Fat clay

During a school reunion in Hoorn, I was accosted by my old friend Wouter.
'Hey, how are you?" he says.
'I heard you worked and lived abroad for a long time. Back to your roots?" he asks teasingly.
'Yes, everything is going well. We've been living in the Netherlands for a few years now. But in the middle of the country. My wife is from there and a lot of her family lives there. What about you? How are you doing?
I could remember that he used to be one of the sportiest boys in the class. We all got older, of course, but he also looked really tired.

Remember?

All is well with Wouter; he tells me that he is general manager of a company I remember.
'We used to bike in their parking lot, you remember,' Wouter says.
'Of course I remember, but wasn't that company declared bankrupt? I thought I read something like that.'
'True, there's still nothing wrong with your memory. After the bankruptcy, a few financiers and 15 former employees picked up the company, so to speak. The market was (and still is) there and we were able to find the right tools to produce again. I became responsible for sales.'
'Was the customer confidence there? That market is kind of our-our-own, isn't it?" I asked.
'You hit the nail on the head, that was the biggest stumbling block. But fortunately the customers are now much more national and international. I worked hard on that, we grew rapidly and two years ago I was asked to be the new general manager.'
'Did they look for other candidates?" I asked.
'No, there was no need,' replied Wouter.

Are you in control?

The music starts and many acquaintances flock to the dance floor.
'Let's go stand at the bar in the back,' I suggest.
'My idea,' says Wouter.
'And how are things after two years? Do you like the new challenge? Are you in control?'
'Well, those are good questions. I find it very fun and challenging, but I'm not really in control.'
'What are you running into?' I ask: 'Strategy, operations or the piece in between, making important decisions and executing them?'
'Well actually the latter, it seems like we are stuck with our feet in our own West Frisian greasy clay. What we do, we've been doing well for a few years. But now we really need to move forward. I am afraid we are being overtaken by the competition. I see it happening. We are very down-to-earth here, and that's totally fine. But if sobriety turns into putting everything into perspective, then nothing is urgent anymore. And certainly not change. It really has to be different. I'm looking for control over our future.'
Wouter and I were now really pulled away to the dance floor by former classmates. 'Give me a call tomorrow, because I think you can help me,' he called out.

Bounce & Steer in Brief

'Bounce & Steer is an approach I developed myself. Leaders know in most cases where they want to go strategically with their organization. Yet they often run into something. The day-to-day operational matters generally run well. What is missing, however, is the tactical part. The part that ensures that the strategy is translated into clear choices and targeted actions to achieve the strategic goals.

Based on my Bounce & Steer methodology, I ensure movement in the right direction. Are we going to implement the very things that create progress and growth. Are you an owner, CEO or shareholder and feel you are stuck in the greasy clay? Then contact me.