120 leaders graduated from the Hafnarfjörður Leadership School  

Clear objectives and measurable results

In total, 120 managers from the City of Hafnarfjörður have now completed the course at the city's leadership school, with the latest group graduating at a ceremony in Hafnarborg this week. This means that most of the council's managers have now completed the course since it began in autumn 2024. The objectives of the leadership school are clear: to enhance results-oriented management practices and to support a culture that reflects the motto of the City of Hafnarfjörður – warm, reliable and smart service.

Powerful and conscious leaders  

The first 30 leaders graduated in November 2024, and since then, cohorts have graduated twice a year. Going forward, it will be held annually and is intended for new managers and those aspiring to a managerial role within the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður. The Leadership School is an eight-week course with an emphasis on practical and varied education. The course covers subjects including human resources, finance, procurement, public administration and communication. Participants also gain new tools to tackle various challenges in their work and to develop themselves as leaders. At the graduation ceremony, the mayor, Valdimar Víðisson, presented the participants with certificates of achievement, along with flowers and chocolate, and congratulated them. In his address, the mayor emphasised the importance of the leadership school in the development of the workplace:

„The establishment of the Leadership Academy is part of making the City of Hafnarfjörður an even more attractive employer, comprised of a dynamic and satisfied workforce. The aim is to create a culture of results-oriented management and to enhance the leadership skills of managers. It is a shared responsibility for all of us to build a positive working atmosphere and increase well-being at work.“ He also pointed out that the success is already starting to pay off: „We can clearly see from the survey results that performance is improving year on year – staff satisfaction is increasing, sickness absence is decreasing, and resident satisfaction is growing. The Leadership Academy is an important link in that journey. It is a privilege to be part of the strong team of staff who work for the City of Hafnarfjörður.“

Empowerment and vision

The Leadership Academy is an important part of strengthening the City of Hafnarfjörður as an employer of choice, with a strong leadership team and satisfied staff in line with the city's human resources policy. Speakers come from both the business community and the ranks of the council's own staff. It is clear that targeted leadership development results in stronger operations and better services – and that strong managers make a good council even better.