Hamid and his way of working
“With an Indonesian father and a Dutch mother, a deep conviction arose in me early on that I don’t fully belong to either culture. Being on the ‘outside looking in’ became second nature, so much so that it ended up being my job. As an eternal outsider, I observe the behaviour and emotions in teams that others often miss. As a professional, I address these. As a person, I do so empathically and confrontationally.”
‘My method is to get you in the here and now.’
What are you doing in this moment? And why? My working method is about bringing you into the here and now. Often this is found in a detail, with a significant story behind it that explains your behaviour – or someone else’s. Naming such a detail can lead to a good conversation that’s long been needed. An example: during a meeting, the chairman consistently avoids eye contact with one team member. Mentioning this strikes a sensitive nerve, but also reveals something important. Because the group tackles those underlying tensions together, it takes them to a place of even better cooperation.”
“My role is to confront: you say one thing, but you do another. During ‘contracting,’ I request permission for that confrontation. Usually nicely and directly, but also with a wink and a smile. This confrontation creates friction within the team. By asking questions of one another, you discover wisdom in resistance. Teams are sometimes surprised by this: Hey, how about that? We solved it together! Thus, you see that teams that scour through interest actually deliver better results.”
‘Let’s learn with, through and from each other. Create a learning environment together’
“What I like is when a learning environment is created within a company, when there’s a place where people can really connect. It means you’re allowed to make mistakes and able to be vulnerable. It’s okay to say: I didn’t do it right—can you please help me? This is how we learn to sustainably improve the quality of the team’s results.”
- Interests: Studying, reading, hiking, nature
- Word that fits like a glove: Eagle eye (others say)
- Character: Astonisher
- Goosebump moment: An international project I managed to get back on track – against the odds – after telling myself: ‘Own this f*cking training!’ It marked the start of three unforgettable ‘intercontinental’ years.
- Role: Partner of the RedZebra Group and strategic partner of Oxford Leadership