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New Work: Counteracting the shortage of skilled workers with good leadership

A recent Gallup study shows that employees’ willingness to change jobs has increased further. Only 14 percent experience a working environment with good leadership, and only 22 percent of those surveyed are satisfied with their manager. These factors are crucial, as a strong emotional bond with the company has been proven to reduce staff turnover. Leadership therefore remains a key area for development and investment.

On September 27, 2024, ProduktionNRW brought together representatives of the North Rhine-Westphalian mechanical and plant engineering industry in an interactive workshop to discuss leadership culture in the context of New Work and share experiences.

Results of the preliminary survey on leadership and leadership culture

The workshop began with a survey to categorize the topic of leadership and leadership culture. The participants predominantly gave a positive picture of their company: they are of the opinion that their employees would be more likely to recommend the company to friends and acquaintances. Positive aspects highlighted included the company’s benefits, an appropriate salary and a strong corporate culture. However, the participants saw room for improvement in the aspects of leadership, communication and cooperation within the company.

Interactive workshop: Key leadership culture topics

An interactive workshop led by Dr Reinhard Schmitt, an independent consultant for leadership and organizational consulting, followed in order to specifically address the needs of the North Rhine-Westphalian mechanical and plant engineering industry. The discussion focused on three main topics:

  • Good leadership in the digital/hybrid environment
  • Increasing motivation without monetary incentives
  • Consistent and modern leadership culture

Collaboration between the participants was supported by the digital whiteboard tool Mural, which promoted exchange.

Good leadership in the digital and hybrid environment

Regular exchange is crucial for successful leadership in the digital and hybrid environment. It is helpful to use the camera in video conferences, for example, to create a more personal atmosphere. Randomly generated questions that are created using a “check-in generator”, for example, can make it easier to start conversations. A mentoring system has also proven its worth in hybrid meetings: Employees who participate virtually are assigned a contact person on site to address questions and contributions more efficiently.

Increase motivation without monetary incentives

Increase motivation without monetary incentives
Employee motivation can also be increased without financial incentives by increasing employees’ autonomy and promoting their skills in a targeted manner. A stable social environment also contributes significantly to satisfaction. Managers can directly influence the first two factors, which in turn strengthen the social environment. Promoting autonomy in particular is crucial in an increasingly complex world so that employees can make independent decisions.

Consistent and modern leadership culture

The discussion made it clear that the fundamental leadership issues have hardly changed in recent decades: It is still about leading by example, taking responsibility or establishing an open feedback culture. However, the recent, partly overlapping crises have made leadership more challenging. In volatile times, it is all the more important to increase the company’s ability to change and at the same time offer employees guidance.

Good leadership as a success factor

The interactive workshop showed that good leadership is a decisive success factor – especially in the context of the shortage of skilled workers. Companies are faced with the challenge of not only successfully shaping digital change, but also applying a modern, uniform leadership culture. Only by continuously developing their leadership can companies ensure their long-term attractiveness as an employer and strengthen employee loyalty.

Organizer

The event was offered by ProduktionNRW. ProduktionNRW is the cluster for mechanical engineering and production technology in North Rhine-Westphalia and is organized by VDMA NRW. ProduktionNRW sees itself as a platform for networking, informing and marketing companies, institutions and networks with each other and along the value chain. Significant parts of the services provided by ProduktionNRW are funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.