The 7people Podcast: Your Guide to Creating Irresistible Organizations

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May 2026

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HR insights, practical tips and guaranteed laughs, with People & Culture consultancy 7people. Join us as we dive into the weird, funny, and strange situations we encounter in our day-to-day HR work ☕️. (Formerly known as "Have You Got 5 Minutes?") 7people is a HR consultancy based in Amsterdam. We help the most exciting start and scale-ups around Europe (and beyond) become irresistible organizations, so that they can attract, develop and retain the best talent to fuel their growth. See more at www.7people.team.

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22 recent

May 28, 2026Episode 238 min

Building Exceptional Leaders: The Power of Being Different 🌟 (with Ingrid Tappin & Ingeborg van Harten)

Ever felt like the exception? The only one in the room who looked, thought or grew up different? Most of us have been taught that being different is something to manage: to tone down, work around or adapt. But what if the very thing you’re trying to suppress...is actually what makes you a better leader?On this episode of the 7people Podcast, we’re joined by two guests on a mission to challenge society’s expectations of leadership - and redefining what’s possible when we embrace leading by our unique differences, instead of copying the mould.Ingeborg van Harten, founder of 7peopleIngrid Tappin, leadership strategist, founder/CEO of Diverse Leaders in Tech and author of “Exceptionals” Through relatable stories and learnings from their extensive professional leadership experience, they’ll unpack: The “Sameness Trap” in leadership, hiring and the age of AI - and its hidden business costThe “2 Lanes” of leadership: How to shift from “expected” to “exceptional”Using our “Origin Stories” to build more exceptional teamsIdentity Intelligence: the missing ‘puzzle piece’ and secret booster for high performanceWhy DEI without Identity misses the pointHow exceptional leaders turn difference into competitive advantageWhether you’re a founder, manager or HR professional - or just anyone who’s ever felt like “the exception” - this episode will give you the recognition, inspiration and practical tools to embrace the power of your differences, and challenge what great leadership really looks like!Chapters00:00 Being the “exception”06:04 The Sameness Trap & “7 vinkjes”10:54 The cost of rewarding sameness 13:14 Lane 1 vs Lane 2 Leadership 16:52 Why exceptional leaders get overlooked19:26 Lane 2 Leadership in practice 23:25 Identity Intelligence: Unlock your Origin Story26:10 Identity: the missing piece in DEI28:49 The secret performance booster31:50 Applying Identity Intelligence in practice34:27 Final takeawaysLearn more🌐 www.7people.team🌐 www.weareexceptionals.com 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingridtappin/ 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingeborgvanharten/ 📘Ingrid’s book “Exceptionals: How to turn identity into your greatest leadership advantage” is available now from all major Dutch bookstores, and online shipping across Europe: https://weareexceptionals.com/book

February 26, 2026Episode 127 min

Building High-Performing Teams 👷‍♀️ (with Ingeborg van Harten)

“Can you build us a high-performing team?” It’s the #1 question People & Culture professionals get from leadership. Short answer: HR can coach, enable and guide. But high performance starts with - and must be owned by - the team’s managers.7people founder Ingeborg van Harten joins Flo to unpack what truly drives team performance - and why most organisations are measuring the wrong thing. Some of the topics we cover:What factors really drive performanceHR’s true role in performance management Performance vs Impact: Why most teams are measuring the wrong thingFrom forming to performing: Navigating (and accelerating) the stages of team development How leadership behaviour makes or breaks teamsWhy team culture is the type of behaviour you accept - good or bad How to handle underperformance - and the importance of having the difficult conversations earlyBecause business performance = people performance. And high-performing teams start with leaders who model and manage the right behaviours…with HR as the coach behind the coach.CHAPTERS:00:00 Intro00:27 Why Performance isn’t HR’s Responsibility02:53 What Makes a High-Performing Team?05:58 Team Performance vs Individual Impact09:34 How to Measure Impact: Behaviour vs Output11:17 Performance is Contextual12:36 From Forming to Performing: Stages of Team Development15:37 How to Handle Underperformance20:17 HR’s Role: Coaching the Coaches22:02 Clarity is Key: Define Performance Expectations22:57 Managing Team Culture 25:41 Final TakeawaysLEARN MORE:www.7people.team

December 4, 2025Episode 934 min

🖥 Remote Work : Designing connection without an office (with Job van der Voort)

What does it actually take to build a successful remote-first organisation - one that scales, performs, and stays connected across continents? 🌐We sat down with Job van der Voort, CEO of Remote, the company helping thousands of organisations hire and operate globally without an office. He shares the lessons, tips and actual practices Remote uses to build its own global culture, trust and performance across 50+ countries.What you'll learn:Why most companies manage remote work wrong - and how to fix itThe essential communication and ways of working rules to minimise miscommunications, Slack chaos and unnecessary meetingsPractical tips for designing connection without an officeWhy culture is an “emergent property,” not something you enforceThe real reason companies push return-to-office mandates (hint: it's more about trust than productivity)How Remote redesigned performance reviews to achieve 1800 reviews in 48 hours!Managing timezones, salaries and benefits across bordersIrresistible organizations aren't built by accident.Whether you're a People leader, founder, HR professional or manager, this episode is your blueprint for building a remote team that performs and feels connected, wherever your employees sit.Enjoyed the episode? Leave a show rating or let us know in the comments! CHAPTERS00:00 Intro & today's guest02:15 Can you 'create' remote culture?04:41 Async-first principles 06:25 Remote's work communication rules (assume positive intent)10:11 Managing the Slack chaos12:18 1800 performance reviews in 48 hours?! 19:33 Why companies REALLY struggle with remote work24:22 Job's top remote work priority25:07 Top tips for building connection remotely28:22 Managing comp & ben globallyThank you Personio for making our podcast possible 💖

October 30, 2025Episode 835 min

Leadership 🌟 : The Beautiful Basics of Being a Great Boss (with Roland Grootenboer)

What's the REAL secret to being a great boss, according to People & Culture experts? The answer's simpler and more boring than you might think...but rarely done well in practice! HR expert and and author Roland Grootenboer (Google, Blendle, "Het boek waarvan je baas niet wil dat je het leest") joins us to break down the '3 beautiful basics' leaders need to help their people thrive: Clarity, Consistency and Empathy. When leaders get those basics right, everything else, from performance to engagement to wellbeing follows more naturally. Listen now to learn how!What you'll learn in this episode: What separates 'good' bosses from 'great' ones?Empathy: how to make it a competitive advantage, and why it doesn't just mean being 'soft'Assume good intent: how distrust poisons cultureThe importance of boundaries: You are not your employee's therapistWhy lack of clarity causes resentment and keeps you stuckThe hard truth about leadership: the boring basics are the most importantChapters00:00 - Intro01:02 - About today's topic and guest02:08 - Empathy: why & how to do it better05:47 - Empathy = key to engagement08:45 - Radical candor: Good empathy is not being 'soft'!11:12 - Bridging the People vs Business needs gap14:14 - Don't scar on the first cut16:08 - Underperformance: a system or person issue? 19:31 - Consistency & boundaries: Managers are not therapists!24:57 - Clarity: The importance of clear expectations28:58 - Adapting leadership styles to context35:01 - Final takeawaysUseful resources mentioned in this episodeHarvard Business Review study on Empathy: https://hbr.org/2004/01/what-makes-a-leaderKim Scott's 'Radical Candor' model: https://kimmalonescott.medium.com/what-is-radical-candor-learn-the-basic-principles-in-6-minutes-50391b3ad76a

October 2, 2025Episode 745 min

Guiding Change 🌀: The Human Side Leaders Miss (with Toni Cairns)

New leadership, new investors, M&As...most orgs will face changes in their journeys. But why do so many big changes fail, even when the strategy was solid?Because most leaders ignore the human side of change. This episode we're joined by org change expert Toni Cairns (fractional Chief People Officer and founder of YellowBox), to learn how we as HR professionals can help guide orgs to survive and thrive through big changes. What you'll learn:The top 3 mistakes orgs make in managing changesThe importance of (over)communicationHow to build a change plan 101 (using ADKAR*)What actually causes the friction during change clashesManaging emotional responses with the 'change curve'Common change scenarios - and how to do them better*ADKAR: Awareness / Desire / Knowledge / Ability / ReinforcementWhether you’re in HR, a founder, or a leader facing big changes, this episode is packed with expert insights, real case stories and practical tips to help your next change run smoother.Let us know in the comments if you enjoyed this episode!Chapters00:00 Coming up…01:05 Toni Cairns: Change expert03:12 Top 3 Change Do’s & Don’ts04:22 Change Curve model (Kubler-Ross)07:08 Change plans & commsChange cases11:59 Leadership changes: Founder to CEO15:59 Always ask “why”18:30 Leadership changes: Old vs new (more corporate) guard23:09 After investment27:15 M&A, mergers, takeovers - overcommunicate!32:08 When M&As go wrong34:22 Managing the emotional falloutIntermezzo39:11 1 big change vs lots of little ones over year?Proudly pragmatic41:58 Making Change Plans 101 (ADKAR)43:33 Key takeaways

August 28, 2025Episode 634 min

Gen Z: Updating how we work (feat. Laura Bas) 💅🏻

Gen Z in the workplace: lazy, entitled…or huge untapped potential? Gen Z expert Laura Bas helps us bust the myths and explore what the new generation really wants from work - and why HR leaders and managers need to pay attention.Every new generation entering the workforce gets labelled "difficult". But despite the stereotypes, Gen Z employees aren't here to break the workplace - they're updating it (maybe for the better). Are they really lazy and entitled...or are we overlooking what really drives them?💡 What you'll learn:Decoding the Gen Z stereotypesThe "4 C's" Gen Zers value most at work Where Gen Zs can make the biggest impact Effective Gen Z managing and coaching Practical tips to attract, motivate and retain Gen Z talentHelping your Gen Zers thrive is not only good leadership, it's essential to the future of work and your org's success.CHAPTERS00:00 Coming up…01:18 Laura Bas - Gen Z expertGen Z decoded03:00 Gen Z’s generational ‘updates’06:56 Lazy - or strategic?08:18 Delusional - or craving clarity?09:58 Gen Z’s #1 work priority12:05 Appreciation, celebration, connection13:56 The ‘3 shame’ of criticism15:48 Feedback, Gen Z style18:11 Gen Z leadership20:33 Greedy for money - or living reality?Getting the best out of your Gen Zs24:03 Top 4 focus areas for retention28:30 Rethinking recruitment31:46 Managing and leading Gen Zs34:00 Final takeaways: The 4 C'sWANT TO LEARN MORE? 7people:🌐 Website | 🔗 LinkedIn | 📸 Instagram 👤 Paul Butler | 👤 Florentine van LingenLaura Bas:🌐 Website | 🔗 LinkedIn | 📸 Instagram📖 Pre-order Laura’s upcoming book “De GenZclopedie: Alles over het aantrekken en beouden van jong talent"

July 31, 2025Episode 540 min

Org Goals: Goal setting that works (for real) - with Koen Veltman

KPIs…OKRs…WTF?! 🤯Organisational goal setting sounds simple - until you try it. Most teams end up with vague goals, confusion and zero connection to what people do day to day.So where does it go wrong? And how do you fix it?This episode, we’re joined by Koen Veltman (Organisation Builders, ex-McKinsey), to learn what it really takes to set effective goals - especially in growing teams.You’ll learn:The biggest goal-setting mistakes teams make (and what to do instead)The “goosebump test” for writing goals people care aboutRethinking goal setting as a communication and alignment toolKPIs, OKRs, OGSM, moonshots, rocks...what's the difference? Which works best when?How HR teams can turn vague strategy into real, people-focused outcomesActionable tip to make org goals work, no matter your size, stage or chaos levelWhether you're in HR, People & Culture, ops, or leadership, this episode will help you rethink how your company sets and tracks what matters.If you enjoyed this episode, please rate us 5 stars and follow the show! It helps us create great new People & Culture content and reach new audiences who might find it helpful 😉CHAPTERSGoal setting mistakes00:00 Why goal setting is hard (Choices)01:15 Today’s guest: Koen Veltman02:12 Defining ”goals” vs purpose, vision etc04:18 Strategic pillars to goals: bridge the gap06:45 Aligning org structure to goals08:22 Choose your focus > doing it allDecoding Goal Methodologies10:30 Why multiple systems can work!11:48 KPI vs OKR: What’s the difference?13:28 Goals = communication tool15:11 OKRs: “Goosebump” objectives18:42 OKRS: Measurable outcomes20:50 Creating good Key Results24:30 OGSM - too vague25:16 Rocks - keep it simple27:53 Koen’s favourite goal system?Intermezzo29:04 Meaningful vs measurable goals?Making it practical30:33 Aligning HR KPIs + company strategy36:27 Start off simple: Skip OKRs for now?39:35 Final takeaways

June 26, 2025Episode 443 min

How Work Works: Legal HR Do's and DON'Ts for employers! 👩‍⚖️ (feat. Frank Penders)

🧹 What's the messiest HR legal issue you've had to clean up? Misclassified contractor? Regrettable indefinite extension? Settlement talks gone 🤯? Chances are, some better documentation, clearer expectations, or stronger grip on the rules could've saved you some serious headaches (or avoided the problem altogether). This episode, Paul and Flo are joined by Frank Penders: employment lawyer at OTIS Advocaten, with 15+ years experience advising both employers and employees.Together, they'll unpack the most common legal blind spots they see in their everyday work - the pitfalls that can trip up even seasoned HR teams, especially in the complex maze of Dutch employment law. Packed with expert insights and practical tips from both legal and strategic HR angles, you'll learn how to spot early red flags, mitigate issues before they blow up, and fix issues fast if they do. 🧠 Just a few of the topics we cover:Job offer changes: What's binding, what's fixableSettlements (VSOs): Building strong cases and fair offersContract renewals: Managing risk, uncertainty and regretsContractor misclassification: Common misunderstandings and workaroundsBig thanks as always to our friends at Personio, for powering the 7people podcast 💜CHAPTERS00:00 About today’s guest and topicCase 1: Contractor misclassification - employee vs freelancer?02:55 Case 1: Contractor misclassification04:43 Grey area: Friendployee or Freelancer?06:53 Control over work06:43 Pay arrangements08:40 Working hours/full time 9-510:08 Risks for getting it wrong11:39 Overseas freelancers13:38 Check (or adjust) the contract15:08 Easier to become employees?Case 2: Contract renewals - employee uncertainty17:35 Case 2: Fixed vs indefinite contracts18:07 POV: HR’s business POV19:48 POV: Employment lawyer’s POV20:26 Indefinite first - fix with settlement later?Case 3: Settlement/VSOs25:11 Case 3: Building a strong VSO case27:50 Settlement offers: What and how much?32:12: More ‘expensive’ cases33:35 The road to court…Intermezzo - true or false35:30 Dismissal during probation36:33 Employee legal advice during settlements37:52 Pulling back accepted job offerFinal tips: proudly pragmatic40:47 Be clear + transparent

June 23, 2025Episode 38 min

BONUS - Product-Led People Experience: The Uber Eats of work?

Ever thought of the People Experience at work as a product, just like Netflix or Uber Eats?Enjoy this bonus clip from our last episode with Luke O'Mahoney from SapienX, where we dive even deeper into how to really start thinking of People Experience as a Product, with a worked case example of a Work From Home policy. Just like Netflix or Uber Eats, an organization's employee experience is a central shared product, used by multiple user groups, in different ways with differing needs to ensure their success. And similarly, you can also use agile product/UX thinking to solve your organizational people problems. With way more efficiency, effectiveness and strategic impact than in traditional HR!If you're new to Product PX, we suggest starting with our full episode with Luke for the full context to this bonus clip (linked in shortcuts).Happy listening, and let us know what you think!

May 15, 20255 min

BONUS - Engagement Surveys (that don't suck) ✍🏻

Bonus clip from our recent episode on Product-Led People Experience, with Luke O'Mahoney! Employee engagement surveys are a staple of traditional HR cycles, but are they actually effective? How can we do employee research better - particularly by using the 'problem-first' approach from Product principles? www.7people.team