When People Feel Heard, Everything Changes
“Lately, the atmosphere in our company just isn’t the same. There’s more absenteeism, less engagement, turnover is increasing, but we don’t really know what’s happening or how to address it.”
Does this sound familiar?
It’s not just your organization. Many industrial companies today are facing a significant challenge. People no longer connect with their work in the same way. But running surveys or offering training sessions isn’t enough. Something more is needed.
Real listening. Creating new spaces. Engaging people from the ground up.
Imagine the Shift
Imagine a workplace where:
People feel heard and valued
Problems are addressed collaboratively and effectively
Engagement grows because everyday life genuinely improves
At Michelin, they started this journey three years ago. And here’s what happened.
The Michelin Vitoria Case – Real Inspiration
Michelin Group decided to open a new strategic line to improve the employee experience in its factories, starting with the people on the front line of production.
Why? Because they are essential. Because their daily work directly affects the final product. And because they felt that nobody truly understood their problems or their reality.
That’s how a pilot was born at the Vitoria plant (3,500 people), with a clear idea:
Listen, prototype, implement and transform.
Use Design Thinking and facilitation as a driver of change.
Here’s what happened:
Over 40% of the workforce participated
13 implementation teams were created to deliver real improvements
Key topics were addressed, including ergonomics, flexibility, onboarding and training, and internal communication
Cross-level empathy increased, leadership became more human, and teams grew more agile and collaborative
The impact was so significant that Michelin’s global headquarters (Clermont-Ferrand) asked us to standardize the model to extend it to other international plants.
You can watch the webinar where Delphine Girault (Group Employee Experience Director at Michelin) and Iñigo Reyes (Manufacturing Employee Experience at Michelin Vitoria) share how they experienced this journey:
Our Role in the Process
At Manahmana, we have been there from the very beginning. These were our contributions:
In-depth diagnosis of the local and global reality
Strategic alignment with management teams
Full methodological design based on Design Thinking
Internal communication strategy and execution
Facilitation of participatory spaces on the factory floor
Ongoing support to implementation teams
Training of internal facilitators
And many intangible elements that made the difference
And now, why not you?
If Michelin is doing it, you can too.
Moving toward a more human, agile, and connected culture is not only possible — it’s necessary. And the best part? You can start progressively, with very concrete actions.
Would you like to explore what this could look like in your organization?
Write to us with no obligation
At Manahmana, we’ll be delighted to share our experience and help you imagine what we could build together.
Or simply write to us here and let’s have a virtual coffee.
