The Finnish Cleaning Revolution: A Story of Self-Management

If you've ever been to Finland, you'll find a company there that treats its residents and employees with great respect, and rather unexpectedly, has achieved tremendous success. Today, it's a beacon of excellence.

We're talking about the employees of a leading Finnish cleaning services company. The revolutionary leader here is none other than the manager's daughter, who approached employees considered at the bottom of the hierarchy and told them, "From today, you will manage yourselves."

As is well known, cleaning workers often find themselves at the bottom of the workplace's 'food chain', facing low wages and poor social conditions.

But Lisa, the daughter at the helm of the Finnish cleaning services company, decided to act entirely differently—and the results exceeded all expectations.

The story began when a wealthy father called upon his eldest daughter, Lisa, and offered her the management of his least successful company: the cleaning firm.

Lisa took the role seriously, telling her father she wished to create a work environment that provides "a lot of respect, and above all, freedom with responsibility." By empowering cleaning workers to manage themselves, Lisa has become a symbol in Finland in this field.

Her father trusted her and allowed her to run things as she saw fit. Amazingly, from this gray profession came individuals whom nobody thought of as potential leaders. They now manage themselves, attract clients, and no longer call themselves "cleaning workers" but "client managers"—with 13,000 employees across many European countries.

Manager Lisa states, "Instead of giving people the goals, let them set their own. They will always surprise you for the better."

This inspiring development gives hope that one day perhaps it'll happen in Israel too, where people can manage themselves and receive the empowerment and encouragement from their bosses.