Leadership Initiatives by SKF
SKF, a global leader in bearings, seals, and lubrication systems, sought to accelerate their strategy and transformation efforts by enhancing leadership capabilities. In partnership with Novare Leadership, SKF aimed to drive transformation in two strategic area: sales acceleration and factory transformation.
Strengthening leadership to accelerate strategy and drive transformation
The initiative focused on fostering a mindset shift within business and leadership with the following key objectives:
- Move from a volume-driven to a profitability-driven approach
- Prioritize breakthrough innovations over incremental changes
- Integrate sustainability and purpose across the entire value chain
- Enable flexible resourcing to create time for transformation
- Foster accountability and experimentation for faster decision-making
- Strengthen ownership in line with regionalization strategy
This initiative helps our Factory Leaders become Chief Transformation Officers of their factories by creating and executing Transformation plans with a clear purpose. The Mentor exchange program has been a great way to learn and share best practices on ‘leading Transformation’. We are eager to keep transforming our business and truly value the contribution by Novare team and Mentors
SKF were also in the phase of initiating a separation of its Automotive business and split the group into two separate companies. A big step change to be dealt with for the leaders.
In collaboration, SKF HR managers, business sponsors and Novare Leadership developed several action learning programs structured around three key pillars; Individual Strategy Acceleration Plans, Acceleration Events, including factory visits for best practice sharing and cross learning and External Mentorship with senior change leaders.
Individual strategy acceleration plan
Each leader started their learning journey by developing its own individual strategy acceleration plan. This included a plan both for personal leadership development and a plan for each business area. This to tailor-make each development journey based on their unique challenges in the market.
Acceleration events & factory visits
To create value from cross-learning from other industries and best practice exchange, factory visits and leadership skill sessions were planned. Atlas Copco, Electrolux Professionals and SAAB were chosen for the experience exchange and factory visits based on their specific success of chosen transformation projects. Facilitated workshops on how to go to market, digitalization and collaboration in change were set up for a mutual experience exchange between the companies and the participants. Important insights and best practice sharing on how to lead transformational change were exchanged.
Senior mentorship
For further support on the development plans both an internal and external mentor were selected to match each leader. The foundation of the mentor matching was to find senior executives with a track record of a similar transformation journey of strategy acceleration and/or factory transformation. Novare Leadership provided access to a global range and network of senior executives to find a match of mutual experience exchange. Novare Leadership also provided a mentor handbook with guiding principles to help mentor and mentee in their journey, tips and recommendations for successful mentoring.
“By combining individual learning plans, cross learning between companies and senior experience exchange, we are driving strategic innovation and smarter decision-making,” says Christina Andersson, Program Director for the SKF projects at Novare Leadership.
Empowering leaders to drive development
The acceleration events also included transformation skills sessions, empowering leaders with the courage and mindset needed to become catalysts and connectors for change within SKF. From the factory visit at Electrolux Professionals in Pordenone, Italy, the group summed up their learnings and insights on leading transformational change:
Clear Purpose & Message
Keep the “Why” front and center throughout the transformation to align and motivate everyone.
Leadership Mindset
Transformation starts with the leader’s mindset—set the example through openness, resilience, and growth.
Early Engagement & Involvement
Prioritize early, messy involvement over perfection to build ownership and alignment from the start.
Focus & Prioritization
Be bold in deciding what to stop and start for clarity and effective action.
Urgency & Long-Term Vision
Balance short-term urgency with long-term cultural goals for sustained change.
Cultural Persistence
Focus on shifting attitudes and behaviors – real change takes time and consistency.
Would you like to know more? Get in Touch!
Sounds intriguing? Reach out to us if you’re interested in exploring how we can support you and your company with transformation in a specific area.
