In addition to leadership programs for young professionals and senior leadership, Cosun wanted a leadership program for mid-careers that aligned with those. They chose to collaborate with COURIUS. Masja Schmitz, Talent Manager at Cosun: ‘We developed Leading with influence, our Mid Career Program, in co-creation. It closely aligns with what is happening in our company, fits neatly into our training offerings in structure and models, and both participants and their managers are very positive. It is truly a great way to work on the development of our future leaders.’
Alignment with the business
Masja: ‘Cosun as an organization consists of various business groups. I work at the corporate level within the HR team, for and with the business groups, on talent development, diversity, and inclusion. This also includes the development programs. When I joined Cosun, my task was to redesign these programs. We wanted to structure all programs similarly, with a clear link to the strategy and our leadership model. We also wanted to collaborate with external parties with a lot of expertise instead of individual trainers.
In addition to the expertise and tools that COURIUS offers for leadership development, an important reason to work with them—and continue to enjoy this partnership—was our desire for a program that seamlessly fits the culture and business of our company. That aligns with what is happening and what we find important. This way of thinking and working fits perfectly with COURIUS.
We started with a proposal, then an approach, and subsequently filled the program based on our principles. We did this with the help of a design team consisting of people from different business groups and roles. To ensure the program meets the business needs, there is also a business sponsor.’
Interaction with practice
Maikel van Bakel is a board member at Aviko and is as managing director responsible for Aviko Rixona. This is part of Aviko, one of Cosun’s business groups. ‘When I became a business sponsor, the framework for Leading with influence was indeed set. Together we then developed the program. COURIUS proposes a module, we check it against the needs of participants and business, finalize it, and afterward listen to everyone’s experiences. Was it what the participants needed? Which parts resonated, which didn’t? Does it align with their daily and future practice? This way, we keep each other sharp on the program content. So that’s one great aspect of the collaboration.
Secondly, and I think this might be an even more important role for me as a business sponsor: I monitor where the business needs lie and what knowledge and skills we have in-house. The trainers at COURIUS have expertise in leadership and coaching, but what makes the program extra successful for us is that we ask people from our business groups to share their practical experiences as guest speakers. This creates a beautiful interaction between what the participants learn and what they encounter (or will encounter) in practice.’
Increasing connection
Masja: ‘Cosun has several objectives with Leading with influence. Firstly, of course, the development of employees, making them aware of how they react. So that they can have more impact and take more control. Additionally, we find the connection between people and business groups important. It is important that everyone becomes familiar with our strategy and leadership model. Ultimately, we want to develop our future leaders.’
Maikel: ‘As Cosun, we are in a transition. Historically, we have been a cooperative of arable farmers. We want to look at market challenges more from the perspective of the cooperative, instead of as separate business groups. This way, we can find solutions faster together and benefit from each other’s strengths. However, a transition like this requires new leaders. The content of Leading with influence fits very neatly within this new way of thinking and the leadership profile that we want to give our mid-career candidates.’
Working on strategy
Masja: ‘The participants are not always the ones leading or determining changes, but they are the change enablers. They must contribute to making the transition actually happen. It is important that they understand how they can do this. For this, you need to delve into what the strategy means: for your business group and your team. Leading with influence is one of the ways to bring the strategy to life within the organization.’
Maikel: ‘An example. The program includes a business challenge. Participants are presented with a current business issue, for which they have to do research (external and internal) and formulate a concrete recommendation. We can then incorporate those recommendations in the realization of our new strategy. And we ask some of the participants to act as ambassadors within the organization. So, the program doesn’t end after it finishes, and we forge a network within Cosun.’
‘Participants make visible steps. This doesn’t necessarily mean a different position immediately: they take on different projects, stand differently in their role or within the team. We hear this feedback from their managers.’
Masja Schmitz, Talent Manager at Cosun
Results Leading with influence
Maikel: ‘We also see that the networks within the training group become very strong. That is really a strength of this program. People come from all kinds of disciplines, from all business groups, including internationally, and have different qualities. They are all at the same stage in their careers and face the same pitfalls and development issues. Suddenly they see that they are not alone, that they can learn from each other’s experiences. This strengthens the common foundation, Cosun as an organization, and the pursuit to make Cosun better.
The participants are really incredibly positive about Leading with influence. I have seen few programs about which the group was so enthusiastic. At the closing session, where people had to share their personal learning experiences, there is a lot of pride. In how someone has developed over those eight, nine months. It was great to see. Their managers were also present and confirmed that personal growth. They saw it reflected in the workplace.’
Masja: ‘Yes, we see that the program has an impact. That participants make steps. This doesn’t necessarily mean a different position immediately, but they take on different projects, stand differently in their role or take a different position within their team.
In a way, such a program is also a kind of gift. People feel like, ‘Wow, there is investment in us’. This way, we hope to retain them longer for your organization. We select the participants, and people are already asking if they can join next time. Because colleagues who have already participated see it as a very rich experience.’
‘The participants are really incredibly positive about Leading with influence. I have seen few programs about which the group was so enthusiastic.’
Maikel van Bakel, managing director Aviko Rixona and business sponsor
Collaboration
Masja: ‘This close connection of the program with the business requires a lot from the collaboration with COURIUS. Transparency and trust are essential. In our regular meetings, we not only evaluate the program itself but also address current issues within the company. Conversely, we also provide feedback to managers on the topics covered in the program.’
What I appreciate is that COURIUS is also very quality-driven. So are we. Thus we reinforce each other. As a client, we can sometimes be perceived as demanding, but precisely because we are both focused on qality, it doesn’t feel that way at all. I find that very pleasant.’
Maikel: ‘The only challenge that remains, which we also hear from the participants, is that sometimes too many different theoretical models are addressed in one day. Based on that feedback, we’ll make choices for the upcoming group.’
High-impact leadership development
Do you also want to design an impactful leadership program for your organization that contributes to growth, retention and promotion of your high-performing employees? Please contact us for an exploratory conversation and tell us about your challenges.
