People, Leadership & Culture

Would you like to change your organizational culture?

Change your organizational culture

Culture; a fairly vague concept, yet everyone manages to give it a description. You probably recall the observing attitude that arises when you enter another family's home, visit another country, or experience the dynamics of a group for the first time. (Un)consciously, you take note of what is or isn't customary. What is being discussed here? What is valued? Or what isn't? What behavior or story can you expect a positive reaction to? In addition to families, countries, and groups of people, organizations also have their own culture. (Un)written rules set boundaries for employees' behavior in the background. If you want to develop your organizational culture, you must bring these unwritten rules out of the shadows and make them explicit. Therefore, Highberg's approach is aimed at converting the versatility of culture into behavior and concrete roles, creating control over the desired cultural change and the implementation and support of this change.

Riet Smits

Lianne Swenne

Would you like to change your organizational culture? Make desired behavior explicit and bring unwritten rules out of the shadows!

Organizational

Business Agility

Stop looking in the rearview mirror. A plea for actionable metrics

A plea for actionable metrics

Portfolio Performance Measurement #2: Stop looking in the rearview mirror. A plea for actionable metrics

There is nothing wrong with looking in the rearview mirror. It is necessary. The obvious nuance being it should not be the only thing you do as you drive your car down a busy road. In our previous blog ‘<a href="https://highberg.com/insights/are-project-metrics-dead-a-quick-guide-to-lean-portfolio-measurement" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Are Project Metrics Dead?’</a>, we introduced two insights aimed at broadening our view of metrics. If we want to continue the car analogy; it is not just the roads, or the other cars around, but also the speedometer plus a mindful eye on any blinking red lights trying to warn you of a future car failure. We hope these first two insights will lead you to a more holistic understanding of ‘portfolio performance’. 

With such a wide set of metrics to choose from comes the next challenge: what should we focus on? How to use them to effect? Building on our first 2 insights, with Insight 3 we introduce the distinction between leading and lagging indicators. Insight 4 takes us to goal setting and one of the more popular tools in strategy-execution today, Objectives Key Results.

Koen Harbers

Netherlands

Portfolio Performance Measurement Continued: A Plea for Actionable Metrics

Are project metrics dead? A quick guide to Lean Portfolio Measurement

Are project metrics dead? 

Are-project-metrics-dead?

Do on-time, on-scope and on-budget metrics really have no place in modern, product-led, and agile-embracing organizations?

Risk, Resilience & Compliance

Government and Public Sector

We've selected five measures that you should take to enhance your cyber resilience.

Five Measures to Increase Cybersecurity

Five Essential Measures to Increase Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience

Companies and governments will need to pay much more attention to cyber resilience to prevent serious damage in the future.

Steven Debets

Many crisis plans or business continuity plans stated: teams should exercise annually.

Annual Drills: What a Nonsense!

In many crisis plans or business continuity plans, it is stated that teams should exercise annually. Some organizations do this diligently, either due to a strong intrinsic belief in the importance of regular practice or a good routine. However, there are instances when such exercises become an eccentric motivation, as they might be carried out because the regulator, safety authorities, or adherence to a framework mandates it.

Floris Baauw

Strategy & Change

Gamification is a scalable change approach to achieve sustained desired behavior

Gamification for behavioural change

whitepaper-gamification-for-behavioural-change

Gamification is a scalable change approach to achieve sustained desired behavior and improve performance in the workplace.

Whitepaper: Gamification for behavioural change

Challenges around organizational transformation within large, Dutch organizations

Organizational transformation challenges

whitepaper-five-challenges-around-organizational-transformation

Five challenges around organizational transformation according to leaders within large, Dutch organizations and our reflections on them.

Whitepaper: Five challenges around organizational transformation

Innovative compliance therefore creates more ethical behavior.

Research compliance and innovation

white-paper-research-compliance-and-innovation

An innovative compliance program makes for an effective compliance program. Innovative compliance therefore creates more ethical behavior.

White paper: Research compliance and innovation

Exemplary behavior of leaders is crucial with integrity issues.

Moral leadership – the theme of this time

whitepaper-moral-leadership-the-crucial-theme-of-this-time

The exemplary behavior of leaders is crucial to reduce the reputational risk of integrity issues within your organization.

Whitepaper: Moral leadership – the crucial theme of this time

In this whitepaper, we compare Lean and Agile side by side.

Whitepaper: Lean vs Agile

whitepaper-lean-vs-agile

When is Agile working a good idea? And when is Lean working a better idea? In this whitepaper, we compare Lean and Agile side by side.

For an effective game fulfilling the conditions is crucial.

The 6 ingredients of an effective game

whitepaper-the-6-ingredients-of-an-effecitve-game

To ensure that a game is truly effective and contributes to the organizational objectives, fulfilling the conditions is crucial.

Whitepaper: The 6 ingredients of an effective game

Media and entertainment

Effective growth strategies for media firms

Media growth: Organic or acquisitions?

organic-or-acquisitions-which-growth-is-more-effective-for-media-companies

"Anyone who does what they can already do, always remains what they already are." This quote from the American automotive pioneer Henry Ford is more relevant than ever. Today, innovation and investment are required. Growth is not just an option, but a necessity for media companies.

Hendrik Langen

Germany

Organic or acquisitions – which growth is more effective for media companies?

The Next 5 years decide

Transformation endgame (part 1)

transformation-endgame-the-next-5-years-decide

Newspaper publishers are facing the biggest challenge they have ever faced in their history. The next few years demand radical action. Even if you only hear the wind rustling softly in the distance: the storm is coming, and it is brutal.

Christoph Mayer

Transformation endgame (part 1) - the next 5 years decide

Digital Strategy & Execution

A Highberg customer story: DNB, Greater clout through ICT outsourcing

DNB: Greater clout through ICT outsourcing

In 2017, the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) decided to outsource its workplace services, data center, network services, application development and application management. DNB's goal with the outsourcing was to increase the flexibility and agility of the ICT organization, achieve a relevant digital transformation and a more sustainable support of ICT services. In addition, the aim was to make the ICT more efficient. This should become possible, among other things, through the deployment of cloud technology.

Pim Schouten

A Highberg customer story: Data protection within healthcare (NEN7510/AVG)

Data protection in healthcare (NEN7510/AVG)

The careful and secure handling of (personal) data of clients is an essential component for quality healthcare. The most recent figures from the Personal Data Authority show that the healthcare sector in the Netherlands is most affected by data breaches and information security incidents.

Sander Vols

Data protection within healthcare (NEN7510/AVG): "catalyst for quality"

A Highberg customer story: The Nutrition Center's new canteen scan

The Nutrition Center's new canteen scan

The Nutrition Center is the authority that gives consumers reliable and independent information about a healthy, safe and sustainable diet. The 'Disk of Five' is familiar to many people, but in addition the Nutrition Center also provides advice on 'eating environments' and how organizations can achieve a responsible food supply. The starting point is to let the healthy choice be the easy choice.

Wilbert Enserink

A Highberg customer story: Cals College Digital, Secure and Transparent

Cals College Digital, Secure and Transparent

Good ICT support as key to flexible education

Due to the increasing digitization of education and the introduction of the AVG, security and careful handling of (personal) data and supporting resources have become increasingly important. This is also observed by the Cals College, a secondary school community with two branches: one in Nieuwegein and one in IJsselstein. The Cals has recently taken a professionalization step in the field of information management, privacy and information security. In this process, Highberg advised and provided and implemented methods to get a better grip on the management of ICT, privacy and information security. In addition, Highberg fulfills the role of Data Protection Officer (FG) and Privacy Quartermaster.

Wim Kok

Financial Services

AFM is optimizing and digitizing its levy process

Establishment of the levy process at AFM

Establishment of chain collaboration and control of the levy process at afm

The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) is optimizing and digitizing its levy process. An advisory report has been developed by Highberg, and the next step is implementation. This involves setting up cross-departmental (chain) collaboration with effective governance and meeting structures, communicating the change, and involving the organization.

Establishment of chain collaboration and control of the levy process at AFM

Healthcare and Life Sciences

As the existing strategy was no longer current, Menzis aimed to establish a new vision

Customer service strategy development

Menzis strategieontwikkeling klantbediening

Menzis has the mission to strengthen the vitality of every individual by ensuring high-quality and affordable healthcare. Customer &amp; Operations (C&amp;O) is responsible for all operational insurance processes, customer interactions, and is the largest cluster within Menzis with 600 employees. As the existing strategy was no longer current, the director of C&amp;O, who took office in 2020, aimed to establish a new vision that transcends the cluster.

Menzis – Customer service strategy development

Energy and Utilities

After a long period of stability, Enexis is under pressure

Guiding year plan process for the BOD and EB

guiding-year-plan-process-for-the-board-of-directors-and-executive-board

After a long period of stability, Enexis is under pressure to increase productivity and reduce costs to accelerate the energy transition

Guiding year plan process for the board of directors and executive board

How an effective onboarding process increases employee retention and productivity.

Onboarding a process, not a project

Saulo mohana w Nz7 5 Ev UWU unsplash

Onboarding and integrating new employees constitute an essential aspect for many companies. Research indicates that organizations that enhance the onboarding experience reap various benefits, including increased engagement, shortened onboarding periods, and <a href="https://highberg.com/capabilities/people-leadership-and-culture/talent-acquisition-retention" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduced employee turnover</a>. At Highberg PLC, we don't view the onboarding journey merely as a one-time project but rather as an ongoing process. This approach enables us to continually strive for optimization, as we believe there are constant opportunities for improvement.

Alex Hellemons

How an effective onboarding process increases employee retention and productivity

Technology and Telecommunications

We guided Ctac in their organizational transformation

Organizational transformation with CTAC

organizational-transformation-with-ctac

We guided Ctac in their organizational transformation focusing on the axes of processes, governance, behavior, and leadership, with the goal of achieving higher returns, increased employee satisfaction, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Manouk Hertogs

The HR department of ProRail aimed to achieve an Agile transformation

Agile transformation ProRail

agile-transformation-prorail-increasing-agility-and-customer-centricity

ProRail is responsible for the railway network in the Netherlands. Together with transport companies, they work 24/7 to ensure that passengers and goods arrive safely and on time at their destinations. The HR department of ProRail aimed to achieve an Agile transformation.

Agile transformation ProRail - increasing agility and customer centricity

Organizations cannot perform at a higher level than the awareness of its leadership

How others perceive our leadership

Leadership Circle Profile

"An organization cannot perform at a higher level than the awareness of its leadership", said Bob Anderson, founder of the Leadership Circle. This statement touched me deeply when I getting certified for the Leadership Circle Profile™, together with my colleagues.

Elise le Nobel

Leadership Circle Profile: A route to sustainable development of leaders and organizations

Look at it from a new perspective, from a systemic lens

Do you feel like you're moving in circles?

Systemisch werken met 3 simpele vragen

Do you sometimes notice that the energy is leaving the room? Do you keep wondering why that is, but you can't put your finger on it? Do you recognize the feeling that at the end of the working day you feel like you're moving in circles, and that your attempts to break through don't help? That the energy you put into all these attempts seems to be for nothing? ...  Yes, does this sound familiar? Then I might have a solution for you. To look at it from a new perspective, from a systemic lens.

Having a systemic perspective with 3 simple questions

We all know Lencioni's pyramid, right? At Highberg, we go further than just the model

Using the Lencioni's pyramid

Our lencioni on the floor approach

We all know Lencioni's pyramid, right? At Highberg, we go further than just the well-known model. The road to a high-performing team seems simple on paper, but in truth is quite challenging. First, let's define a 'high performing team': a team that communicates and collaborates extremely effectively at the highest level to achieve common goals.

Natascha Renkers

Our 'Lencioni on the floor' approach

Retail and Consumer Goods

(High Tech) Manufacturing and Logistics

Circumstances demand of every organization, that it be designed agile

Agile governance

agile-governance

Agile leadership 
Internal and external circumstances demand of every organization, that it be designed agile. The question is no longer whether you want to work agile, but how you set this up for your organization. And how you shape Agile leadership in doing so.

Ron Mostert

Digital

A merger of seven consulting brands. Learn more about us and what we can do for you?

We are Highberg

Highberg originated from seven boutique consulting firms, each with best-in-class expertise in organizational, digital, and sustainability transformations. Our joint ambition is to build the leading transformation consulting firm in Europe, with one mission:​ 
"Being the best partner for our clients in organizational, digital and sustainability transformation through our combined expertise. We strive for change that has lasting impact on organizations and their people" ​

Sustainability

Embedding personal and professional development at the core of organizational purpose

Lift: Elevating people-centric culture

lift-elevating-people-centric-culture-for-transformative-success

As an organization, how do you integrate the personal and professional development of your people into the purpose of your existence? At BlinkLane Consulting, we do this. We call it Lift.

Beverly Fuller

Lift: Elevating people-centric culture for transformative success

Fostering effective communication: The role of active listening and strategic questioning

The art of listening

the-art-of-listening

Whether it is leaders, managers or coaches, they want to see individuals and teams perform the best they can. When a problem or challenge becomes apparent, the natural response for many is to jump in and give advice for the individual (or team) to overcome their struggles and continue on their path of productivity and effectiveness. While the intention of this solution-oriented mindset is always positive, it can have its downfalls when the advice precedes understanding the complete background and problem. Receivers can become defensive and hesitant to accept if they feel the advice to their problem is not justified. They might also be unable to turn this advice into concrete improvement actions if they cannot relate to it. Instead of jumping to conclusions and giving (sometimes unsolicited) advice, individuals (or teams) needs to be taken along to understand their core challenges and steer them into improvement actions that will stick. So how can this (well-intentioned) advice-monster be tamed, and individuals (or teams) instead helped to build problem-solving capabilities that enable them to own the solution creation process for their challenges? The answer is to talk less, listen more and ask the right questions. In this article I will outline the importance of active listening and hopefully inspire you with some questions that can help individuals (and teams) develop the toolkit to better understand the challenges they face and potentially come up with improvements themselves.

Valerie Gögel

Ethical working involves linking desired moral behavior to achieving performance

Ethical working

Ethical working involves linking desired moral behavior to achieving performance. This includes taking responsibility for people and society when it comes to sustainability in the broadest sense of the word. It also involves the use and interpretation of data and the deployment of technology in digital transformations.

Sjoerd Hogenbirk

Carolien Tigelaar tells about organizational transformation

Organizational transformation to consultant

from-organizational-transformation-to-transforming-yourself-into-a-consultant

Sometimes the organizational change went slowly in my opinion and that frustrated me. I could see what had already changed but I wanted more and faster, because there is always room for improvement. Simone, a colleague at Highberg with whom I worked said to me: 'every step is one step Carolien'. And she was right.

Carolien Tigelaar

From organizational transformation to transforming yourself into a consultant

In practice the effort is made, but the results often are lacking

Do you want effort or results?

Do you want effort or results

Hourly billing, that's what you're used to from interim managers, right? You're looking for someone to solve your problem. They receive a briefing, create a plan, and get to work. At the end of the process, you're a certain amount poorer, and the job is done. Everyone's happy. Right? Unfortunately, it often doesn't work out that way in practice. The effort is made, but the results are lacking.

Heiko van Eldijk

How do you go from a sustainability strategy on paper to a viable action plan?

Sustainable practices in the supply chain

Sustainable practices in the supply chain how do you achieve that

Collaboration within a single organization can be complicated, let alone between multiple organizations. To truly achieve sustainability, collaboration within the supply chain is indispensable. How do you go from a sustainability strategy on paper to a viable action plan?

Jasper de Haan

Sustainable practices in the supply chain: How do you achieve that?

The model of Bruce Tuckman and practical tools for guiding your team

Team development according to Bruce Tuckman

Team development according to bruce tuckman

These are the four stages of team development according to the renowned model by Bruce Tuckman (1936-2016). The model provides insight into the stages a team goes through to become a high-performing unit.

Initiating organizational momentum: The five key building blocks

The way to succesfully change

the-way-to-succesfully-change

How do you set your organization in motion? Every successful transformation hinges not only on a clear end goal but also on a logical route to achieve it. In this article, you will learn about the five building blocks for successful change.

Charlotte Houben

Colleagues from our interim management network in the spotlight: Michiel Kolff

High quality, but there is no boasting

In a series of interviews, we shine a spotlight on colleagues from our interim management network. Who are they? What do they enjoy about the interim management profession? And what energizes them? For this interview, we spoke with Michiel Kolff.

Organizational Transformation

“Improving the responsiveness and competitiveness of organizations”

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