Starting as the new Boss

Startsituation

With the start of the new managing director, a stronger team culture was due to replace the current encrusted structures and outdated processes. For years, the predecessor had led the business unit in a centralized, conservative and micromanaged way. The teams acted as “separate silos” without internal exchange coordination. The goal of the start-up workshop I was invited to design and to conduct was to establish a new management style and a stronger cross-departmental cooperation.

Strategies for Evolvement

Factual-Logic

First, the new boss summarized his impressions of the current status quo that he derived from his interviews with the team leaders. Together, they all created a strategic overview, consisting of past successes and current challenges. The highest priority was given to the future introduction of a modern customer management system. For this purpose, the roles of the team leaders were redefined to allow for more freedom in their decision-making. Concrete implementation steps and a weekly jour fixe with shared responsibilities were agreed upon.

Psycho-Logic

To establish a positive basis for discussion, sufficient time was given in the workshop for the new manager and the team leaders to get to know each other better. Their different personalities, working styles and expectations were made visible. Together they appreciated their past achievements and at the same time said goodbye to old burdens. The strengths of the individual team leaders were highlighted, and more self-responsibility was incorporated into the team leader roles. Together, new rules for cooperation were formulated as a further teambuilding measure.

Result

A new boss often brings with him a new management style, structural adjustments and cultural change. For this change to succeed and for the team leaders to follow suit, their previous achievements and personalities must be recognized and valued. In this way, the new boss gains the cooperation and motivation of his employees to master future challenges all together.