The power of connections
Achieving more with networking at Hager Group
The power of connections
Together we can achieve far more than when we are alone.
Hager Group has a large number of diverse networks that are transforming the way we work together and support each other. Networks break silos, reinforce a common mindset and create opportunities outside the department; key to energetically and collectively transforming the company. The impetus for many of these diverse networks came from employees themselves with the desire to share and take ownership of their professional learning journey. The network members and indeed the networks themselves are constantly evolving and growing; five of them are presented here. Representatives were asked what their network is about, who it is for and what’s in for them, customers and the company as a whole.
Learning Community
An internal network aimed at improving customers’ learning opportunities and internal competence to deliver.
Name: Paul Collins
Age: 57
Paul Collins Technical Support and Training Manager UK, started at Hager Group more than 20 years ago. Currently in the Marketing department he is pleased to be part of this Learning Community.
The Learning Community was set up in 2016 by customer technical support and training teams in 10 European markets together with Group Human Resources. The Learning Community share their objectives and work by helping each other be more effective, pooling resources, learning together and transforming training into learning to reach the next level. The Learning Community enables the customer to become more competent and confident, taking into account learning styles and preferences. The challenge is to provide a learning service for customers on-line, as such the community offers specific digital methods; ‘how to’ videos and tutorials for customers are an example of how digital learning supports can be created, shared and adapted in-house. These new methods complete face-to-face training and the traditional technical support call. They are simply in line with the trend to use a smartphone or Google something to learn easily, anytime, anywhere.
It makes perfect sense to work together, pool resources and use common tools. This brings us closer to the customer and offers them a better wider learning experience.
Hager Group TAI Community
Hager Group TAI Community – for Trainees, Apprentices and Interns
Name: Emilie Guyon
Age: 24
Emilie Guyon is CRM Project Manager in the French Market area. She started at Hager Group in Obernai, France in February 2018. A member of TAI Community, she also oversees the organisation of all its activities.
The TAI Community set up in 2013 by TAIs with the support of Talent Management now boasts over 300 members. Mostly from France and Germany, its members meet on a regular basis for professional and afterwork activities. The aim of the TAI Community is to facilitate integration within the company by creating a support network for trainees, apprentices & interns as well as a bridge from student to professional life. It is also an excellent talent pool for internal recruiters. Any country with TAIs can duplicate the support network for this specific population to promote this spirit of cooperation. It can also influence future talents in their choice of Hager Group when searching for job; knowing that a dedicated support network is available to offer advice when you move to a new area and start a new job is a real reassuring plus. The community is managed by its members who speak the same language; it keeps the community young and dynamic. For example, weekly TAI lunches are held to share experiences. In fact, getting to know a TAI member can also mean getting to know their colleagues and manager thus creating more relations and a new way of broadening professional contacts. You don’t need to be ‘young’ to participate; people who have opted for a career change are also part of the network.
It’s all about making the most of your time at Hager Group and helping others to do the same.
LIFT Community
LIFT Community – Leading Into the Future Together
Name: Roger Claessen
Age: 50
Roger Claessen works as Business Development Director, Africa and Near East, MENEAT. He started at Hager Group more than 14 years ago and is a proud member of the LIFT Community.
Leading into the Future Together is all about transitioning from manager to leader. It’s a Leadership development programme progressively deployed by waves of 100 participants to cover 400 managers by 2020. The concept could however apply to any member of the group as it’s all about looking at the big picture, working together cross teams, breaking silos, finding solutions and moving forward. Co-developed with Vlerick Business School, it is a blended journey of online and face-to-face coaching to create a sense of ownership for transformation and build a network of change agents. Roger states that LIFT has not only provided excellent tools and advice on how to develop himself, it also provides an excellent network of new contacts from different domains and culture within the group and also outside thanks to the partnership. “After all, we are one team, family and company with the same aims and ambitions.” It is a way of achieving better results internally to agilely respond to customer requests, showing them that we are a company that can be trusted. LIFT provides a common framework and language for managers to support their teams and help them to cope with future challenges.
The program is a great way to achieve a mindset change throughout the whole company. LIFTers have a solution oriented can-do attitude. Listening, working and doing differently with long-lasting benefits.
Young Professionals Club
A two-year integration programme for young professionals at Hager Group
Name: Kerstin Gattinger
Age: 28
Kerstin Gattinger, Senior Category Purchaser in Sourcing, started at Hager Group in 2010. She was an active member of the first cycle of the YPC from 2014 to 2015, and then a club organiser until 2017.
Today’s Young Professionals Club (YPC) is built from an initiative established by Hager Group Vice President Sourcing in 2014 for French, Polish and German colleagues in this department and the Supply Chain. Based on the success of the first programme, this two-year integration programme is now in its third cycle and diverse employees under the age of 30 from all Corporate departments in different countries can be members. YPC is a platform to meet and share with peers from different sites and functions; the exchanges, the meetings and the training provided are in English, the key language to grow professionally. Each two-year cycle has up to 18 members with less than 5 years of experience within the company. Kerstin explains that when she started out she felt the need to build up & broaden her network and learn from others as when you are new to a company, creating a network from scratch can be daunting; YPC facilitates. Members follow a two-year integration programme, officially the network meets twice a year, however meeting up and contacting each other is much more frequent. This club, supported by Human Resources and the Vice President Sourcing, is also an opportunity for more senior managers to benefit from the perspective of a fresh pair of eyes and can support a younger generation full of potential, motivation and enthusiasm to interact with others.
Early on in their career young professionals can understand the importance of working cross function to break silo thinking. It’s an alternative way of getting into contact with colleagues when you start your career.
when!
A feminine network for inspiration, sharing experience and solidarity at Hager Group.
Name: Elisabeth Lux
Age: 45
Elisabeth Lux is in charge of development for sales administration and back office for commercial reps. She joined Hager Group more than 18 years ago. Looking to open new horizons, she joined when!
when!, to which all Hager Group colleagues are welcome, has been active since October 2017. This grass-roots initiative has generated a lot of enthusiasm and gained strong support at all levels of the company. Within a short space of time, when! has grown stronger and now boasts 132 members predominantly in France and Germany. It’s a network to meet people, share ideas, experiences and competencies – my network is your network type of principle. It is all about accompanying and promoting women’s personal & professional development in the workplace. Elisabeth comments that being part of the when! task force helps to develop other competencies such as public speaking or being a mentor – and it’s all for a good cause, the advancement of women and the company.
The task force meets once every four to six weeks and monthly events take place such as mentoring programs, meetings with external companies and presentations about previous professional experience in different business sectors. The mentoring program from this bottom-up initiative has even inspired another network, Hager pals, to adapt their mentoring process.
when! women, Hager Group, energy – ethics – environment – engagement – electricity…, network!
It’s a great opportunity to meet people, it opens doors and minds. It also contributes to Hager Group transformation as its members dare to speak up, offer ideas and get more involved.