4_DiscoverBenelux_Issue17_May_2015_Q9_Scan Magazine 1 28/04/2015 13:11 Page 49
Discover Benelux & France | Special Theme | Successful Women in Entrepreneurship
eventually. This development should be considered by everyone, but especially CEOs. Only sending a message is no longer possible, businesses and organisations have to be involved. They only survive when they are sufficiently prepared to listen and identify the issue.
man, things do go wrong sometimes. Just admitting it and sharing it with the outside world, creates the necessary trust. Do not brag, just show what you do. you must have a sense of identity, organise and accept criticism and be involved with the employees and the customers.”
Van Buren: “If we do not act in a proper and correct way, or when we show something different from what we say, it leads to dissatisfaction, confusion, misunderstanding and a lack of trust. And when you lose the trust, you become implausible.”
The current Rochdale board consists of three people. Van Buren: “We create time for self-reflection and ensure that we hold each other accountable for our behaviour. We are three very different personalities and complement each other because of this. Our variety of backgrounds also prevents tunnel vision in the decision making process.”
Be the eye witness Regaining public trust is one of the most difficult things to do. According to Van Buren you have to be vulnerable, realistic and honest. “As a leader, you are a member of a team. It is not your own company, but a temporary honour. We are all hu-
Being involved also means taking internships within the company, speaking with the residents and employees, and really listening what they have to say. In other
words: be the eye witness of what is going on. Van Buren: “Also very important: do not make any promises you cannot keep. It does mean that I have to say ‘no’ to people, a lot. Especially in my first years as a leader we had to remediate, only nowadays we are financially able to make choices and, for example, protect the poorest of rent increase.”
Present trust Van Buren is pleased of where Rochdale stands these days: “Employees and residents are proud and have faith again. There are still always people who make remarks about the former administration. The difference is that nowadays there are also always people who stand up for Rochdale, telling them that it is not the reality anymore.” www.rochdale.nl
Rochdale at a glance - Rochdale is one of the ten largest social housing associations in the Netherlands. - Its mission is to provide affordable housing of adequate quality in safe and liveable neighborhoods for people with low incomes in the area of Amsterdam. - Rochdale has over 40,000 homes and 2,000 commercial properties. - Board of Directors: René Grotendorst, Nico Overdevest and Hester van Buren. In July 2015 Hester van Buren will become chair of the Board of Directors.
Issue 17 | May 2015 | 49