Written by Iris Zonneveldt (CEO & Founder Treams)
In January, I won the HR Talent of the Year Award. For that reason I was allowed to spend a day with Chief HR Officer of the City of Amsterdam, Yardena Shitrit. A power woman with an overflowing agenda. And that is understandable, because did you know that the Municipality of Amsterdam is an organization with 17,000 employees, a P&O column of approximately 500 HR professionals and a personnel budget of 1.5 billion euros? That's a scale few organizations in the Netherlands know. At such a scale, the distance between management and its employees is naturally many times greater than, say, in my Tream team. But how do you ensure a connection with your people? How do you ensure a healthy involvement of people? And how does innovation arise in a large and civil service organization? Yardena Shitrit's answer: leadership! With the lessons I learned from her, anyone can get started today:
1. Build productive relationships
In a civil service organization, relationships are key. Your internal network ensures that you find your way to people with the right expertise for your issue. Where I quickly tend to think this is one big swamp, I have also learned that it is a strength to build productive relationships. Whether that's with internal colleagues, or external partners and parties: be mindful of your relationships. Advice from Yardena Shitrit: Help each other when you can and ask for help when you're at a loss for words. Productive relationships inspire and always take you one step further.
2. Fewer rules, more mistakes
"No lists, fewer rules": that is the ambition of Yardena. Why? Because it gives people more space to use their talents, to come up with ideas and to take initiatives. In one day I saw so many initiatives pass by: from small experiments (a mentor program with 10 mentors and mentees) to a training program for more than 1000 people. Give your team fewer rules, encourage them to dare to make mistakes. You can't lose, only learn.
3. Be visible and present
I wondered: how can you be involved as a manager when you are responsible for so many people? Yardena Shitrit's team told me that they all have a bila meeting every month, that they talk to her almost every day and that she is very approachable. The threshold to consult her for a moment is low. Yardena herself explains, "I'm never there, and I'm always there. I know when there is something and a good conversation is needed. When I'm there, I'm in the here and now with my attention." So, dear busy managers and CEOs: be aware of your presence and live in the here and now.
4. With respect and the right tone, you can say anything
A nice feature of the composition of the municipality's workforce is that it scores high on diversity. Huge strides have been made in both age and gender diversity in recent years. Employees from different cultural backgrounds are also well represented. In Yardena Shitrit's team, over 25% have a different cultural background. This can cause friction, and there is much to learn here as well: "With respect, in peace and in the right tone, you can say anything and discuss anything. Ask questions and engage in conversation about what is and is not acceptable." If an uncomfortable situation arises, consciously take the time and quiet to talk about it and don't let the moment pass you by. There is no time like the present!
5. Constantly work on your broad frame of reference
It is incredibly important to keep developing yourself, says Yardena. "Read books, go to the movies, go out, work on your hobbies and challenge yourself intellectually. Only with peace and space in your head can you continue to learn and develop." Continually expand your world and field of vision, perhaps you can go to the theater with your partner tonight?
6. Organize your own mirrors and feedback
"A good leader organizes his own mirrors and feedback," said Yardena. No one is going to do this for you so pick this up yourself. This can be someone within your own organization or just someone from another world. Your partner or friends can also offer you mirrors. Either way, make sure you gather people around you who dare to be honest with you, because only then will you grow from it.
7. No hidden agenda, say what you think
Be honest and say what you think. A hidden agenda is fatal to achieving your goals as a team and organization. With openness and transparency, the chances of success are many times greater. "Dare to be vulnerable and admit when you make a mistake": if you do this as a leader, your team will naturally follow your example.
8. Enjoy going to work every day
Do more of what makes you happy! Enjoyment in her work is Yardena's biggest driver. She paid close attention to her managers at the beginning of her career. She adopted the good things and left out the irritating things. Thus, she is the person she wants to be at work, and that is satisfying!
9. Coach and give directions
Don't send someone down the drain with your feedback, but be a coach and give clear instructions about what you want and don't want. That too is a form of being honest and sincere. Be specific in what you mean and expect. Managing expectations is an important task as a manager. We wrote about feedback before: read more about it here .
10. The biggest lesson: love people
When she says this, Yardena Shitrit's eyes light up, "all you have to do is love people. Then the rest will take care of itself." Of course, I have nothing more to add to that.