PURPOSEful management development:
Management consulting in the nursing and care sector

Tailor-made leadership development. Consulting case of a religious order in the context of Neuwaldegg’s management consulting and development. 

How to establish religious values in the secular working day

A globally active order, which has been suppor­ting people in need since the 15th century, is facing a chal­lenge: there are less and less members of the order in hospi­tals and nursing homes and more and more secular employees are taking on leadership respon­si­bi­li­ties. The monks are asking them­selves how they can sustainably support the order’s values in the members’ ever­yday work. This is exactly what they want to address during a leadership course.

An interdisciplinary course has a specific purpose and professionalises leadership

The order’s leadership course focuses on profes­sio­na­li­sing the leadership work and at the same time on inten­si­vely analy­sing one’s own orga­ni­sa­tion. The following objec­tives set the framework:

• To promote a culture of leadership based on the order’s values by constantly addres­sing them
• Expe­ri­ence-based lear­ning using concrete, own examples
• Deve­lo­ping personal leadership skills through theory, reflec­tion and exercises
• Action between the modules that supports transfer and implementation
• Inter­di­sci­pli­nary exchange so networks can be established

A cultural analysis is started to ensure that the leaders’ specific topics can be picked up on in the programme: Group inter­views are conducted with diffe­rent profes­sional groups and discus­sions are held with employees, mana­gers and monks. Diffe­rent areas and faci­li­ties are also visited and observed.

Individual as well as organisational learning ensures the transfer to practical experience

A leadership programme is desi­gned based on the cultural analysis. In doing so, we pay parti­cular atten­tion to small details, to the choice of the seminar loca­tion, rituals and room plan­ning, which under­line the order’s values.

Or in the group compo­si­tions, we make sure that they repre­sent a good cross-section of the orga­ni­sa­tion and are made up of mana­gers from a wide range of profes­sions. This creates a deeper under­stan­ding for each other, promotes inter­di­sci­pli­nary exchange and enables lear­ning from and with each other.
The programme extends over 14 days and is divided into several modules. We choose the systemic view on leadership in chro­no­lo­gical order: leading systems, leading teams, lean manage­ment & health­care, leading employees. Each lear­ning group is accom­pa­nied by a Reflec­tion Guide, who also offers indi­vi­dual coaching sessions outside the course hours. The new trainer provides fresh input with profes­sional exper­tise and a lot of expe­ri­ence.
Diffe­rent common threads run through the programme: in terms of content, posi­tive leadership is always worked on in a prac­tical way and the parti­ci­pants learn about inter­ven­tions for their ever­yday life. Socially, lear­ning groups focus on shared expe­ri­ences in the evening. Transfer measures are desi­gned around the lear­ning part­ners, for example with shadowing. Orga­ni­sa­tional lear­ning takes place again and again by jointly evalua­ting and passing on experiences.

A shared learning space to unleash potential

Going through this programme is a unique expe­ri­ence every time for the lear­ning groups and will continue to make waves within the order for a long time to come. An inten­sive exami­na­tion of the orga­ni­sa­tional culture, a tailor-made programme, the atten­tion to detail and the inten­sity of the meetings create a unique lear­ning space in which mana­gers can develop – in line with the organisation’s values.

Elisabeth Dudak & Barbara Buzanich

Read more about this: SINN­volle Führung / Neuwal­degger Buch­bei­trag zum Buch Posi­tive Leadership (in German Language)

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