Leadership is communication
At LM Wind Power, ‘openness’ and ‘trust’ offer inspiration to work better.
In line with this, the company’s new global strategy or ‘Power Plan’ to 2015 was shared with all employees across the company during the second and third quarter of 2010. No props or microphones were used. People sat on chairs close together on shop floors and in workplaces ready to listen and participate – engaged in ‘Indabas’.
CEO, Roland Sunden travelled to all company locations, met all employees, shook hands with most and engaged in dialogue. This unique initiative demonstrated an excellent symbol of leadership., It energized the company, engaged employees and brought everybody together!
Indabas
“Ears are portable, most of us have two, they usually require no batteries and they are, in my view, the most powerful communication tool of all. The Indaba is genuinely ‘communications with ears’.”
– Christopher Oliver Springham (VP, Global Communication).
Originated in African communities, Indabas are a part of traditional African culture. An Indaba is a meeting where people gather round to speak, listen, share and learn. Everyone has a voice to sort out problems with the aim to create a common mind.
Indabas are easy to organize and rely on the power of proximity, a joint experience and face to face communication. By eliminating the use of typical electronic presentation tools like microphones and Power Point slides and bringing the group very close to each other, we secure the attention, engagement and interest of everyone present. Everyone can see, hear and speak freely. There is nothing between the speakers and the audience. It encourages eye contact, openness, honesty and trust.
Deriving inspiration from his own experiences, Christopher Springham literally recreated ‘Indabas’ for Roland Sundén and the rest of the management team at every company location. The intention was to follow the age old, simple and powerful format, to help compel engagement and change.
Communication is leadership
“There really is no substitute for meeting our people face to face. I expected hard questions and I have received them.”
- Roland Sundén, CEO
Roland Sundén and employees engaged in vibrant and engaging discussions during the Power Tour.Many new ideas and so much more to do! Coupled with an online blog in the company’s intranet, and invitation to ask questions, Roland Sundén received more than 250 questions.