Client Case
Bank J. Van Breda
The vision of an outside expert has proven invaluable
Five years ago, Bank J.Van Breda & C° opted for a flatter organisation in the belief that fewer managers and greater self-management would lead to increased employee engagement. ‘A motivated team is the absolute strength of an organisation,’ says Vic Pourbaix, member of the management committee and client relations manager. ‘Hifluence is able to unlock people’s potential like no other.’.
Happy employees make for happy customers. Something they know very well at Bank Van Breda. It is not for nothing that the bank for entrepreneurs and liberal professions is ranked among the top Belgian employers. In the most recent Great Place to Work survey, Bank Van Breda won bronze. With employees giving the bank a satisfaction rating of no less than 87%. And, an amazing 95% of employees responded positively to the statement ‘generally speaking, I can say this is a very good organisation to work for’.
It’s a great result, but we are not resting on our laurels. We always want to do better, that’s typical of us. ‘It’s why we contacted Hifluence. We wanted to keep growing as far as self-management and improving internal communication where concerned.
Vic Pourbaix
From one-way traffic to dialogue
The commercial network of Bank Van Breda consists of 200 employees in Belgium. This team of account managers is responsible for customer contact. ‘These teams used to be managed by regional managers, but five years ago, we decided to simplify the organisation. Since removing the middle-management layer, the field has had greater autonomy. This works brilliantly. Our people locally know best what is going on in the customer’s world.’
The network works together with the sales and management team based at head office. This team is responsible for the HR policy in the network, training and sales, among other things. ‘Despite the removal of the middle layer, there was still a top-down approach, with the management team directing the local departments. This created a lack of understanding and mix-ups. Instead of one-way traffic, we wanted to evolve towards a dialogue between two entities that stand beside and strengthen each other.’
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Holding the reins differently
The conversations with Hifluence have given Vic Pourbaix new insights. ‘Self-management is not about letting go, but about holding the reins differently. By supporting people in the right way, you give them wings. In a big organisation, changes of this size require trust, internally from the teams and in the partner guiding you. Because it’s about the foundation of who you are and how you work.’
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With Hifluence, there is no woolly thinking. Theirs is a no-nonsense approach, with attention to personal freedom and the necessary structure. Because the banking sector is highly regulated, so a clear framework is essential. Hifluence understood this. Nick knows how to unlock the potential of people like no other.’
Vic Pourbaix
SOME
IMPRESSIONS
Interested in our unbossing experience?
Marbles is fully committed to self-management. To achieve the company’s growth ambition, unbossing is crucial. Hifluence immersed the team in an intensive five-day programme: the Unbossing Experience.
