The FLT Podcast

Riina Hellström - agile, reliable and building clarity

Jun 18, 2024

Riina Hellström, an author and agile pioneer, shares her insights on navigating the complexities of modern organizational dynamics. She emphasizes the need for clarity and transparency in leadership, drawing parallels between sports communication and workplace collaboration. Riina discusses the challenges of adopting agile HR methods, highlights the importance of emotional maturity in managing difficult dynamics, and underscores the role of dialogue in overcoming resistance to change. Her perspectives on financial clarity and the necessity of saying no add depth to the conversation.

57:01

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Episode guests

Riina Hellström

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Emphasizing the need for transparency and communication in leadership fosters trust and encourages accountability within agile teams.

Balancing autonomy with clear boundaries is essential for effective leadership, allowing creativity while guiding decision-making processes in organizations.

Deep dives

Finnish Leadership and Agile HR

Finnish leadership is characterized by a blend of qualities that align well with agile HR practices, such as transparency, reliability, and an emphasis on communication. Leaders in Finland tend to exhibit low status needs, focusing instead on achieving tasks while trusting their teams to get the job done. This cultural trait fosters a collaborative environment that is essential for agile frameworks, where decisions are made quickly and transparently. However, the challenge lies in bridging the gap between product focus and customer experience, as Finnish leaders often prioritize technical capabilities over understanding the consumer's perspective.

Intro

4min

Navigating Organizational Dynamics

12min

Navigating Organizational Change

17min

Navigating Difficult Leadership Dynamics

4min

Navigating Agile HR and Entrepreneurship

15min

Exploring Transparency and Leadership in Agility

4min

In this episode, we sit down with author and agile pioneer Riina Hellström to discuss defining boundaries, learning to say no, learning to hear no, financial clarity, fitting working styles to the business and the reasons we all need to become agile.

(00:00) Intro to Riina Hellström, recognized Finnish leader in Agile transformation
(06:16) Balancing developmental and operational focus in HR
(09:30) Leadership qualities: Reliability, Transparency, Clarity
(12:35) Importance of setting clear context and communication in corporate communications
(15:59) Importance of dialogue for behavioral change
(20:19) Systemic structures and continuous transformation are key in Agile leadership
(22:14) Prioritizing foundational changes for organizational success
(24:18) Cost of delay and leader fit are critical for organizational progress
(28:03) Finnish culture traits align well with Agile leadership
(32:27) Good leadership involves clear communication and trust
(33:50) Dealing with egocentric and unpredictable bosses
(39:04) Discussion on the gap between practitioners and academic recognition on Agile HR
(42:55) Agile HR is shaping the future of HR and leadership processes
(45:24) Finnish leaders are not seen abroad due to lack of self-promotion and branding
(47:03) Building international relationships requires understanding cultural nuances and adapting communication strategies
(52:06) Hosts' reflections. Transparency and data-driven decision making in HR. Leaders need to fit into the Agile transformation framework.