Summary from the ISPI Conference part #2, Senior Executive Panel
Last week, the blog was mainly about ISPI (International Society for Performance Improvement) conference and the keynote speaker Lisa Lindström, Ceo at Doberman Group. Now time has come to summarize senior executive panel including Peter Grönberg, svp Culture and leadership at Volvo Group, Stina Möller Operations manager at Espresso House, Monica Crusner, owner and founder Crusner Advokatbyrå and Mladen Pilipovic, Director of Engineering (Tribe lead) at Spotify.
How to create alignment?
According to Mladen it's all about creating autonomy in the organisation to align what's needed. I believed this to be quite interesting since there has been a recent trend of black and white thinking about engagement, teamwork and having meetings about almost everything in the organisation. Mladen viewpoint was; Don't, give people space to work and be creative. One key, he said, is about culture. Having the culture needed and the main process to achieve that is to hire, fire and promote people.
"The Volvo Group journey - from a control-driven culture to a trust-driven culture."
Peter described the Volvo Group journey -from a control-driven culture to a trust-driven culture. The trick is to balance traditional ways of working with new ways of thinking. It seemed to me they have a full blown large-scale organisational change going on. And a radical change at that! Is that even achievable keeping the same staff, I wondered to myself? He then asked a rhetoric question, if it's possible to train people to needed new behaviours? Well, what do you think?
"She now has a clear stand on if service skills can be trained. They cannot. Either you have it, or you don't. It's about being passionate in serving others, letting go of your ego and how to lead from the heart."
Stina told us having worked for so many years in different positions at Espresso House she now has a clear stand on if service skills can be trained. They cannot. Either you have it, or you don't. It's about being passionate in serving others, letting go of your ego and how to lead from the heart.
"A completely new approach to make legal markets more accessible. It's a game changer which will provide legal services, faster and financially available to everyone."
How do you know you're part of the future?
Monica has a great new tool for the future being launched in December 2018 - a digital legal service app! A completely new approach to make legal markets more accessible. It's a game changer which will provide legal services, faster and financially available to everyone. She's brave I thought! having the assumption of lawyers being quite conservative. Monica started her chain of law firms with the ambition of not having to work 60-hours a week, wanting her lawyers to have a healthy, balanced and happy life. And as Monica puts it, this App appeals to younger up-and-coming lawyers.
"He is counting how many "Yes let's try" and "No, not a good idea" he hears himself say. If yes wins, he believes he's ok for the future."
Mladen told us he is counting how many "Yes let's try" and "No, not a good idea" he hears himself say. If yes wins, he believes he's ok for the future. Sounds like a good proof-check! On the same topic Stina referred to her "20 years old me". She asked herself what she would think if she was still 20 and listened to her answers carefully. Mladen then addressed the future need of happiness - music makes people's lives better! Soon enough, everyone of a million artists will reach out to one million fans. Peter talked a bit about sustainability. Saving the planet by environment friendly transportations. It's also about saving lives as one of the drivers in traffic safety issues. Last but not least Volvo Group takes a clear stand on human rights. In all their markets.
Stina realises that in the future people will have a stronger need for meeting face to face. Yes, I agree, people are wired for connection! Espresso House offer places for people to meet, this will make the world a better place.
What do you really optimise for?
Past week I've heard me and my colleagues quoting Mladen on organisation change and goals. He said that sometimes change projects create problems because they aren't well thought through. The powerful question to ask; "what do you really optimise for?". Having the same performance approach of getting rid of issues that hinder people from performing they stopped talking about goals. From a Spotify perspective goals create fear. Instead they now have bets which creates alignment and energy.
Your best advice to a millennial?
The closing question about the best advice to younger people building their working platform:
Peter; Nurture relationships in your life!
Mladen; Love your work!
Stina; Keep on believing in working on change!
Monica; Stay curious and stay humble!
Wise words need, as we moved on to the coffee break discussing organisation, performance and future. All of us having lots and lots of ideas and inspiration from all workshops, executive panel and keynote speaker, not to mention the networking in a friendly and including way so typical for ISPI EMEA.