Harmony Gold Leadership Legacies in a High-Pressure Environment
Embedding leadership discipline on the pit floor to lift safety, morale, and production.
Strategic outcome sought
Harmony engaged RDL to tackle a critical challenge at one of its open cut mines. Production was slipping, communication was fragmented, and morale was weakening. Leaders were technically capable, but behaviour, culture and leadership rhythm had broken down.
The organisation needed a practical way to uplift leadership capability without pulling people away from their roles for long periods. The goal was simple but vital. Build a leadership culture that could lift performance, strengthen safety, and restore confidence on site.
Our process
RDL designed a fully bespoke solution that respected production demands and safety realities. Instead of traditional classroom training, we introduced two hour Masterclasses delivered across all crew rotations.
Each session focused on accountability, communication discipline, behavioural consistency and the impact of leadership presence on safety, productivity and culture.
Crucially, every Masterclass was reinforced through structured field coaching. By working alongside leaders on the pit floor, we observed behaviours in real time, guided adjustments, and entrenched habits through practice rather than theory.
The cadence was simple but powerful. Learn. Apply. Review. Improve.
Creating legacies
This embedded approach proved a turning point. Supervisors learned to communicate earlier and more consistently. Conflicts softened as expectations became clearer. Operators reported feeling more supported, heard and connected to decisions affecting them.
Performance markers began to shift. Shift handovers improved. Accountability for delays increased. Cross team collaboration strengthened. Leaders learned that influence is not created by title, but by presence, reliability and clarity.
They began thinking ahead, setting tone intentionally, and modelling behaviours that lifted morale and output.
The result
Harmony now benefits from a stronger leadership spine and a more cohesive operating culture.
The site saw noticeable improvements in:
• Operating rhythm and handover discipline
• Ownership and accountability
• Team communication and collaboration
• Workforce confidence in leadership
The greatest legacy is mindset. Leaders now understand how to shape performance through consistent behaviour, not command. RDL’s adaptive, onsite approach embedded capability that continues to elevate Harmony’s operational strength and leadership culture.
