'Which successful and engaged entrepreneur shall we ask to be the ambassador of the Week van de Bevlogenheid (Work Engagement Week)?' That is what the initiators asked themselves. They quickly agreed: 'Bas van der Veldt, CEO of AFAS Software, that would be cool!' They plucked up their courage and emailed him. Within a few minutes, Van der Veldt called back with the good news: 'We're in!'
Van der Veldt started as a product manager at AFAS at the age of nineteen and has been CEO since 2008. De Ondernemer What can you learn from him? Three lessons.
Believe!
As an entrepreneur or manager, you need to know exactly what really matters in your company and for your customers. Believe one hundred per cent in the value of your products or services. From that conviction, you can inspire others better. Share your story often and make sure people want to listen to you. Tell it with humour or emotion, and each time from a slightly different angle. Stay away from dull management speak and dry figures. People should enjoy listening to you and be moved by your enthusiasm. That way your employees, and even your customers, become the storytellers of your company.
Make it personal!
Van der Veldt is strongly involved with his employees. He knows many people by name and takes time for them. That is what it is about: being sincerely connected and involved. Make time for your people, involve them in important issues, and give them room to grow and try new things. But above all: make everyday work personal and fun. And who better to get future colleagues enthusiastic than your own engaged employees?
Be transparent!
At AFAS, transparency comes first. You hear it in Van der Veldt's stories, you see it in the glass office in Leusden, and you can read all about it in the book De sekte van Leusden (The Leusden sect) by Daan Quakernaat about the culture of AFAS. Frankwatching
By being transparent, you win the trust of employees, partners and customers. So be open about what is going on, especially as an entrepreneur or manager. Is it going well? Say so. Has something gone wrong? Don't be secretive about it. It is important that employees feel free to try new things. That makes them perform better. Sometimes something will go wrong, and that's fine. Approach it with humour and tell the honest story. Research by Amy Edmondson of Harvard shows that teams in which people feel safe to discuss mistakes learn more and perform better. Edmondson
You can read more tips from Van der Veldt in 7 tips for more work engagement.
