“Together with my team, I operate from the heart of our organization. Because we have significant commercial ambitions, it is essential that we get stakeholders on board with our story, but also that we function well as a team. To improve our teamwork, I looked for ways to collaborate better and, ultimately, to grow. When the structure of our team changed, it was the perfect moment to take concrete steps in this direction,” says Gertjan. 

“We regularly noticed that we found it difficult to clarify roles and responsibilities within the team. What was everyone’s contribution to the team? How should he or she contribute to our goals and ambitions? After a personal introduction to the Process Communication Model®, or PCM, it was immediately clear to me: this was going to help us shape the team,” he says.  

Since Heineken started working with PCM, the company has observed a number of significant changes in the way people interact with one another. “What strikes me most is that through PCM, people realize that when collaboration is difficult, it may be due to (mis)communication. I have already seen multiple times that team members took the time to connect with each other before starting the task. And that without discussing the content. Our colleagues are now taking the time to delve into collaboration and connection in order to achieve the best results.” 

And that is also exactly how Gertjan discovered that PCM really works for them. “Just the simple fact that members of my team recognize early signs of miscommunication and have the know-how to deal with them. It really helps to step back from a specific situation for a moment and focus on a more personal level of collaboration. We now have a deeper connection with each other, and that results in a higher level of teamwork. The growth in self-reflection and personal insights truly energizes the team. And that makes a difference every day.”