Page 10 - Finnish_leadership

1. The first paradox:
Finnish leadership, does such a thing even exist?
When we asked people about Finnish leadership, many of them wanted to point out that there is no such thing as a specific ”Finnish” leadership. Good leadership is always based on the situation – not nationality. In fact, people generally felt that leadership is so strongly dependent on the context that it is often difficult to even say anything so universal about leadership that it would apply to all situations.
However, the matter is not that simple, as people addressed highly similar features in connection with Finnish leadership despite the fact that leadership is bound to its context. A shared value basis was perhaps the strength most emphasised in all of the discussions. This was considered to strongly affect Finnish leadership. In addition, even though many appealed to the context- bound nature of leadership, they would immediately follow this by naming general factors considered as
part of good leadership, such as interactive skills and supporting development. Indeed, it appears that even though it is difficult to say anything universal about leadership or join its characteristics to nationality, people find it easy to attribute a shared value basis and good basic principles of management to Finnish leadership.
”There is considerable variation in Finnish leadership depending on the company.”
Timo Ritakallio
Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company
”It depends on the company’s situation and the person you are leading, that is what makes it (Finnish leadership) difficult to define.”
Johanna Ikäheimo Lappset Group Oy ”Finnish people are known
for keeping their word if they promise something. Just shake hands on it and it gets done. And that is also visible in our leadership.”
Teresa Kemppi-Vasama Kemppi Oy
10 The State and Future of Finnish Leadership