Geschreven door Marijn de Geus | March 29, 2012
This blog is about online training, instructional design and skill development. In our series 5 Questions with: Harm Zandvoort, experienced VP HR and now boardroom consultant with a focus on HR topics.
1. You work for professional servicefirms (business assurance, audit, consultancy) etc. What are the most are the most important skills to develop in these companies?
One the most important issues is to increase the developing power both for the company and the key players. There is an ongoing need to change behavior towards creativity, enthusiasm, open communication (give and receive feedback), trust and positive coaching.
Ways to do this are:
- (Self) assessment
- Challenge (out of the “comfort zone”)
- Support
2. On what criteria do board members judge L&D efforts (either formally or informally)?
Sadly, it is rare for these activities to be judged on anything other than financial (budget) criteria.
3. In your training and executive coaching sessions you work a lot with music and video, why?
Because that’s the way our brain works. In comparison with text, (moving) images and music are 'stored' in a different and better way. Images and music trigger the emotional department in our brains and an event which is linked to an emotion is much easier to remember and to transfer into action.
4. In the evolution of learning, are there things you hope/desire and/or where you are afraid of?
Both. A well known Dutch entrepreneur (Maurice de Hond) wants to start the ‘Steve Jobs school’, where children from neglected groups learn to work with new media tools. The strong reactions (enthusiasm and critics) are a demonstration of two camps in our society.
5. What are your sources of inspiration?
I’m a big fan from Marshall Goldsmith and Leonard Cohen. Google as a company fascinates me and Richard Branson's changing outlook on the world (check the reprint from his biography!).
About Harm Zandvoort
Harm Zandvoort holds a Master degree in economics. He was HR manager at Esso Chemicals, director at PWC and Corporate director human resources at Royal Numico. Since 2004 he works as a boardroom consultant at Strategic Management Centre.
