The mental models and leadership approaches that served us well for decades increasingly show their limits. Economic growth no longer serves as the sole compass for success, and the familiar ways we work strain under the weight of rapid technological, social, and environmental shifts.

In today’s fast-changing world, it’s tempting to look for big strategies or bold visions to lead the way. But real, profound change usually starts with something simpler—and more human: trust.

Lately, I’ve reflected on the crossroads where digital transformation meets sustainability and what this means for us as leaders in mid-sized European service providers. It feels like we’re standing at a pivotal moment that calls for more than incremental change or efficiency gains.

The development step to becoming a larger company is challenging and needs careful consideration before the implementation starts. From my experience, here are some generally applicable thoughts before deciding to grow towards the next level of organization.

Change is a natural rhythm of life—an unfolding process we all navigate in our own way. Yet, when people express their natural reactions to change, we often label them as “resistance.” That word carries weight, a judgment that feels unjustified when we pause to truly listen.

Being meaningful as a professional service provider is not accidental. It results from conscious design, implementation of simple guiding principles, and a well-defined positioning and purpose

A few years ago, one of my clients was challenged to deliver more value than just the annual premium adjustment and adequate claims handling. The challenge was not without consequences.

Many complex issues surround us in today's fast-paced and intricate world. These significant challenges shape the economic, political, and social landscapes. Professionals in the service industry are keenly aware of aspirations that individuals and businesses hold for a brighter future.

The number of households with financial problems increases, while the Dutch government expects more financial self-sufficiency from citizens and businesses. The financial service industry can support consumers and businesses in preparing for economic adversity.

Organizational change is not difficult as long as changes come step by step, one by one. Then you can adjust yourself to it, get used to it and gradually go along with the changed situation. 

It becomes different when several changes run simultaneously. And new changes follow each other rapidly or overlap. 

You can't change if you keep doing what you've always done. Yet, it is not easy to start doing things differently than you are used to.

Today I am talking about the noble art of letting go. How to free yourself from what has kept you where you are until now.

Change happens constantly in the world around us. I find it educational to learn valuable lessons from our natural environment that help increase the effectiveness of change projects. In this post, I share 3 reminders from everyday life that help you become a more effective change leader.

The future of professional services is meaningful, human-centered, and digital. However, there is a difference between the value customers experience and what service providers claim to deliver. In this article, we open the discussion to two fundamental questions. First, we ask why service providers are still struggling to serve their customers meaningful. Second, we elaborate on the resulting change leadership challenge.