What does ‘true collaboration’ mean to you in relationships with clients and candidates? .
“True collaboration starts, for me, with equality. It is about being taken seriously, mutual trust, and openness, whether you are a client or a candidate. At Successr, we have a very flat organization, and I believe you can only be successful if you dare to build a relationship in which everything can be discussed. This is especially crucial in client relationships. We do impactful work, for example, in HR transformations, where underlying dynamics and sensitivities are involved. If we do not feel the trust to speak honestly about where things are misaligned, including toward the client, then you can never achieve the best possible result.”
How do you recognize whether there is room for that kind of true collaboration? .
“You often notice that quite quickly. We deliberately set up our collaborations in that way. We regularly check in: are we still aligned? Is what was promised actually being delivered? If you notice that it is not possible to have that conversation openly and honestly, and you are treated as a supplier instead of a partner, then something is off. And although that is sometimes unavoidable, it is not how we want to work.”
How do you make sure both clients and candidates feel heard and understood? .
“By checking in regularly. Evaluation moments are key, both with clients and with candidates or employees. Sometimes you can just feel that something is not going well even before you have hard data. You notice it in the pace, in the communication. That is when you need to talk. I do not believe in waiting until a question is asked. As a consultant, you have to listen carefully and think ahead. Not by giving unsolicited advice, but by sharing relevant information and insights at the right moment. If someone has to ask for a status update, you have already missed an opportunity.”
Do you notice a difference between Dutch and international clients in their communication style? .
“Dutch clients are generally more direct. They are quick and clear about what does and does not work. That can be confrontational, but it is also very helpful. It creates speed and clarity.”
What does a typical collaboration at Successr look like? .
“It is all about transparency, clear agreements, and mutual understanding. And that applies not only to clients but also to our ‘friends of Successr’, the interim professionals we work with. We also built a partnership with them. Contractually, we are their client and they are our supplier. But the same principles apply there as well: be transparent, act with integrity, and do not sell a story that is better than reality. Our services are tailor-made. No project is the same. So we always have to understand again truly: what is the assignment? What does the client need? And who is the right fit?”
Can you share an example of a collaboration that really stayed with you? .
“A good example is a collaboration where one of our sourcers took over an ongoing assignment at a client with very high expectations. The client was critical, especially when it came to language. For her, this was a challenging assignment. It was her first project with us, entirely in Dutch and under significant time pressure. She felt tested, sometimes in a way that did not feel constructive. We shared that feedback with the client as well. We believed one hundred percent in her talent. Language can be learned; potential is what really counts. So we started the conversation. We made it clear that she was the right person for the assignment, but that she needed the space to grow into it. It was not an easy conversation, but it was necessary. The client did not fully recognize themselves in the feedback, but they did understand it. They changed their attitude, gave her more trust, and even invited her to obtain an internal certificate so she could better understand their way of working. With that investment, trust grew quickly, and she successfully filled several roles in a short period of time.”
Do you have another example of a successful collaboration? .
“Definitely. Take an organization where we have been running a structured recruitment solution for years now. In the beginning, we were clearly in the supplier seat. To change that, we proposed: allow us to do it our way. We developed an end-to-end approach that delivered better results than they were used to. We joined their team and, with fewer hours, delivered more than a full-time recruiter. That approach proved so successful that we have now been involved for many years as a long-term partner.”
What do clients and candidates say about working with Successr? .
“They experience us as a serious sparring partner. Not a supplier who simply forwards a CV, but someone who really thinks along with them. Thanks to our substantive background, we can also spar about the content of projects. We do not offer standard solutions, but custom ones. And with our broad expertise, we are often a one-stop shop for everything related to talent. That level of trust is highly appreciated.”
How does Successr continue to develop to improve collaboration? .
“Gathering knowledge, collecting feedback, and acting on it is high on our strategic agenda. And we are happy to share our insights and our network. A good example is our HR Academy, which we develop together with our internal colleagues and external experts, our Associate Partners. Think of topics such as leadership, Tech and AI, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and change and program management. It is not only an investment in our own team, but also a platform for our community.”
How do you see collaboration at Successr in the future? .
“Collaboration will only become more important. We are increasingly moving toward co-creation. Clients sometimes struggle to formulate the right question. We help them with that and build solutions and roadmaps together. The partnership mindset is becoming stronger. That is not only our vision, it is also our day-to-day practice.”
What is your personal mission in strengthening collaboration? .
“That no one at Successr, whether client, candidate, or colleague, ever feels they have to figure things out alone. We believe in the power of the collective. Alone, you go faster; together, you go further. You can see that reflected in everything we do.”
You go further together. Do you have an idea, challenge, or issue you would like to spar about? .
Reach out via info@successr.nl or contact Chrissy.