HOW I VIEW THINGS AND WHAT I CONSIDER IMPORTANT
Theo Hermsen Organization Advisory is a consultancy with innovative and creative ideas. For over ten years, I have been involved in various socially relevant (collaborative) issues in complex contexts. My assignments often sit at the intersection of sports, (public) administration, and society. From banks to sports federations, from complex partnerships to a local sports club, from action research in the automotive sector to establishing new forms of collaboration in the public domain. I am often called upon to tackle complicated puzzles where “thinking and acting differently” is needed.
I am also a lecturer at SIOO, HAN, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and the Management Program for Professional Football, and I serve as the vice chair of the Order of Organization Scientists and Advisors.
WITH ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM.
This forms the foundation for change. Change can also be enjoyable. I don’t work from behind a desk; I go out into the field. To understand the work, the employees, the clients, the facilities, the challenges, and the disruptions in practice. There, I find the solutions and the allies. Together with them, I build a coalition to achieve the desired change.
ACTION.
I am always looking for how things can be improved. For new methods. In small steps, directly and practically. No abstract stories or long presentations, but action! Test it out. See if it works. Only then should it be implemented. Mistakes are allowed!
LOOK AHEAD.
Seeing what went wrong and identifying who is to blame is something anyone can do. But figuring out how things should be different is often much harder. I link the mistakes made to a sustainable solution—one that works. With the lessons of the past, we look to the future and think about how we can do things differently and better.
Mirjam Ottens
Colleague Lecturer at HAN
Simply Different. That characterizes Mirjam. Together, we teach in the Master’s program in Management and Innovation in the Public Domain at Arnhem Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences. It is always a great pleasure to teach with her. Mirjam is very attuned to what is happening in the group and responds accordingly. She brings surprise. Something always happens. And when we don’t know something, we just figure it out together. Because even as a lecturer, you don’t know everything.
Nico Groen
Former Colleague at Groen-Heesen
I learned the profession from Nico. After university, I joined him, and I worked with him for 8 years, learning the craft of shaping change together with people and facilitating sessions. Nico is a jack of all trades with a sharp and original perspective on things. Our conversation started somewhere and will never cease.
Jelger Spijkerboer
Colleague Lecturer at SIOO
Jelger knows an incredible amount about learning and change. We co-facilitate the change management workshop at SIOO. It is always a joy to spend two days working alongside him. While I tend to explore participants’ own practices and their roles in them, Jelger always manages to provide a broad perspective and deepen the theoretical aspects.
Simon van der Veer
Critical Colleague and Quick Thinker
Simon is a peer who places great importance on quality work. He can be wonderfully critical, setting high standards for both his clients and himself. He combines this with a strong eagerness to learn and stays updated on the latest innovations in our field. "Move before you’re ready" is his motto. He links craftsmanship with entrepreneurship and is always full of ideas and clever phrases for a column or an article.
Wouter Landman
Former Classmate and Learned Colleague
I studied Public Administration with Wouter at the University of Twente. Later, I encountered him again in our field. "Better understanding, more powerful action" is his motto. Wouter systematically investigates and facilitates the stubbornness and richness of the primary processes within a public organization. He earned his doctorate through action research with the police: Blue Patterns; Meaning-Making in Police Work
Mieke Steenbergen
Facilitator of Change
Mieke is a highly experienced coach, mediator, and manager. She is an independent thinker who always finds solutions and is a partner in reflective discussions. Collaborating with Mieke is a pleasure because she is always sharp, knows how to ask the right questions, and sets high standards.
PARTNERING WITH ME?
You can engage me for advice on policy and collaboration, short and effective evaluations, building public-private alliances, tackling complex issues, tailored training, process innovation and optimization, and writing business plans and visions.