Working methodically, trusting your staff and being genuinely interested. For former professional soccer player Michael Reiziger, now coach of the Netherlands national under-21 team ‘Jong Oranje’, these are the key words of leadership and team development. As in business, everything revolves around collaboration, complementarity and strategy. ‘Central is our playing style: it defines how we want to play soccer. If we execute that plan effectively, we will win.’

NOC*NSF director Marc van den Tweel is on a mission to make the Netherlands the most active and sports-minded nation in the world. He believes in the far-reaching impact of a robust sports culture and is dedicated to fostering positive change both within NOC*NSF and beyond. ‘Our relationship with business has deepened significantly. We are not talking about sponsorship or revenue exclusively but also about societal issues, such as inclusive employment practices.’

Last year, Caroline Tervoort was awarded CHRO of the Year 2023. As CHRO at KPMG, she recognizes the significant importance of the ‘hard side’ of HR – which includes areas like artificial intelligence and data - but she personally believes especially in the power of the 'human side’. For instance, creating psychological safety. ‘I feel strongly committed to this social aspect.’

ABN AMRO CHRO Suzanne van Niekerk wants to deal with employees in a sustainable way while also building a diverse workforce. This also means dealing with different generations, cultures and views in the company. So how does a company remain unified with an inclusive atmosphere? Van Niekerk listens, gets managers to listen and continuously engages in the conversation - with success. Yet even she sometimes runs up against the limits of psychological safety, as insensitivity from society does seep into companies. ‘The tone. The disparagement.’

How can board members enhance psychological safety within their organization and address toxic behavior? Following the painful scandals at the Dutch public broadcaster, this has proven to be a complex issue for the NPO (Nederlandse Publieke Omroep) chair Frederieke Leeflang. ‘I encountered a lot of resistance’, she shared during the first edition of the Management Scope Dinner & Debate on the theme of psychological safety, in collaboration with LTP Business Psychologists.

Transgressive behavior, a soured or toxic work atmosphere and psychological unsafety: it is not only the Hilversum media world which has to deal with it. In diverse organizations, board members in particular form a serious ‘risk group,’ write Marian de Joode and Ageeth Telleman.

A substantial change is taking place in the relationship between people and organizations. Employees are demanding that their organizations take into account what they consider important: from better working conditions to psychological and social safety and diversity and inclusion. This human revolution has empowered employees. More and more organizations are making use of their insights and ideas. Personal leadership of employees is becoming more important. Psychological consulting firm LTP has developed a roadmap that shows how opportunities are optimized and pitfalls avoided.

Leaders are facing two huge challenges. First, they must guide unprecedented changes to successful conclusions. At the same time, they have to foster connections with others and remain composed, despite our world’s current lack of predictability. Leaders operating under pressure more easily make mistakes with decisions and behavior. That means they could use some help.