992)*. In August 2015, Jürgen Ruff faced the questions. My answers to life questions by Max Frisch 1. are you a friend to yourself? Yes, and with respectful interaction, appreciative and also constructively critical – as it should be among friends. 2. do you know what you need? Most of the time, I’m pretty aware. But I try to be mindful and thus learn something new every day. Some of what I have learned may accompany me longer in life. 3. Who would you rather never have met? Isn’t it precisely the uncomfortable encounters that bring us forward? Maybe they wouldn’t always have to be so long. 4. Would you rather have belonged to another nation (culture) and which one? I feel it is a gift to be born in our country with these opportunities. There are always points that can be more rounded. But my experiences in other countries and cultures always make me realize how lucky we are and we should enjoy it every day. 5. What fills you with hope? I am an optimist by nature and look for the way forward. The many great encounters with interesting people and their attitudes and activities make me confident that there is always something to move and everyone can contribute something in some small way. 6. What are you grateful for? For every moment in the here and now; to my wife, family and friends for the great times and support; to all the people I have met and will meet. About me “Potentials are the abilities that lie dormant within us. Recognizing and developing these and experiencing them with joy in practice is the focus of my work.” Jürgen Ruff worked for more than 20 years in international companies in the chemical and software industry and looks back on 15 years of experience in project management (PMI certification). As a trainer, consultant, coach and key note speaker, he specializes in the fields of change management as well as process optimization and lean management. The questionnaire appeared online at www.reissprofile.eu. As of July 1, 2017, LUXXunited GmbH will take over the business. All information about the new personality tool LUXXprofile can be found there www.luxxprofile.com

Jürgen Ruff on the right understanding in project teams* Mr. Ruff, as a Strategic Consultant at SAP AG, you frequently deal with project teams. Why is the topic of communication important in this context? Ruff: From more than 15 years of my own experience as an international project manager, I know that people have different needs when working together. If these are not respected in the project, conflicts arise. For project teams to function on a human level, communication and motivation are the decisive levers. How do you go about “correctly understanding” the needs of others? Ruff: The first thing is to understand myself, and to recognize why I react in certain ways in certain situations. This is the first step in being able to respond optimally to my counterpart. By doing so, I become more “gracious” or appreciative in contact. Instead of looking for the fault in the other person’s personality, I can focus attention on the positive. According to the motto: Where can this characteristic, which perhaps annoys me in the other person, actually be enriching for the project goal? What do you look for yourself when communicating with business partners? Ruff: Projects are made by people. When I accompany a project, I always conduct a stakeholder analysis at the beginning to include the goals and perspectives of the environment. Already in the initial meetings, I pay attention to signals that allow conclusions to be drawn about the emotional needs of the individual. For example, for order and appropriate structure, which I can take into account both in the documents and in the process. Someone with a low need for order, on the other hand, I would restrict too much with the same approach. Here I have to leave room for improvisation so as not to frustrate the other person. By responding professionally to the key people, I increase the implementation quality of the consultation. Mr. Ruff, thank you very much for the interview. At the end of June, Jürgen Ruff will give a presentation on “How to ‘correctly’ understand my business partner” at the Project Management Day of the Karlsruhe Technology Region. Date: 28.6.13 Place: Siemens Industry Park Karlsruhe Organizer: GPM (Society for Project Management) * The interview appeared online at www.reissprofile.eu. As of July 1, 2017, LUXXunited GmbH will take over the business. All information about the new personality tool LUXXprofile can be found there www.luxxprofile.com