Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'm possible, looks like an easy American slogan. But you have to find the energy to go for it every day. Where do you find your energy to persevere?
My main driver comes from asking 'why.' I constantly question why I'm doing something, and if I'm lost, I reflect on why I started. I've done a lot of things in my life because I had to do them, and now I want to do things that I really want to do.
My ultimate aim is societal improvement and making an impact. I want to create a sustainable society where everyone can live well together. I love learning, and that's why I give training. It's not just about sharing knowledge, but also about learning from the participants and being challenged by them. Continuous learning is vital, and having fun through it is essential.
There's a saying that “ the end justifies the means” , but I don't believe that. I think it's better to do less and has less impact but stay true to your values.
When I'm tired, my family is my greatest support system. They give me unconditional love and make it easy for me to let go of stress. I believe that staying true to your values and having a supportive family are critical to success.
The quote is from Audrey Hepburn, a British actress from the 1950s - 1960s. Hepburn had a difficult childhood, divorced parents, World War II, the war winter in the Netherlands... Does the quote have extra meaning for you because Audrey Hepburn is a woman?
Not really. But what I respect a lot is that she has faced difficult challenges throughout her life, but she remained committed to making a positive impact on society. It is the responsibility of all celebrities to use their platform to raise awareness of important issues, not just through monetary donations but also by actively engaging in discussions and actions.
While I find it inspiring to hear about people who have overcome great obstacles, it is important to remember that their experiences may not be applicable to everyone. It is not as simple as just "fighting a bit more." I do believe, however, that hearing these stories can give us hope and encourage us to push ourselves to achieve our goals.
Overall, I believe that each person has a responsibility to make a positive impact on society, whether through volunteering, donating, or simply being kind and respectful to others. While we should not expect everyone to be a celebrity, those who do have a platform should use it to raise awareness of important issues and inspire positive change.
In your book "Open up your organization", you argue that a Board of Directors composed of people of different ages, gender, and origin... is not enough because such a diverse Board can make the same mistake as a uniformly composed meeting. Can you explain that a bit more?
I am not saying that diversity of appearance is not important, but it is not enough. For an organization to be truly diverse and inclusive, it needs to have diversity of thought and an openness to listening to everyone's opinions. The ability to speak up is crucial for everyone to reach higher levels of understanding, and this can only happen if there is openness and patience within the organization. This requires companies to make inclusivity a core value, rather than just a statement. To make decisions more inclusive, it is important to enable active listening and ask critical questions. This exercise can be tiring, but it is necessary to put oneself in the shoes of others and understand how they feel. Empathy is a critical component of inclusivity, and it is necessary to build personal connections in a company. The four pillars of inclusivity are openness, patience, empathy, and nature. Being natural while being open can be a tricky balance, but it is important to find a healthy tension between these values. For example, respect is a core value that is universal, but everyone has a different interpretation of it. When colleagues complain about a lack of respect, it is important to understand their interpretation of respect and work towards finding a common ground that respects everyone's preferences.
I believe that diversity of thought and openness are essential for organizations to reach their full potential. While it's important to seek out people with different backgrounds and experiences, without a culture of inclusivity and a willingness to listen to all voices, progress will be limited. In my book, I argue that even organizational settings like holacracy or democracy can be less inclusive than classic hierarchical settings if the mindset behind is not there. To truly value diversity, it needs to be a core value of the organization, not just a superficial statement.
It's not just about who makes the final decision, but who is heard in the decision-making process. Even if power is split, if there is no openness, patience, or empathy, decisions will be less sustainable and more likely to be contested. It's crucial to give everyone in the organization a chance to speak and be heard, even if it takes more time.
Active listening, empathy, and patience are necessary for creating an inclusive environment. It can be tiring and require a lot of energy, but it's necessary to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand their perspective. Inclusivity is personal and can affect people differently, from minorities to those with disabilities. It's important to be open and natural, but also to find a healthy balance between the two. Inclusivity is about creating a place where everyone can be themselves and feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions. It's a continuous process, and one that requires ongoing effort and attention.
It's important to be inclusive of everyone, including women, people from different backgrounds, and younger employees. For example, one person I interviewed thought they had achieved diversity in their company but then realized that all their employees were around 25 years old, which is not true diversity. We need to think about complementarity instead of similarity, which means valuing different experiences, attitudes, and profiles, rather than just looking for missing skills.
Which quote would you like to see Dr Quote cover in the future?
The first thing that came to mind for me was the story of Rosa Parks and the civil rights movement in the United States. I wrote and performed a role in a theatre play (“381 Jours”, by Ras El Hanout) about the movement and had the opportunity to visit the U.S. The play was based on the boycott of buses by Black Americans who were protesting against segregation. It was a difficult time for them because having a car or a bike was expensive. But, they managed to boycott all the buses, and Rosa Parks was one of the first persons to refuse to give her seat to a white person. The boycott started after her arrest and 381 days later, the civil rights movement won the end of segregation. Her quote, "You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right," has stuck with me. It's important to remember that if you believe in what you're doing, you should stick with it. Nothing is impossible, and even the simplest actions can make a big difference.
