In the rapidly evolving IT sector, agility is a key asset across all areas of an organization, from project work to leadership. Agile leadership is one of the main pillars of Innofactor’s employee value proposition.*
In practice, agile leadership means a management approach that emphasizes flexibility, adaptability, teamwork and a people-first mindset. An agile leader supports self-directed teams, fosters open communication, and makes decisions iteratively to ensure the company can adapt to changing needs and environments. There is no room for micromanagement; instead, the agile leader’s role is to coach and support their team.
At the beginning of 2024, we launched monthly workshops at Innofactor to enhance our leaders’ agile leadership skills and create a unified leadership model. These workshops are based on Innofactor’s four leadership cornerstones: trust, communication, coaching, and growth.
We Trust
I'm genuine, true to my word, and play fair. For me, it's about mutual respect and lifting each other up. Empowering others empowers us all. Ultimately, I believe fostering trust paves the way to shared victories.
Trust is built on honesty and fairness. It starts with mutual respect, where everyone encourages and supports one another. Trust enables effective collaboration and learning and lays the foundation for shared success.
We Communicate
I believe in honesty—it's just how I roll. I share feedback directly, exhibit accountability and expect it from our employees as well. Our strategy? I make sure our employees grasp it and have clear achievable goals. I show direction and before you know it, we'll be celebrating our success together.
Open communication strengthens trust and collaboration within teams. An agile leader must be able to communicate clearly and swiftly, especially in times of change. Effective communication also inspires and motivates employees, helping them commit to shared goals. Active listening and interaction are essential elements of communication between leaders and their teams.
We Coach
I highlight others' talents and cheer them on. Whenever people need me, I’m here and all ears. I aim to gain a deep knowledge of our team and customers. And you bet I’ll always bring positivity and energy to the mix. In short, I work hard to power people’s potential.
Coaching focuses on recognizing, supporting, and maximizing employees' personal skills and potential. A leader’s role is to highlight their team members’ strengths, encourage them, and be present when they need advice or a sparring partner.
We Grow
I champion innovation and see challenges and mistakes as steps towards gaining new knowledge. For me, collaboration is vital, and I appreciate the value of our incredible people and all our customers. I truly believe we flourish best when we do it together.
Growth refers to continuous learning and development at both individual and organizational levels. Agile leadership supports team members' growth by providing opportunities to develop, experiment, and take responsibility. Growth is fostered in an environment where learning from mistakes is encouraged, and setting ambitious goals is supported. Psychological safety is a key prerequisite for growth. In a psychologically safe environment, team members can share ideas, ask questions, and make mistakes without fear of negative consequences.
Reflection and Engagement
The first workshops of 2024 delved deeper into each leadership cornerstone. Experts from various fields were invited to share in-depth knowledge and new perspectives. Later in the year, the focus shifted to Innofactor’s new strategy and its implementation from a leadership perspective.
In these leadership workshops, our leaders had the opportunity to share their experiences and reflect on their leadership practices. Through peer discussions, participants shared moments of success and also explored the challenges they face as leaders.
"As a leader, I am here to serve people, remove obstacles, and help them achieve their goals."
Kaisa Majava, People Manager
Leadership Development is a Long-Term Commitment
Great leadership does not happen overnight — it is built through experience, reflection, and feedback. That is why leadership development remains a continuous focus at Innofactor.
We track our progress through weekly internal pulse surveys and open feedback channels. In 2024, our leadership score remained steady at 7.8/10.
The score is based on employee responses to questions such as:
- Do you trust your supervisor?
- Do you feel your supervisor respects you?
- Do you feel your department is managed satisfactorily?
- Do you receive enough feedback from your supervisor/team leader?
These results help us identify areas that require further improvement. For example, communication is an area where we all can improve. On the other hand, psychological safety at Innofactor is strong, as reflected in both survey results and open employee feedback.
Leadership development is an ongoing journey, and our agile leadership workshops will continue in 2025.
Read more about Innofactor’s employee value proposition here.
*The pillars of Innofactor’s employee value proposition are based on an employer brand study conducted by an independent organization, as well as internal employee surveys. The company’s strategy, expert insights, and general market trends further complement these themes. According to the brand study, inspiring leadership is one of the most important criteria employees consider when choosing an employer.
Watch the video to hear our leaders’ thoughts on agile leadership at Innofactor!
