The challenge

As a 200-year-old security printing and identity management company, the Österreichische Staatsdruckerei (OeSD) operates in a rapidly evolving environment where uncertainty has become the new normal. Employee dissatisfaction and a lack of trust were identified as key challenges during a leadership retreat in 2017. The company needed to transform its leadership approach to fully leverage employee potential and support long-term organizational development.

Our approach

• Introduced the SCARF model, embedding a neuroscience-based, employee-centric leadership framework.
• Redesigned leadership tools such as the leadership handbook, employee dialogues, 360° feedback, and agile work methodologies to align with SCARF principles.
• Integrated SCARF into leadership development, ensuring a common language and shared evaluation criteria for leadership across the organization.
• Strengthened psychological safety, improving communication, conflict resolution, and collaboration.
• Established an annual leadership retreat, continuously refining and reinforcing SCARF principles.

The results

• Improved communication, conflict resolution, and collaboration, fostering a more trusting work environment.
• A shared understanding of leadership, supported by clear evaluation criteria and regular feedback loops.
• Higher psychological safety, enabling a more dynamic and sustainable approach to organizational development.
• Ongoing leadership evolution, with SCARF principles deeply embedded in leadership culture through annual focus initiatives.