Meet the Go-Getter: Mariët Oosterveld (HR)

Pushing ahead starts with people

The Netherlands is facing an enormous housing construction task. Area developments are becoming larger and more complex, and the pressure to accelerate is increasing. To be prepared for this, VanWonen must grow as an organisation. “And that starts with people,” says Mariët Oosterveld, HR Business Partner. “If we want to grow, our people must be able to grow. That comes down to simple but crucial questions: can people thrive in their roles? Does everyone know what is expected of them? And do they have the space to do what they truly excel at?”

Her role lies precisely there: spanning the entire spectrum from shaping long-term strategy with the executive board, to team development with managers, and individual coaching of colleagues. She calls it pushing ahead on a human level. Mariët: “An organisation can only move forward if its people can too.”

The good conversation: moving beyond what isn’t working anymore

Mariët points out that VanWonen’s approach to development reflects the idea that pushing ahead starts with people. One of the first things she tackled in the six years she has been working with us, was the traditional performance review cycle. “We were stuck in an annual rhythm that said too little about what someone truly needs,” she explains. “It was too much about what needed improvement and too little about where a person’s strengths lie. That doesn’t fit with how we want to work.”

That’s why she introduced ‘the good conversation’: an ongoing dialogue about talents, ambitions and growth. No performance metrics, no checklist; the focus is on what a person excels at and how that potential can be best unlocked. “People grow when they can use their strengths. And if we want to accelerate in our area developments, we really depend on that growth.”

The future of area development

The good conversation clearly shows one thing: if you want to accelerate, you have to look beyond job titles and experience. The developments in the sector require different qualities. “It’s not just about subject matter expertise anymore,” says Mariët. “It is about ownership. Environmental sensitivity. Being able to take the lead. And being able to collaborate with parties that all have their own dynamics.”

She believes it is this very collaboration that is paramount to drive speed. “You can only gain momentum when people can effectively liaise with colleagues, partners, municipalities and other stakeholders. Area development is teamwork, including outside your own organisation.”

When recruiting, she focuses more on potential than on the perfect CV. “You can learn the content if you have a sharp mind and are curious. However, leadership, ownership and the necessary competencies are more deeply ingrained. We are now focusing much more on these qualities in our selection process.”

It’s a type of pushing ahead that is sorely needed, especially in a tight labour market. Yet VanWonen manages to fill vacancies and keep turnover low. This is because the organisation is willing to look at things differently. “We don’t exclude anyone just because their profile doesn’t match exactly,” says Mariët. “We look for people who can grow according to the needs of the sector. That makes us agile.”

And that doesn’t just apply to new colleagues. Mariët is also constantly keeping an eye on people who already work at VanWonen: what is a good fit for someone? Where can their talents be put to best use? And which role better suits someone’s strengths and ambitions? “That attention ensures that colleagues can continue to grow, enabling us to keep pushing forward as an organisation.”

An environment that enables pushing ahead

The focus on potential only works in an environment where people can grow and feel empowered to show initiative. Mariët witnesses this daily at VanWonen. Her colleagues are entrepreneurial, ambitious, down-to-earth and work with a strong sense of ‘naoberschap’, which translates as ‘neighbourliness’. “It’s a deeply rooted tradition in the north-east of the Netherlands,” explains Mariët. “It’s all about caring about each other and helping each other. Basically, it just means looking out for your neighbours. And at VanWonen, we do that for each other.”

New colleagues notice this immediately. “People are given a warm welcome here,” she says. “We make time for each other, even when we’re busy. It may sound like a small thing, but it makes work a lot more enjoyable.”

There is also plenty of room for development and vitality. Courses, coaching, training or personal guidance: anyone who wants to grow is given the means to do so. “If we want people to take responsibility, we have to make sure they are able to do so,” concludes Mariët.

Moving forward together

This environment of space and responsibility also requires leadership. For Mariët, that mainly means doing what is necessary, not what is easy. “Sometimes, pushing ahead means having a conversation you’d rather postpone, but which you know will help everyone move forward,” she explains. “It might be that someone fits better in a different role, or that a certain job isn’t a good fit right now. Conversely, it could also mean you grant someone an opportunity that others are still hesitant about.”

For Mariët, pushing forward is ultimately about progress. “When, in my role in HR, I create opportunities, provide clarity and help people grow, the impact is immediately visible within the organisation,” she says. “Strong teams ensure that projects keep moving forward. And those projects will eventually result in living environments in which people can truly feel at home.”

It is precisely this synergy that gives her work meaning: when employees are in the right place and know their potential for growth, there is room for collaboration, responsibility and momentum.

“If we make the right choices for our people today, they will make the right choices tomorrow in the areas where we are developing,” says Mariët. “That’s how we ensure that we are moving forward together. And that, to me, is pushing ahead.”