Some details
Düsseldorf-based E.ON, one of the world',s largest energy companies, launched their Climate and Renewables division with a bracing mandate: grow from boutique to industrial in four years. We developed and rolled out the leadership principles they used to do just that.
Challenge
EC&,R’s growth created three mission-critical challenges:
- How to transform the
These were the questions EC&,R hired Evviva Brands to address.
Solution
We knew many employees had been attracted by a desire to do something different in energy—something forward-thinking they could be proud to tell their grandchildren. about We knew that as a growth company, EC&,R had attracted people seeking a career that would reward those willing to push hard and take risks. And because this was part of E.ON AG, we knew there was substantial brand equity to leverage. We also knew that the brand leadership had to come from the top, with looking at brand from a leadership perspective. So we developed a set of simple, universal leadership principles for EC&,R based on the organization’s unique marketplace differentiators. These principles provided a leadership framework for the organization’s growth. Each was linked to specific sets of behaviors that leaders throughout the organization would manifest in their daily lives, be held account-able to by their leaders and one another, and be rewarded for. They were crafted to ensure that the feel of leadership—from open doors, open collars and open minds to a willingness to challenge agreed decisions—didn’t change as the organization grew and more layers were added. And they simplified and clarified the parent company’s incentive scheme ensuring the right behaviors would be properly rewarded. The principles approved, we began a year-long rollout process designed to generate discussion, gather input and deliver ownership at every organizational level.
Results
Through the entire cascade process early results were strong. The work was embraced by managers at every level as a simple, effective, honest and authentic culture capture. The principles have become a cornerstone of the organization’s decision-making process, influencing performance management, evaluations, pay practices and promotion as well as day-to-day operations at the manager and team level.
We’re pleased they’re credited with elevating “how we behave” to the same level as “what we produce.” We',re proud that today, nearly four years after their debut, they’ve become ingrained in the organization’s DNA and are the litmus test for decision-making. And as a result of this work, EC&,R’s performance in the parent company’s annual attitudinal survey is exceptionally strong.
And when the CEO asked us for a poster of the Principles to hang in his office? We’re not too proud to admit we called our mums.
More at: https://www.evvivabrands.com/portfolio/e-on-principles/