Next-Gen Leadership insight
Why People-Centric Leadership Isn’t Just a Buzzword – It’s the Cornerstone of Global Success
Insights from Schneider Electric’s Michael Lotfy Gierges on Building Winning Teams Across Cultures
What sets truly exceptional leaders apart in the manufacturing sector today? Through an enlightening conversation with Michael Lotfy Gierges, Executive Vice President at Schneider Electric’s Home and Distribution Division, we discover that people-centric leadership isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the cornerstone of global success.
As Michael explains, “People are not only the main driver; in my humble opinion, they are the greatest asset of any company, of any industry, of any technology.” This profound insight sets the foundation for understanding why human-focused leadership transcends cultural boundaries and drives innovation.
Companies that focus on skills and leadership development are 1.5 times more likely to maintain high performance compared to average companies, showing the power of investing in people.
Building a Winning Culture Across Global Teams
- Breaking Down Silos: Schneider Electric’s approach to global collaboration is revolutionary. By implementing peer reviews across different geographical zones, they’ve created a culture where teams from opposite sides of the globe share insights and challenge assumptions. This practice not only improves solutions but also builds cultural understanding and empathy.
- Celebrating Diversity as a Superpower: For Michael, diversity isn’t just about meeting quotas – it’s an “existential superpower.” With team members from various cultural backgrounds, Schneider Electric harnesses different perspectives to better serve global markets and create innovative solutions.
“The biggest enemy for progress is the illusion that you’re in a good state, that you’re in a good spot.”
Leadership Lessons for Global Success
- Collective Intelligence Over Individual Brilliance: “If I’m the smartest one in the room, we’re in trouble,” Michael admits. This humble approach emphasizes building teams of brilliant minds and valuing input from all organizational levels.
- The Kind vs. Nice Distinction: Michael advocates for being kind rather than nice. While niceness can lead to stagnation, kindness allows for constructive disagreement and challenging conversations that drive growth and innovation.
Measuring Success in Global Leadership
- Tangible Metrics: Market share growth, innovative solutions, and shareholder value
- Intangible Indicators: Team cohesion, talent retention, and improved collaboration
- Personal Growth: Leaders’ evolution in handling conflicts and decision-making
When leaders focus on people, employees are four times more likely to perform well, over three times more likely to stay, and experience less burnout.
Why This Matters
In an era where technology and automation dominate headlines, Michael’s insights remind us that human connection and understanding remain crucial to manufacturing leadership. By fostering a culture of collaboration, celebrating diversity, and maintaining humility, leaders can build truly global teams that drive innovation and success.
The Path Forward
For manufacturing leaders looking to excel in today’s global marketplace, the message is clear: invest in people, embrace cultural differences, and create environments where collective intelligence can flourish. As Michael’s experience at Schneider Electric shows, when we put people at the center of our leadership approach, remarkable things happen.
Invest in people, embrace cultural differences, and create environments where collective intelligence can flourish
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Let’s continue building bridges across cultures, fostering innovation through diversity, and leading with both kindness and purpose in the manufacturing world.
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Sannah Vinding
Sannah Vinding
Producer & Host, Leadership In Manufacturing Podcast
Sannah Vinding is a distinguished Engineer, B2B Marketing Strategist, and Executive Leader with over two decades of experience in the electronics manufacturing industry.
She is renowned for her technical engineering expertise, innovative product development skills, and strategic marketing acumen.
As the producer and host of the top-ranked “Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast,” Sannah is committed to shaping the next generation of leaders in electronics manufacturing, encompassing both distribution and the manufacturing sector. The podcast delivers invaluable insights and practical advice on how to enhance their effective leadership and leadership competencies, serving as a premier resource for industry decision-makers with over 150,000 downloads.
With a Master’s degree in Design/Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark, Sannah has established herself as a thought leader in her field, dedicated to fostering innovation and driving success through customer-centric marketing strategies.
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