Leadership seminar strengthens cohesion

For an organization in growth, cohesion and knowledge sharing are important – especially when the state of the world can itself make everyday life feel like a burning platform. This is why the energy group VERDO chose to collaborate with CfL on a seminar for the company’s executive forum. 

By Nikolai Steensgaard, Business Journalist, February 2024

The everyday life in a modern and diverse organization requires decisiveness and quick decisions. That leaves little time for managerial reflections and knowledge sharing. Therefore, it is extremely valuable to regularly gather the leadership at seminars where there is time for reflection and sparring.

For this reason, VERDO’s hr director, Margrete Larsen, gathers her leadership group approximately every six months. Most recently, in September, the so-called executive forum – comprising about 30 people – attended a two-day seminar, for which CfL provided the content on the first day.

The purpose was to strengthen cohesion and professional expertise – based on VERDO’s core values.

As an organization, we have three values: Together, Responsible, and Ambitious. Regarding the first value, it means that we must succeed together – by working together and sharing knowledge. In daily practice, knowledge sharing makes more sense in some areas than in others. We use seminars to create synergies – and to remind ourselves and each other that we are all in the same boat. – says Margrete Larsen.

It is only becoming more important

This is especially true in a time when global unrest can leave any leader with the impression of standing on a burning platform. There are many external factors to consider.

Geopolitical instability affects us all – especially when you are an energy company. War in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, soaring price increases, corona – and most recently even a landslide in Randers that makes it hard to get on the municipal agenda. There are plenty of challenges. Crisis management has almost become everyday management. It’s a complicated world to navigate. – explains Margrete Larsen.

Competencies and the Workplace of the Future

It was no coincidence that last year Margrete Larsen chose to turn to CfL for her leadership seminar. Approximately ten years ago, the leadership group at VERDO attended a four-day seminar where CfL trained the executive forum in various management methods and mindsets.

"Since then, our organization has grown considerably, and many new leaders have joined. We asked CfL to review some of the same methods we were taught back then. For some participants it was repetition; for others, it was an introduction to something new. In any case, it ensures that we work consistently," she explains.

Values Matter at VERDO

As an energy group, VERDO has grown significantly over the years—both in terms of business areas and size. Its roots go all the way back to 1874, when the Oust Mølle Waterworks in Randers was inaugurated. Over time, electricity and district heating were added. The local utility company was born.

The company has about 600 employees. The headquarters is located in its home city of Randers, with offices in Aalborg, Aarhus, Herning, Hillerød, and Næstved, as well as international offices in Poland, Norway, the USA, and a single representative in Bahrain.

VERDO is the primary utility company in Randers and Herning. In addition to supplying, it also trades in fuels such as bio and coal, builds small heating plants, and deals with electricity.

It is a customer-owned cooperative with a strong focus on corporate responsibility, including green transition. For example, it has reduced the CO₂ emissions from its combined heat and power plant by 99.3% since 2009.

Especially Active Participants

CfL’s Chief Advisor Annette Elgaard Bøttger was responsible for planning and delivering the morning session at VERDO. She noted that the participants in VERDO’s executive forum were extremely eager to engage in debate. Dialogue sparked almost immediately.

Margrete Larsen made the same observation.

"The participants were very active – which does not surprise me. Everyone in our executive forum has chosen to be a leader. They are interested in leadership as a field. On the other hand, they probably do not have much time in everyday life to reflect on it," she says, continuing:

"Ultimately, it’s about the fact that all of them have cleared one and a half days in their calendars. They get the opportunity to say: Now I will spend time on myself and improve my skills. Now I will absorb experience from the other leaders. Who wouldn’t want that?"