Learning dialogues are one of the newest additions to the PES Network’s work programme. In this innovative learning format, PES can tap into the expertise of other PES with outstanding experience in a specific learning field. This learning dialogue focused on how offering more freedom and responsibility can help to bring out the best in every employee.

On 29-30 April 2019, Oslo was the stage for a successful thematic learning dialogue on “Performance Management – Leadership, Quality and Communication”. This event was hosted by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) with participating PES from Finland, Iceland and Lithuania.

The event kicked off with NAV sharing their new leadership approach, where decisions are best taken by those who are directly affected by their consequences and employees at all levels are encouraged to do things differently by offering them more freedom and responsibility.

Following NAV’s experience, the leadership concept is an excellent way to make the best use of the diversity within their organisation and its potential for creativity. However, the top management must want the system to work effectively. Without strong commitment, support and desire at the top of the organisation, ‘leadership’ remains a vague concept with no concrete effects.

With the help of peers and experts from Norway, the participating members identified their needs on the topics of performance management, which is inherently linked to leadership, and set out a series of milestones for improving their PES and tackling recent challenges.

Inspired by the Norwegian colleagues, representatives from Iceland, Finland and Lithuania benefitted from peer-to-peer discussions. Iceland for example set up crucial milestones for their path of improvement, being convinced that promoting ‘leadership’ in the organisation helps to get everybody in the organisation actively involved in change processes.