For professionals
Career coaching
A clear view of your work and a sense of direction in your career. You’re in the driver’s seat, and I’m right there with you.
Does this sound familiar?
- You want to grow in your career, but you’re not sure how to go about it in a smart way
- You are in a high potential program and want a development plan that really helps you
- You’ve received feedback and want to do something with it
- You want more influence, or to enjoy your work again
- You feel you’re not quite in the right place, but you don’t know what would suit you better
- You want to be more effective, in what you say, how you say it and when
- You are an international and want to understand how things work in the Dutch workplace
- You want to be the person you can be, at work as well
You set the course, I sail with you
A career is rarely a straight line. It’s more like sailing. You choose a point on the horizon, and the wind helps shape your route. Sometimes you tack, and sometimes you discover a better destination along the way. That’s what makes it interesting.
1. Clarity
What do you want, and what don’t you want?
What gives you energy, what would you like to develop, and what would you like to let go of? Even if it’s something from the past.
2. Direction
Which point on the horizon?
Through personal leadership, you choose your own course. What is realistic for you, in your work and in your life?
3. Steps
How do you get there?
We define concrete steps, and I help you actually take them. With role play, for example, you can practice that difficult conversation with your manager right away.
What drives you?
The drives scan
In many programs I use the drives scan by Into Drives. It shows you in black and white what gives you energy, what drives you in your work and in working with others, and where you experience resistance. The scan works with six colors, and no color is better than another.
Many people know DISC. It shows how you behave and communicate, in four styles: dominant, influential, steady and conscientious. I use DISC as well, mainly with teams, but it can also be useful for you personally. The drives scan goes a level deeper: not just how you behave, but what drives you. That gives you results you can really use.
I regularly meet coachees who have done a scan before but no longer remember what it said. That’s why you get more than the official report. I relate your results to your coaching themes, in a report that’s entirely about you. We discuss it in a session, and of course you keep it. It also includes exercises, so it stays useful in the long run.
You can put the outcome to use right away: in your development plan, in conversations about a new role, or to check whether a position really suits you.
“Better awareness of what matters to me in a business context and what drives me (and also what doesn’t).”
My background
The corporate game
If you want to grow in a large organization, it helps to understand how it works. How decisions are made, how you build support, when to speak up and when not to. That’s what I call the corporate game.
I played that game myself for a long time, up to Managing Director at a bank. You don’t have to lose yourself in it. It’s about staying true to yourself, while knowing how to make the most of it.
What a program looks like
Tailored to you
Usually around six sessions of 1.5 hours, roughly every three to four weeks. Two or three sessions often make a real difference already. You can see it as a leadership program tailored to you.
Between sessions
You get a short preparation, assignments and some reading. Not mandatory, but valuable. Many insights come in between the sessions.
Wherever suits you
On a walk, in a coaching room in Utrecht close to Central Station, in Arnhem or Nijmegen, at your office or online. In English or Dutch.
And afterwards
After a program, many people book a single session two or three times a year. To spar with someone who knows their story.
Testimonials
Case: High Potential Program
Renate O., Associate Director
Renate started her program as part of her employer’s High Potential Program. In five sessions, using the drives scan, we worked on her story and her pitch. The result: a stronger pitch about herself, more confidence in how she presents herself, and a firmer footing in conversations about her next steps.
“Clear, concrete, honest, constructive and with humor.”
“It’s like talking to a good friend while enjoying a nice walk: light and pleasant, always leaving you with food for thought.”
“Simon’s enthusiasm really gave me a boost. He gave me confidence: you can do this, take that next step. There was also room to find some calm first, and after that I really started moving.”
Coaching through your employer
Many of my coachees use their employee benefit budget or development budget. Ask your manager or HR about it. Would your employer like to know how it works? Send them my page for employers.
Let’s get to know each other
Schedule a free online intro call, with no obligation. It’s often possible at short notice. After that, we can quickly plan the first session, in Utrecht near Central Station or at another location.