Face-to-face discussions have their charm, but digital platforms often fit the bill just right. By Lasse Jalling - Learning Architect
Navigating Flexibility, Involvement, and a Pandemic – The ‘Kinder Surprise’ Approach.
Moelven embarked on an ambitious journey to involve all 3,400 of its employees in envisioning the company’s future. The plan was simple: gather physically and employ dialogue mats as the medium of communication. All was set to commence in mid-February 2020 – until COVID changed the game.
Adapting swiftly, in partnership with Moelven, we scouted for alternatives. The solution emerged in Miro, a robust platform conducive to fostering digital conversations centered on Active Employeeship and Leadership Participation. Truth be told, we were already experimenting, blending analogue tools with Diggle for one of the dialogue mats. The onset of the pandemic simply expedited our shift to digital. As a touch of finesse, we provided participants with a well-organised A4 folder encapsulating the entire dialogue mat process and content.
The pandemic era has been peculiar; while some cherished the idea of physical meetings and vouched for the traditional analogue method, many embraced the digital shift wholeheartedly. Moelven’s flexibility shone here. They made it possible for teams to choose between a pure analogue setting, a completely digital environment, or a hybrid of the two – ensuring safety without compromising collaboration.
In this adaptive journey, Moelven stumbled upon its ‘Kinder Surprise’ – a multifaceted solution brimming with flexibility. As Terje Melheim, grand master of facilitation and responsible for employee and leadership development at Moelven, puts it:
“Owing to the diverse versions of the dialogue mat at our disposal, we can customise our approach to resonate with the unique requirements of each business unit. While some may find technology intrusive, preferring the analogue version, others, constrained by the inability to convene physically but passionate about the process, lean towards the digital approach. Essentially, we’ve sculpted a ‘Kinder Surprise’, channeling our energies on orchestrating the process. The outcome is promising; by summer 2021, nearly all employees will engage in dialogues, delving deep into the nuances of Active Employeeship.”
