How can you guide the growth of your people into a competitive advantage?

In this episode, Rich sits down with Tami Wolownik, Head of People & Organization at Siemens Mobility, where she leads the HR function for 4,000 employees.

Tami discusses one of the biggest strategic resources for any company: talent. She shares practical advice on how to help people create a skills-based future, improve performance management through Growth Talks, and enhance succession planning through Talent Spotlights. She also discusses aligning functional goals with corporate goals and her approach to leadership development throughout the organization.

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“I will tend to block portions of my schedule in the morning for what I call impactful thinking. When I know there's two or three different projects that I'm working on, or that I need to get with the team on and I need to do some advanced planning, advanced thinking, I'm going to block my schedule.”

“You have to have leaders who understand that they don't have to be the smartest person in the room.”

“You should be open to constructive feedback if it's coming from someone who has your back.”

“Leaders have to truly empower employees and not only empower, leaders have to rely on employees. And if the leaders get that up front, that they do need those employees, they need their ideas, they need their input, they can't generate everything that has to come out of their department or their group on their own, as soon as they understand that and decide to tap into that, they will be an effective leader.”

Practice Makes Profit: Completing the time assessment at the end of each quarter to see if you're happy with where your time's being spent relative to your priorities.

League of Strategic Minds [listener question]: What are the key areas to cover in a strategic plan?

Winsights: Ideas for Advantage:

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple said, “We want ideas coming from all 100,000 people, not just five or three. A much smaller number of people have to decide and edit and move forward, but we want ideas coming from everywhere.” What channels have you set up to enable your people to share their insights on a regular basis?

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(00:48) Deep Dive Interview with Tami Wolownik

(49:18) Practice Makes Profit

(51:13) League of Strategic Minds

(53:18) Winsights, Ideas for Advantage

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Links:

Submit a question for Rich to the League of Strategic Minds

Tami Wolownik on LinkedIn

Rich Horwath on LinkedIn

Rich Horwath on YouTube

Rich Horwath on Instagram

Strategic Thinking Institute Website

Inc. Magazine’s Top 4 book for 2024: STRATEGIC Book

New executive development platform: Strategic Fitness System
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