Reaching new heights in management with the help of coaching
In the photo Jussi Iltanen, AGCO
When Jussi Iltanen competed in sprints as a youngster, a coach helped him to improve his performance. Now, that Iltanen is the head of distribution network in Europe, Africa and Middle-East for Agco, the third largest agricultural machinery producer in the world, the help comes from a personal business coach.
For Iltanen it is logical to use a coach when he wants to be able to do something better. In his opinion it is very easy for a manager to stop renewing himself. A business coach can help prevent this by giving new points of view on important matters.
Co-operation with a business coach from Balentor, Hannu Laakkonen started a couple of years ago. The process started on a tennis court and was then taken further in to the business world. Back then Iltanen was working as a development manager for Valtra, where he originally had come to do his master’s thesis in engineering in 1997.
In the year 2008, he was placed as the head of distribution network in Agco, the parent company of Valtra. His job was to find the most efficient route to distribute machinery, their parts and service products to Agco’s customers. His office is located in Schaffhausen in Switzerland. He weekly travels around the world to meet importers, management and his team.
A Comprehensive concept
Thorough analyses of the present and the desired state as well as a long term development plan were done for Iltanen in the beginning of the coaching. Key development areas were strategic thinking and time management. – Proactivity is fundamental. As in sports, you have to know your opponent and the field you are playing on. This way you can prepare for the encounter so that you will triumph as the winner, Iltanen compares.
The men meet every few months. – We discuss and draw our ideas on paper in order to clarify them. Hannu uses very efficient concepts. During coaching Iltanen has learned to proportion different things on different levels. – Work is not so distressing anymore, now that I know to which things I have to respond to and in which order.
Planning brings balance
He has also understood the importance of balancing performance and rest. – When there are some tight situations, it is extremely important to get a small breather every now and then. Mental stability is created on planning and right rhythm.
Iltanen admits it is not always easy to find a balance. – The goal is to get things done so that I have time for my family, my hobbies and for rest as well.
Communication agency Diverstas / Balentor Stakeholder magazine 2009