We have high expectations on our employees at NCAB. We expect everyone to – not just get the job done – but to also be an active participant in developing the company.

For this, we need exploring in all parts of NCAB, because change and growth – especially in blue oceans – require us to find our own way forward, rather than following a predictable path.

We have chosen this symbol to remind us that even if we know in which direction we’re going, it will take some exploring to find our way.

That calls for a more advanced leadership style than just telling people what to do. This course in exploring leadership is an introduction – or a reminder, depending on your experience – of how your leadership can raise NCAB’s capacity for change and growth, by helping employees find enough knowledge and motivation to level-up. Of course, there are also regular leadership tasks, but this course is focused on change and growth.

So, we expect people to be high on the initiative ladder, to have a learning mindset, to paddle into a Blue Ocean, to level-up from thought to action, to explore so often that it becomes a habit, and to help colleagues get through the change phases and to be in the learning zone. If you can’t recall the meaning of these words, please refresh the Level up course, because these are not just words – the thinking behind them builds our level up culture.

In times of growth and change, it’s helpful to have a common language for development skills, so that we can discuss what’s happening. And it makes it easier to cooperate across borders. Every time you, as a leader, use these expressions or refer to this thinking, you are a role model for NCAB culture.

Exploring leadership is a bit of a paradox. As a leader, you want to set the direction, monitor progress, drive change – things that hold you together – and still encourage independent thinking, initiatives, and paddling. You want people to feel safe enough to dare explore – and still hold them accountable for their performance. Maybe you’ve done this all your life and think it’s a piece of cake, but… I find myself struggling sometimes.

And people start from different places too. Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said that “If one is truly to succeed in leading a person, one must find him where he is and begin there”. So, wherever employees are, you have to meet them there to coach them to a point where they can start paddling.

Exploring leadership is multi-layered, just like most of our products.
– Explore your employees’ potential 

Where are they now? What is their next level?
– Encourage employees to explore 

How can you help them get ready for it? How can you nudge them into action?
– Do some exploring yourself 

What needs to be improved? How could you do that? How could you test your ideas?

Your work is so important for our employees to develop their skills. and for us all to reach our goals. Thank you for learning about exploring leadership.