28th FVI Expert Breakfast

Topic: "Leadership 2030" – When the skilled labor shortage is no longer just a theory.

In this session, moderated by Marcel Hahn and Jens Reißenweber, Lothar Schmiegel (Gerolsteiner) outlined a future where we no longer talk about the shortage but have to live with it.

• 2030 is the tipping point: The date is not coincidental. By then, the baby boomers will retire. This gap will not be filled by new generations ("The people were not born"). We must therefore learn to do the same work with 30% less staff.

• Leader as a coach, not as a specialist: Many companies promote the best specialist to the boss. This is a double mistake: you lose the best expert and gain a poor manager. Leaders in 2030 must be coaches ("How can I help you solve the problem?"), not commanders ("Do it this way!").

• Agility as a survival strategy: Lothar gave the example of building a house in the Eifel: employees organize themselves perfectly in private (house building, fire brigade), but at work, they are disempowered. We need to trust them to organize themselves. When the team decides who takes which shift, satisfaction increases and the leader is relieved.
• Values trump salary: A LinkedIn study showed that employees are willing to forgo salary if the values are right and the flexibility is there. Those who stubbornly insist on 9-to-5 lose talents to the competition that offers home office (even for planners) or flexible shifts.
• Do instead of over-discussing: A recurring theme (also in Ep 27): We discuss everything to death in Germany. Instead of waiting for the big HR strategy, every department head should start small ("Do, do, do"). A colorful workshop, cooler clothing, or an appreciative conversation cost no budget, just courage.

Context: Technology enables modern leadership

This episode shows that software changes not only processes but also leadership styles.

• ADAM as a "self-service tool": If we want employees to organize themselves, they need information. ADAM gives every employee access to all relevant data (maintenance plans, history, spare parts). This makes them capable of making decisions without having to ask the master. This is the technological basis for agility.

• Relieving leaders: Lothar said leaders are suffocating in meetings. ADAM automates reporting. Instead of manually crafting reports for the shop floor meeting, ADAM generates the dashboard in real-time. The leader has time for the essentials: coaching.

• Skill management: As discussed in Episode 25, ADAM (in combination with tools) helps recognize and specifically utilize employees' strengths. This prevents judging a "fish by how well it climbs trees".

Conclusion: The skilled labor shortage cannot be argued away, but it can be managed – through technology that empowers people and a leadership culture that trusts them.