Training Program for Managers: Developing a Safety Culture in Teams

Scenario

The client was a German construction company that specialized in the construction of scaffolding and work at heights. The customer wants to develop a culture of proactive safety and regularly conducts health and safety training but also workshops for employees to increase awareness of their own safety, to minimize risky behaviour and to encourage collaboration.

Clients Challenge

The client wanted to develop a culture of safety awareness by improving the leadership skills of site managers, forepersons and constructions project managers. At the end of the training managers developed an understanding how to effectively lead a team and how to promote a safety culture in teams. The development program was designed for employees of the construction project management team in the Netherlands and (due to the multiculturalism of company) was carried out in English, German and Polish.

Our Way

The management program was created in discussions with the participants and their superiors and was also based on the experience of the trainer in employee workshops on the safety culture.

The first stage took place in German. The participant was the site manager. It was a one-day training session with the topic: Leading employees in such a way that they take safety in the workplace into account. The following was discussed: role and expectations of employees, management cycle – individual phases with a focus on performance evaluation and security offences, praise and criticism.

The second phase of the program was a two-day training session with forepersons and project managers in English. The following topics were discussed in the training: the role of the foreman, the expectations of the managers regarding the employees, the management cycle: individual steps with a focus on performance evaluation and occupational safety, motivating discussions with the employees – criticism and above all praise, regular employee interviews (on safety-relevant topics Construction sites: e.g. JSA, discussing dangerous situations, promoting proactive behaviour, discussing suggestions for improvement), dealing with difficult employees and managing conflict situations.

The third stage consisted of one training day, where the experiences were gathered, and specific problems and situations of the participants discussed in everyday life. The program ended with individual mentoring sessions in which each participant had the opportunity to discuss personal challenges in team management.

The training program was designed and delivered by Magdalena Kishizawa. She has 20 years of experience in training managers at different levels (from team leaders to group management). She holds a Master Degree in Psychology from the University of Heidelberg, Germany. She also studied Educational Science at the Catholic University in Lubin, Poland, and Business Administration at the School of Management at the University of Bradford, UK. She works with the languages English, German and Polish. Ms Kishizawa brings teams together with her dynamic, optimistic and empathetic approach, creates a safe space for exchange and supports the participants as they try out new methods and overcome challenges.

Effective Communication in Matrix Organisational Structure. Leadership Program. (Logistic)

Scenario

The client was a Polish logistics operator which had undergone many changes in the previous ten years which included being privatised and then being sold to a total equity company.

Clients Challenge

The company managers required a training program to assist with the transition to leadership within a matrix organisation. They needed a training program that would equip 120 managers from operations to lead change within their departments.

Our Way

Two day leadership training in Polish. Topics included; challenges in matrix organisation, leading and influencing direct and non-direct reports, effective communication (from giving feedback to effective email communication), working in a virtual environment, motivating others and managing change. Additionally, three months later we delivered a group coaching session which addressed case studies brought by the participants. Individual coaching sessions were also provided for managers working in operations where they had to strengthen their influencing skills.

Training Programm was delivered by Magdalena Kishizawa. She is an experienced trainer with 20 years of experience in training of managers different levels: from team leaders to executives. She studied at the University of Heidelberg in Germany (Diplom-Psychology), Catholic University of Lublin in Poland (Education Science) and School of Management of University of Bradford (Master of Business Administration). She delivers her training in English, German and Polish. With her dynamic, optimistic and empathic approach, Magdalena brings teams together, set a safe space for exchange and support participants while they are trying new approaches and overcome challenges. She worked herself in a global matrix organisation and knows challenges, which managers face while leading their teams in a matrix and a fast-growing environment.

Sales Skills Academy (Retail)

Scenario

The client was an association of wholesalers of household goods which was founded in Germany in the seventies. It is composed of more than 100 independent partner companies and is active in Germany and 16 other European countries.

Clients Challenge

The German mother company already had a sales and leadership skills academy. However, with the growing business in Poland, it was decided that this should be locally introduced for the companies within the Polish network. They required Polish trainers with an understanding of the needs of the Polish market and workplace rather than taking German trainers from the German Sales Academy.

Our Way

First we had interviews with the company owners within the network to understand their needs. Then we ran a workshop with company managers about their needs and conducted observations on the job with sales, office, technical support and retail teams. Using this information, we set up the training process (with participant preparation and after-training support) and suggested 10 training topics to start. The training academy has grown since 2014 and delivers courses on over 50 topics in cooperation with freelance trainers. The training analysis and communication was carried out in Polish.

Magdalena Kishizawa, was a part of the consulting team and works since 2014 as a trainer for a Sales Academy. She delivers trainings on personal development for employees and managers of the association. It is a polish speaking project and all trainings are delivered in Poland. Magdalena brings great experience and business integrity to this project. She motivates participants to make perosnal changes and gives an advice how to overcome personal bareers and challenges. She delivers trainings: Productivity in VUCA Environment, Assertiveness and Personal Impact and Branding.

Executive Coaching of Managing Director (Confectionery)

Scenario

The client is a privately held global manufacturer of confectionery. Its corporate headquarter is in Netherlands. The organisation in Poland had undergone many changes in the preceding years (e.g. production had been moved to another country and many workers had been made redundant). The entire site function changed from production to sales. A new polish MD, without previous MD experience, was moved internally and the newly appointed management team needed to be consolidated and to establish new ways of working together in this different environment.

Client Challenge

The development areas identified were assertiveness, decision-making and prioritisation, and the implementation of actions in an insecure environment. Later, we worked on change management and team development. The MD needed to improve his image as a manager and required leadership coaching, to be perceived as assertive and gain respect. This could then lead to the establishment of a fully-functioning management team capable of implementing the required changes within the organisation.

Our way

The coaching process was composed of five elements: An orientation and assessment session, face-to-face sessions (4 sessions at 2 hours each), in-between assignments (followed up with online coaching platform), telephone coaching (5 sessions at 1 hour each), and a feedback and development session. Coaching took place over eight months and was conducted in Polish by Magdalena Kishizawa.

Magdalena is an experienced coach with 15 years of experience in coaching of managers different levels: from team leaders to executives. She works internationally and with different cultures. She studied at the University of Heidelberg in Germany (Diplom-Psychology), Catholic University of Lublin in Poland (Education Science) and School of Management of University of Bradford (Master of Business Administration). She has systemic background in coaching, coaches for large corporate clients and private clients and delivers her coaching in English, German and Polish. With her dynamic, optimistic and empathic approach, Magdalena brings great experience and business integrity allowing her to work closely with coachees to achieve sustainable results and increased personal effectiveness.

Life Coaching of Country HR Director (Oil and Gas)

Scenario

This coaching client was a female executive based in Poland, the HR director of a major oil and gas company, with more than 15 years of experience in her current position.

Client Challenge

The company policy is to transfer staff to different positions from time-to-time. This meant that the client had to move to the company headquarters out of Poland. As she had her whole life based in Poland, including her family, she was feeling reluctant about making the move. The goal for the coaching sessions was to identify her personal career and life ambitions and to set a two year target to make a positive career move and achieve her expectations for personal growth.

Our way

Coaching was provided through 10 phone sessions at 60 minutes each over a period of three months. This life coaching was delivered by a polish-speaking coach experienced in coaching women in business.

Life Coaching was conducted in Polish by a coach, Magdalena Kishizawa. She is an experienced coach with 15 years of experience in coaching of female managers different levels and cultures. She has systemic background in coaching, coaches internationally for large corporate clients and private clients and delivers her coaching in English, German and Polish. With her international business experience as a woman and a manager, Magdalena brings a lot of insight how to develop own charismatic impact, show confidence, achieve sustainable results and increased personal effectiveness.