“We wanted to start a larger process of leadership and organizational development, and through my network we came into contact with TNG,” says Lydia Ulleberg, Head of Administration at the Barratt Due Institute of Music.

She has worked at Barratt Due for 20 years, with responsibility for administration and staff functions in recent years. As part of the development process, TNG recommended that the entire management team at Barratt Due take the Coaching and Self-Leadership course together.

“The goal was to create a shared foundation for communication. We wanted to strengthen our ability to collaborate and develop as a team,” Lydia explains.

New perspectives

The course introduced the leadership group to methods and tools aimed at strengthening their ability to listen and reflect together.

“An important concept was the ‘listening conversation’,” says Lydia. “It’s about truly taking in what the other person is saying, instead of focusing on what you’re going to say next.”

She explains that this has had a big impact on how the leadership team now works together.

“We’ve become better at listening to each other and considering the perspectives in the room. It gives us greater breadth in our decision-making processes.”

Another key outcome was increased awareness of the organization’s structure and roles.

“The course helped us to make better use of the organization’s resources and to see the value of involving the right functions,” she adds.

Psychological safety

Lydia admits she was a little nervous before the course began.

“I had never participated in coaching before, but I was both excited and curious. The framework felt safe, and the facilitators were highly competent. The psychological safety they created was absolutely crucial for us,” she says.

This safety provided room for reflection and development – both individually and as a group.

“I feel more confident in my role as a leader now. The course highlighted the importance of embracing different perspectives and becoming more aware of unconscious bias,” Lydia reflects.

Self-leadership and values

Another part of the course focused on self-leadership, where leaders reflected on their values and drivers.

“We developed a kind of ‘compass’ that helps us understand what drives us as leaders, and how that influences our decisions,” says Lydia.

This insight has become an important tool in her daily work.

“It has helped me stand more firmly in my own judgments and find greater meaning in what I do.”

A recommendation to other leaders

Lydia is clear that the course has been valuable for the entire leadership team.

“If you care about development – both for yourself and for your team – I can warmly recommend this course.”

For the Barratt Due Institute of Music, the process has given the leadership team a shared foundation for good communication and closer collaboration – an experience Lydia Ulleberg believes will have long-lasting value.

This article has been translated from Norwegian to make it available to a wider audience. Quotes and expressions may not be word-for-word, but we have sought to preserve the meaning.

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