In a rapidly changing world, the way leaders successfully guide their teams is evolving. To provide clear orientation, Bertelsmann has introduced three new Leadership Principles: “Inspire to grow,” “Execute with purpose,” and “Shape our future.” They cover the three dimensions of People, Results, and the Future. The principles are meant to clarify what forward-looking leadership means at Bertelsmann and how it should be practiced in a dynamic environment. Chief HR Officer Immanuel Hermreck presented the new principles to around 500 top managers at this year’s Bertelsmann Management Meeting. Now that we have elaborated on each of the three Leadership Principles in individual articles, things get more specific: Today’s article looks at how the Leadership Principles are being put into practice across the Group.
Because principles alone don’t change anything. What matters is how they take root in everyday routines, how they can have an impact and empower individual growth and development. Which is why Bertelsmann is rolling out the “Leadership Principles” systematically and globally. For the first time, all leaders across the Group will take part in mandatory training on the new principles. While many companies within the Group are developing principles tailored to their own business contexts, one thing remains constant: all leaders need to be familiar with the shared compass. Good leadership starts with providing direction — and that requires a clear understanding of what matters. And it includes making the impact of the Principles visible. To help track impact, the latest employee survey included a dedicated Leadership Index to measure leadership performance.
Measuring the Leadership Principles
The next milestone comes in December, when the new competencies will be integrated into the company’s performance and development dialogues. This means the Leadership Principles will play a direct role in how performance is assessed — not just for leaders, but for all employees. The goal is to ensure that the principles are fully embedded in HR tools and processes and that their impact can be measured.
Those who lead with visible impact should be given development opportunities. That’s why the “Leadership Principles” will inform development and succession planning — not as yet another checklist, but as a shared understanding of what forward-looking leadership looks like at Bertelsmann. The message is clear: if you lead in line with the “Leadership Principles,” you will be seen — and supported.
The video featured in this article shows a clip of Béatrice de Surmont, Executive Vice President Talent Management at Bertelsmann, explaining at the Management Meeting how the Leadership Principles were developed.
