In our office at De Bestuurskamer, we receive clients who have started a company, are successful, but who have difficulty adapting to rapidly changing dynamics and circumstances. The pioneer arranges everything himself, knows everything and does everything, often by feeling and ad hoc. In the start-up phase, the right hands come and fill the gaps left by the entrepreneur. With more people and corresponding complexity, the consolidation phase requires more structure and delegation. Too late, the entrepreneur discovers that he is more busy with management tasks and staff than what he/she excels at, namely further developing the product and expanding the market. Resulting in demotivation, lack of energy and sometimes exhaustion. How a shame if it can be done differently.
Of course, we cannot prevent these situations, but we can prevent them. In our practice, we often hear: “If only I had”. We let our clients write a structured self-analysis about their lives. From childhood to the present, highs, lows, successes, disappointments, frustrations, old dreams, failed plans. Everything will be discussed. Supplemented with a behavioral assessment, we get a good idea of who someone is, what they can do, and, above all, what the will is for the future. And then to say: “I should have done this 5 years earlier”.
Successful careers look logical afterwards. Of course, you have to deliver quality. But a new step often depends on being in the right place at the right time and, above all, having someone at the top who has your best interests at heart. But that will stop once.
For example, it happens that people in their fifties, until then unconsciously capable, suddenly have to make their own choices, present themselves and find a new future.
A confrontational cold shower, unless well prepared and helped. That happened to me in 2003 when, as CEO, I was able to sell ABN AMRO Insurance to Delta Lloyd and killed my own job. Best exciting.
This self-analysis, behavioral assessment and guidance by Jan Quist gave me more self-knowledge, structure and direction. Continuing to insure was the choice and gave focus. The new CEO job was almost complete. Like a bolt from the blue, ABN AMRO made another preservation attempt in December 2003. CEO of TEAM ABN AMRO in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006. Thanks to my personal preparation, I was able to quickly test whether this would suit me. It was exciting but worth a try. Not knowing that that was also when the basis for my executive coaching career from 2013 was laid. Why this plea?
Don't hesitate to give yourself a gift in time to find out who you are, what you can do and what you want. To be able to switch quickly when it comes down to it. But even in a rapidly changing environment, to gather the right people around you, to keep doing what YOU are good at.
De Bestuurskamer is happy to help you with that!
Jan Berent Heukensfeldt Jansen - Partner De Bestuurskamer
