Column Pieter Vos: Once upon a time...

...there was this charming little company where everything was running smoothly. It started with just five people, then grew to ten, and eventually to a team of forty. Still, something feels off. The sense of ‘flow’ on the work floor has disappeared, but no one dares to point out what’s really going wrong. Growing pains are part of any growing business. But when leadership fails to recognize them, those little aches can quickly turn into something more painful. A crisis is born before you know it.

Johan has been there since day one. He’s the kind of guy who thrives on structure, predictability, and numbers that add up. In the early days, he knew all his colleagues inside out, and they knew him. They understood each other's quirks and had complete trust in one another. When the team expanded to ten, that became a bit trickier. But now, with forty people? He’s lost that feeling. New departments have been created, new procedures put in place, tasks divided. “It’s more efficient this way,” they were told. Johan, with all his experience, isn’t so sure. The director’s failure to choose a clear direction is now leaving a growing group of employees stuck in indecision and passivity. The very people who keep the company running day in and day out feel overlooked and undervalued. Still, no one speaks up; because nobody listens anyway.

Johan is loyal to his company. Leaving isn’t even on his radar, unlike some of his best colleagues who’ve already walked out the door. But he’s not feeling great anymore. His head and hands aren’t producing the kind of work they used to. “If only my company were more like my neighbour’s,” he muses. Over there, they do things differently. Before each meeting, everyone gets a stress ball. The rule is simple: if you notice your fist clenching around it, you can throw it on the table. That signals a chance to bring stress, tension, or resistance into the open. Together, they look for new solutions. Now that; that’s leadership.

My message to all the Johans out there (m/f/x)? Don’t stay silent. Build solidarity among colleagues and speak up. And to the leaders of these companies? Acknowledge the growing pains. Show leadership and listen to your people. Life may not be a fairy tale, but we do all want to live happily ever after. So grab that chance.

Pieter Vos
Consultancy & Interim Management