WHAT WAS THE CHALLENGE?
WSP Sweden Transport and Infrastructure (formerly Samhällsbyggnad) had several intense years behind them with major market challenges and changes, as well as several management shifts. The business landscape and the way of doing business are changing at a high pace, which places increased demands on the management team to constantly having the highest power to change and adapt to new ways of delivering.

In the management group, the pandemic year had resulted in major changes that required a lot of strength and energy to keep the commitment up and many of us felt tired and worn out. It was clear that we had paid the price using our own energy, but we also realized that trust, cooperation and thus also the power to act in the management group had been negatively affected.

Against this background, we wanted to give the management team the opportunity to a fresh start. We saw a particular need to find trust and confidence in the group. The priority was also to increase consensus around our mission, purpose, goals and working methods, and to strengthen our management group identity.

Doing’s experience with similar assignments and their confidence and courage in leading the effort digitally, which was a prerequisite, meant that we did not hesitate to get started. In addition, Doings shared our core values ​​that trust is the basis for joint, long-term development. We also appreciated Doing’s agile approach, where the common thread was to build in exercises and methods based on our needs (not present a packed and clear plan) but to co-create based on what we needed.

WHAT WAS THE SOLUTION?
Doings guided us through a well-designed management team development, with trust in focus. We started with individual interviews with each one, which was valuable to share their personal needs and view on the current situation. Then we worked in a total of 4 workshops. We worked our way through an inclusive, stimulating but also challenging process where we went from the Why, to the How and finally the What. We summarized our expectations and needs in the management team work in a contract, which was our compass and roadmap throughout the process.

During the process, we also worked with individual coaching for everyone in the management group. It was an important channel to have the space to be individually challenged and supported in developing one’s management team role, to be able to contribute maximally to the whole.

WHAT WAS THE RESULT?
We found our way back to trust! We were challenged and agreed to dare to choose trust, rather than to earn trust. We were also given valuable, hands-on tools to use in our everyday lives to make it happen. It has been crucial for us to work with trust as a foundation, as we have found ourselves in an extreme period of change, which has required a stable and safe team that supports each other.

Today, we have a clear contract that reminds us of our common target image and what behaviors we want and need in the management team. We remind ourselves of these in every meeting and in every situation we encounter. We have visualized these behaviors in clear symbols and images, which we all strongly relate to.

We appreciated Doing’s steady guidance throughout the process. We are very pleased that the effort really followed our needs, that Doings challenged us and pushed us exactly where we needed it, while giving us the energy and inspiration as well as the tools and methods to develop together. I continue to use Doings as a sounding board even after the effort with the management group is over. The external support and coaching in the continued change work is important to me in order to lead the change in a sustainable and long-term way.

WSP is one of the world’s leading consulting companies and advisors in community development. WSP develops everything from cities and transport systems to water supply and tall buildings. With 55 000 employees in over 40 countries, the company gathers experts in analysis and technology to future-proof the world. Around 4,200 employees work in Sweden.