In a workshop, managers from research and development discuss how they can strengthen their skills.
For managers
Shaping culture through behavior
The KWS Leadership Capability Model (LCM) translates our corporate values into concrete behavior and supports managers in actively shaping our corporate culture.
Effective leadership is crucial to our success. It involves inspiring, influencing and navigating complex environments to achieve our vision and goals. Our KWS Leadership Capability Model (LCM) is designed to guide us in doing so. It empowers leaders to foster growth, contribute to company success, and live up to our values.
“The LCM translates our values into capabilities used daily to share our culture through behavior, attitude and mindset,” highlights Simon-Oliver Walter, Head of the Business Unit Vegetables. It outlines essential leadership skills, clarifies expectations and describes interactions of leaders and teams.
Importance of a comprehensive model
Led by board member Nicolás Wielandt, the development of the model started as a Global Leadership Team initiative. It is based on organization-wide input such as KWS leader interviews, an all-employee survey and a final validation by the GLT.
When asked about the most important capability, Thomas Ehrhardt, Head of Global Research & Services, says: “No element is more or less important. What is vital is to have a comprehensive model.”
The LCM defines essential leadership capabilities, expected behaviors and actions for development. It emphasizes the importance of demonstrating abilities in the right context to address evolving challenges. The LCM supports our leadership development as we have integrated it in the relevant settings, such as development programs, 360° feedback and the Employee-Supervisor Dialog. It also guides us in attracting and evaluating the candidates for their fit to KWS by utilizing it in job ads, interviews and assessment centers.
The R&D extended leadership team conducted a workshop in Buzet discussing how to help leaders strengthen their capabilities. Olivier Cottet, Head of Global Product Development Corn and Oilseed Crops, shares that “We trust, empower and serve our team is a great dimension, demonstrated through the success of our recent workshop, which concluded with constructive discussions.” |
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More about the LCM
To learn more about our model, visit our LCM intranet page or register for our quarterly online workshops via SF Learning.
If you are interested in understanding how people around you perceive your leadership skills and behavior, request feedback from them to reflect on your behavior and actions. For a more structured approach, we also offer a 360° feedback survey specifically designed for LCM.
© KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA 2025
