Taking advantage of talents
Not too long ago, Vår Gård's CEO Kadi Upmark and I were sitting in the kitchen at my house – I had just had my third child. She had come to congratulate us as a family on behalf of the staff and hand over a small flower. The conversation revolved around innovation and how much fun it is with interior design and projects.
Around the same time that my parental leave was over and it was time to start working again, we in the staff received the happy news that Vår Gård would undergo a journey of change. A project that would truly make us a modern meeting place, with new meeting spaces and restaurants, and I would be part of these projects.
At the same time, the pandemic broke out and it became more important than ever to gather all the power, knowledge and talent that was in the house. It has also become one of my most important lessons. If you dare to involve your employees and have trust, you will be rewarded many times over.
Kadi had somehow caught my interest in color and shape during that conversation in my kitchen. I was incredibly grateful for the trust to be able to help realize all these visions. At the same time, a little nervous, how would we go about it and what would the result be?
Together with colleagues in the house who have an eye for color and shape, we have twisted and turned fabrics, color samples, tiles and types of wood. The fact that we have such a broad expertise in the house has meant that, for example, I have been able to get advice on measurements and standards from one colleague, technical tips from another and help with different material choices from a third. Even though I am to some extent the spider in the web, this extensive change, renovation and modernization is something we do together.
“If you dare to involve your employees and have trust, you will be rewarded many times over.”
Together we are so much stronger. Something special happens when everyone dares to trust the process and each other's competence. If you involve the staff in times of crisis and use the knowledge that is available, you save resources and also have a lot more fun together.
I try to transfer the trust I have gained to my colleagues by giving them responsibility and letting them grow with their tasks.
The conditions look completely different for us now, so we have quickly adjusted to adapt to the new conditions. Today we are a hotel for private guests as much as we are an inviting place for inspiring meetings and conferences. We have more new projects in the works. Next up is a series of new double rooms with a sea view. We are not finished by a long way, and that is what makes the excitement. Because who wants to be finished?
Susanne Larsson, Hotel & Conference Manager at Vår Gård