Welcome to the autumn 2020 Lab: Let’s build a change-ready organisation together
The Lab coaching programme gives companies the chance to practice their skills, while inspiring and challenging each other.
In spring 2020 change took us all by surprise, and from the smallest start-up to the biggest corporation, everyone had to react. The crisis that came from nowhere highlighted that, in today’s unpredictable world of constant disruptions, readiness to change is companies’ most important asset.
”It’s already come clear that the survivors of the corona crisis are those with the sensitivity and ability to prepare for the future, find alternatives, and take decisive action together. You also need trust, courage, and constructive interaction. Those are the key elements of readiness to change,” says the Ellun Kanat Business Director Marjaana Toiminen.
In January, just before the corona crisis, Ellun Kanat launched a new coaching programme, which revolves around readiness to change at its core. The coaching programme was named the Lab.
“We piloted the programme through the spring with two organisations and four companies. As the crisis hit, it was the perfect test environment for the Lab, which was subsequently very well received,” Toiminen says.
Here’s what the participants say about the Lab:
”The themes hit the spot, as they’re exactly those we’re all facing today. The experts were very interesting, and the talks gave me a lot of ideas to take home. I found other companies’ experiences particularly fascinating. If only we hadn’t run out of discussion time! I left every Lab morning energised. The concept got me excited, and the content was concise and good, so I have only positive feedback for my experience.”
– Henriikka Puolanne, Business Director at HOK-Elanto (the entire management team took part in the Lab)
”We’ve shared the tools we learned at the Lab with our entire organisation. The team of participants took time out together to gain a deeper understanding of the tools and themes after each Lab module. I’ve been enthusiastic about everything I’ve heard, and the team has been fully committed and keen to embrace the new tools in their day-to-day work. We’re currently testing out one of the time management tools. The programme was a fantastic complement to our own change projects at the Finnish Tax Authority, and we came back with excellent tools to drive the change process forward.”
– Susanna Suonpää, HR Expert at the Finnish Tax Office
Inspired by the fabulous feedback from our participants, we’ll be setting the date for our next Lab for late autumn 2020.
What happens in the Lab?
The Lab programme comprises eight mornings with Ellun Kanat’s expert network to build readiness to change within the work community. The key elements are addressed through concrete examples. Every morning includes a talk by an experienced visiting expert, a case study presented by a company director, and exercises to help adopt the tools for change in everyday working life. Each skill needed to improve readiness to change is broken down into tightly structured exercises. A deeper understand of any particular skill can be developed according to personal preferences. The aim of the programme, which is specifically geared towards management, is to help companies share information, tools, and experiences.
At the Lab, you will learn to
- Prepare for the future and build a shared vision of the future
- To understand the changing role of management and leadership and the transfer of power to the customer
- To build a self-directed organisation on its own terms
- To root the change you want in the everyday life of your work community
- To debate constructively and interact effectively in challenging situations
- To foster courage and trust in the community
- To teach self-direction and self-awareness
- To better plan work rhythm and time management
The Lab coaches are all experienced professionals
One of the visiting experts of the Lab is Professor of Practice Reijo Karhinen, a senior adviser for Ellun Kanat. ”Never before have companies needed the readiness to change as much as today,” Karhinen says. At the Lab, Karhinen will share his vision of the transformation of leadership.
The same module will also feature Hanno Nevanlinna, Director of Culture at Futurice. Other coaches will include Elina Kiiski-Kataja, Futurist Otto Tähkäpää, Aalto University Program Director Laura Sivula, Brain Health Expert Mona Moisala, Coach Anna Perho, Senior Specialist Antti Hyrkäs, Business Director Marjaana Toiminen and Senior Specialist Eveliina Pennanen.
Enrolment has started for the winter 2020–2021 Lab, which kicks off in November. If you want your company involved in the Lab starting in November, get in touch via the form below, by email at marjaana.toiminen@ellunkanat.fi, or by calling 040 708 2648.
The coaching takes place in a safe environment at the Ellun Kanat office. To ensure everyone’s well-being, only six companies or organisations can take part.
P.S. After the feedback from last spring’s pilot programme, we have reserved more time for discussion and practical exercises in the next Lab. The different elements of readiness to change were proven valid by the pilot, so they’ll stay the same.
