The construction firm HTJ employs over 200 specialists, about half of whom work on infrastructure projects across Finland. With teams and supervisors physically scattered across the country, organizing daily interactions and peer support is challenging. Ilmari Sikander, Director of Infrastructure Development, has found a solution in SmoothTeam simulations, which have lowered the barrier to communication and provided a much-needed tool to support remote collaboration.
“We wanted our supervisors to learn that they don’t always have to seek support from higher-ups or subordinates in the chain of command; instead, they can and should also seek guidance from their colleagues.” – Ilmari Sikander
Benefits in the Day-to-Day Operations of HTJ
At HTJ, SmoothTeam has been used for purposes such as sharing AI capabilities, team building, and peer support among supervisors. The positive effects of the simulations are clearly evident in everyday work:
- A more open and direct culture of discussion: The barrier to raising issues has been significantly lowered, and team members feel more confident about voicing their ideas.
- A smoother, more self-directed workday: Bottlenecks have been reduced. Experts are increasingly reaching agreements among themselves, and not all decisions need to go through management anymore.
- Effortless team building: Team spirit and cohesion develop naturally through simulations, even though in-person meetings are rare.
- A break from the routine: This pre-facilitated simulation offers the work community a refreshing break from project work without requiring participants to prepare in advance.
The customized content also provided insights for management
Instead of traditional HR training, HTJ wanted to spark a genuine discussion about the company’s organizational culture. The simulation topics were based on the company’s own internal survey, which made the content immediately relevant to the participants. For the client, the process was seamless, as SmoothTeam handled the preparation of the questions.
The simulations clearly demonstrated how the group can move things forward on its own, even if the supervisor doesn't immediately step in during every lull. This experience has encouraged Ilmari to adopt a coaching leadership style more and more.
Ilmari's Three Principles for a Functional Everyday Life
In today's expert-driven organizations, leadership is a complex form of network management. To ensure smooth day-to-day operations, the infrastructure side of HTJ relies on these three things:
- Teamwork beats working alone. Good professional work is about collaborating and valuing others' expertise.
- Attitude comes first; skills can always be honed. The right motivation is key, because you can always keep learning more about the subject matter and technique.
- Work and leisure time are kept clearly separate. During work hours, you give it your all, but when the workday ends, it’s time to recharge. Thanks to careful planning, work doesn’t follow you on vacation.
“I highly recommend SmoothTeam, especially when it’s difficult to organize an in-person meeting. Another major advantage is that you can tailor the content to perfectly suit your specific needs.” – Ilmari Sikander
Ilmari Sikander
Director of Infrastructure Development
HTJ Development Agency
