Forging Success: Through Belief and Habits
The Problem
When we began working with a steel manufacturing client, their business
was struggling. Years of financial uncertainty had left people tired,
frustrated and disconnected. Many felt there was no point in trying to
change anything - this was simply “how it is”
Senior management knew they had to make the business more stable and
competitive. They’d tried various things but nothing had worked, so
people had become sceptical and weary of yet another “initiative.”
After talking to us, they realised that their people no longer believed there
was any other way of working. They knew they needed help to change
beliefs, feelings and behaviour across the organisation. They wanted to
change these things quickly so their people could feel better about their
work and their future.
The Solution
We coached our client to introduce a Sustainable Operational Excellence
(SOE®) system; a simple and practical set of habits to help them become
more productive and to enjoy what they did.
We worked alongside leaders and their teams, helping them build these
habits one step at a time. Instead of just telling them what to do, we
coached them to solve their own problems and find their own answers.
Every level of the organisation underwent this change at the same time,
meaning people could see how what they did affected everyone else. This
strengthened belief and confidence, and created a new culture where
people felt they had real influence over their work and its results.
We also focused on training and developing a team of in-house coaches,
so our habit building approach could be sustained long after we’d gone.
The Results
The improvements were striking. Engagement rose throughout the
business, leaders found more time to lead and performance records were
broken again and again.
Employee Engagement: Every measure of engagement improved across
a department of 4,000 people. More people completed engagement
surveys (response rate up from 34% to 63%), showing they believed that
their voices mattered.
Workplace Culture: Survey scores jumped:
Direction +19%, Leadership +10%, Work Environment +14%, Motivation
+18%, Accountability +8%, Innovation & Learning +6%.
Performance & Productivity: The yield improvement alone delivered
an annual benefit of £2 million, while production availability reached new
highs.
Steel Output: One works manager summed it up: “We’re producing 25%
more steel than we used to. We are now the best in the group, and that’s
with the least investment and the oldest equipment. So it’s nothing to do
with the equipment. We’ve just got better”
Copyright © Unleash & Engage Global Ltd 2025
Forging Success: Through Belief and Habits
The Problem
When we began working with a steel manufacturing client, their business
was struggling. Years of financial uncertainty had left people tired, frustrated and disconnected. Many felt there was no point in trying to change anything - this was simply “how it is”
Senior management knew they had to make the business more stable and competitive. They’d tried various things but nothing had worked, so
people had become sceptical and weary of yet another “initiative.”
After talking to us, they realised that their people no longer believed there was any other way of working. They knew they needed help to change
beliefs, feelings and behaviour across the organisation. They wanted to change these things quickly so their people could feel better about their work and their future.
The Solution
We coached our client to introduce a Sustainable Operational Excellence (SOE®) system; a simple and practical set of habits to help them become
more productive and to enjoy what they did.
We worked alongside leaders and their teams, helping them build these habits one step at a time. Instead of just telling them what to do, we
coached them to solve their own problems and find their own answers.
Every level of the organisation underwent this change at the same time, meaning people could see how what they did affected everyone else. This strengthened belief and confidence, and created a new culture where people felt they had real influence over their work and its results.
We also focused on training and developing a team of in-house coaches, so our habit building approach could be sustained long after we’d gone.
The Results
The improvements were striking. Engagement rose throughout the business, leaders found more time to lead and performance records were
broken again and again.
Employee Engagement: Every measure of engagement improved across a department of 4,000 people. More people completed engagement surveys (response rate up from 34% to 63%), showing they believed that
their voices mattered.
Workplace Culture: Survey scores jumped:
Direction +19%, Leadership +10%, Work Environment +14%, Motivation
+18%, Accountability +8%, Innovation & Learning +6%.
Performance & Productivity: The yield improvement alone delivered
an annual benefit of £2 million, while production availability reached new
highs.
Steel Output: One works manager summed it up: “We’re producing 25%
more steel than we used to. We are now the best in the group, and that’s
with the least investment and the oldest equipment. So it’s nothing to do
with the equipment. We’ve just got better”
Copyright © Unleash & Engage Global Ltd 2025
Habits for High Performance:
The Defence Success Story
The Problem
When we began working with a steel manufacturing client, their business
was struggling. Years of financial uncertainty had left people tired,
frustrated and disconnected. Many felt there was no point in trying to
change anything - this was simply “how it is”
Senior management knew they had to make the business more stable and
competitive. They’d tried various things but nothing had worked, so
people had become sceptical and weary of yet another “initiative.”
After talking to us, they realised that their people no longer believed there
was any other way of working. They knew they needed help to change
beliefs, feelings and behaviour across the organisation. They wanted to
change these things quickly so their people could feel better about their
work and their future.
The Solution
We coached our client to introduce a Sustainable Operational Excellence
(SOE®) system; a simple and practical set of habits to help them become
more productive and to enjoy what they did.
We worked alongside leaders and their teams, helping them build these
habits one step at a time. Instead of just telling them what to do, we
coached them to solve their own problems and find their own answers.
Every level of the organisation underwent this change at the same time,
meaning people could see how what they did affected everyone else. This
strengthened belief and confidence, and created a new culture where
people felt they had real influence over their work and its results.
We also focused on training and developing a team of in-house coaches,
so our habit building approach could be sustained long after we’d gone.
The Results
The improvements were striking. Engagement rose throughout the
business, leaders found more time to lead and performance records were
broken again and again.
Employee Engagement: Every measure of engagement improved across
a department of 4,000 people. More people completed engagement
surveys (response rate up from 34% to 63%), showing they believed that
their voices mattered.
Workplace Culture: Survey scores jumped:
Direction +19%, Leadership +10%, Work Environment +14%, Motivation
+18%, Accountability +8%, Innovation & Learning +6%.
Performance & Productivity: The yield improvement alone delivered
an annual benefit of £2 million, while production availability reached new
highs.
Steel Output: One works manager summed it up: “We’re producing 25%
more steel than we used to. We are now the best in the group, and that’s
with the least investment and the oldest equipment. So it’s nothing to do
with the equipment. We’ve just got better”
Copyright © Unleash & Engage Global Ltd 2025
