Context
Nespresso France embarked on a mission to transform its corporate culture to unlock the full potential of its employees and address modern challenges. Under the leadership of Arnaud Deschamps, the vision is to create an ecosystem where employees are not only allowed but encouraged to take initiatives while working collectively towards shared goals. Deschamps firmly believes that high employee engagement is the company's true competitive advantage.
Problem Statement:
How can we enable individuals to fully deploy their potential and foster the emergence of collective intelligence?
Objectives
1. Employee Autonomy: Empower employees to take initiatives and express themselves freely.
2. Collective Intelligence: Avoid individual dominance to foster collaboration and collective problem-solving.
3. Engagement: Increase employee engagement to improve job satisfaction and the company’s responsiveness to customer needs.
4. Transformative Culture: Re-enchant the cultural and managerial model to align the company's values with those of its employees.
Key Principles
To achieve these objectives, Nespresso France implemented an empowerment strategy based on three key principles:
Small Steps: Adopt a gradual approach by carrying out concrete and visible actions while avoiding too many simultaneous projects.
Long-Term Commitment: Recognize that cultural transformation will take between 3 to 5 years.
Voluntary Participation: Encourage voluntary employee participation in transformation initiatives.
Empowerment Actions Implemented
Goal Alignment
In 2016, Nespresso France's management committee implemented Nestlé’s "goal alignment" protocol. This protocol promotes empowerment by breaking down 3 to 5 strategic orientations into annual objectives, communicated during an annual strategic meeting. These priorities are materialized into cross-functional projects, supervised by employee project managers with the support of the management committee.
Nes'Sens
A collaborative project to define the company's values with the participation of 1400 employees. This project, which started with individual consultations followed by team votes, defined four main values: team spirit, conviviality, agility, and boldness.
EmpowerDays
Awareness and cultural days for all managers to launch the managerial transformation program. These days were designed to involve all levels of management, from front-line managers to the executive team.
Continuous Feedback
Transformation of the performance evaluation cycle into a continuous feedback process. This approach encourages regular conversations initiated by either the manager or the employee. Managers were trained in coaching and feedback techniques.
Empowerment Club
Open to all employees on a voluntary basis, this club offers conferences, a personal development newsletter, digital training, and speed learning workshops to develop soft skills and self-confidence.
Empowerment Workshops
Team sessions on themes such as self-assertion at work, collaboration, and initiative-taking. These workshops, facilitated by experts, aim to create shared awareness and encourage collective action.
Pulse Surveys
Implementation of quarterly surveys to measure employee experience and identify actions to enhance engagement. These surveys collect regular feedback and adapt strategies accordingly.
Collective Intelligence
Promotion of peer learning and the establishment of cooptation programs within the Talent Attraction and Development division. This includes training programs focused on collaborative learning.
Remote Work
Extension of teleworking to two days per week to strengthen employee autonomy and demonstrate the company's trust in them. This measure aims to improve work-life quality and promote a better work-life balance.
Conclusion
Nespresso France demonstrates that a well-structured empowerment model based on trust, autonomy, and accountability can not only enhance employee engagement and satisfaction but also drive a positive and sustainable transformation of the company. By actively involving employees in meaningful projects and valuing their contributions, Nespresso France positions itself as a leader in implementing a successful empowerment culture.
Case study from the book: Storhaye, (2019) Empowerment: Autonomy and the Common Good for a High-Performing Company.