A Report from Our Everyday Work Life: iwis ketten Promotes High Potentials

The company iwis ketten, established in 1916, is the market leader and an experienced partner for the development and supply of high quality chain-systems. The company attaches a lot of importance to the customer’s satisfaction and is a model in how to increase productivity and turnover and at the same time build up the number of employees here in Germany. This is the reason, why iwis ketten got the award “Company of the year/GEO 2005” in a benchmark competition, which was organized by A.T.Kearney and the business paper “Produktion”.

In an interview with “Produktion”, GEO Johannes Winklhofer emphasized that the success and the performance of the company depends to a high degree on the qualification and the motivation of their employees. So iwis initiated a leadership program for their young high potentials this year, in order to generate the new generation of managers within the company and for enhancing their motivation and loyalty to the company.

The program consists of three seminar blocks fitting the exact needs of the company and one-day supervision in between the seminars, where actual cases arising out of everyday work life can be discussed. Additionally, each participant agreed on certain goals for their specific learning program with their executives, learning partnerships were arranged and we had a few evenings in front of the fireplace in order to discuss topics of interest.

The whole program, which is being carried out by Claudia Hahn, head of the personnel development and one ComTeam consultant, has now come halfway in its course. Here is what Claudia Hahn says about the experience so far:

Ms. Hahn, what is your view of the program’s concept and the success so far?

The program’ success lies most of all in the fact that it is practically relevant. This shows in all the exercises, in the topics that have been discussed and in the supervision in between the seminar blocks. I find it also very important that the participants have the possibility to reflect on themselves and give each other feedback.

How do you see the course of the program so far?

Up to now the feedback is very positive. The participants use the program for an intense sharing with their colleagues and the trainers as well, they find new perspectives in their leadership practice and they get many ideas on how to change their personal leadership practice.

It is also noticeable that through the activities in the program, networks develop and so the participants get to know what happens in the departments of their colleagues.

How does it work to integrate the leadership program in everyday work life?

We paid great attention to the fact, that the program is very well integrated in everyday work life. The participants have the possibility to connect online via share-point and the learning partnerships help transferring the content of the program into practice. How often and when these partnerships meet is completely up to them.
And in addition to that, I am available for coaching and consulting in all the questions that might arise in their leadership practice.

What is your experience of the working together of an internal and an external consultant?

I find this very positive and can only recommend it for others who might think of starting such a program. It is a very well balanced mutual “fertilization” of know-how in the context of the company, of internal specifics and leadership instruments, combined with the know-how of the external trainers/consultants where experiences from other companies and seminar groups come in.
And it is just fun to successfully lead this program with the professional support of ComTeam!