What began as an initiative of three enthusiastic companions has grown into a leading agency that provides a variety of educational materials for primary and secondary schools. Juul Lelieveld, one of the founders, explains, “In the beginning, the three of us did everything. Over the years, that grew, and we added staff.”
Growing Pains: The Moment of Realisation
With growth comes change, including at Patsboem! educational. Structure and strategy became increasingly crucial. “We ran into the fact that we were starting to grow. We were getting more staff, but were they doing what they were really good at? Were they in the right place? Conversations about this were occasional. We had no idea how to handle this better.” This was the moment when Patsboem! realised it was time for external expertise to smooth the transition from a small start-up to a structured scale-up.
This search brought Patsboem! educational to Brilliant Work. “You’re very much driven by the delusion of the day and deadlines when you work for clients. We found that we were kind of doing the work on the business and everything to do with managing the staff. That wasn’t good,” says Juul. It was time for a partner who understood their unique needs and translated them into concrete action plans and strategies.
A sharp vision and mission is the foundation
Together with Brilliant Work, Patsboem! educational embarked on a programme to sharpen their mission and vision. This was essential to clarify their future direction. The first step was to get a clear understanding of the goals for the coming years. “You need to know that before you can put the right people in the right place,” says Juul.
Brilliant Work’s expertise in defining job profiles was indispensable for optimising the team’s structure. “Thanks to the coaches’ help, we truly feel like we’re getting the best out of our people now,” Juul emphasises.
Beyond structuring the organisation, improving daily work processes was a priority. The coaches at Brilliant Work delved deep into Patsboem! educational’s business processes to increase efficiency. “For example, Elham is now working with my colleague Annemiek to map and improve all our work processes,” Juul explains.
Brilliant Work also approached growth on a personal level. “It was mainly about communication,” says Juul. “What can you do? What qualities do you already possess in your communication that are good? What do you find challenging? What else would you like to learn?”
A helping push
Juul spreekt openhartig over het financiële aspect van het coachingstraject met Brilliant Work. Voor kleine bedrijven zoals Patsboem! is investeren in groei een belangrijke overweging, gezien de beperkte budgetten. De beschikbare subsidie was een welkome aanvulling, die Patsboem! de mogelijkheid bood om met vertrouwen in het traject te stappen. Juul benadrukt dat, hoewel de kosten zonder subsidie een grotere uitdaging zouden vormen, de waarde en het potentieel van de samenwerking met Brilliant Work duidelijk waren. “De subsidie maakte het gemakkelijker om deze belangrijke stap te zetten, maar de expertise en steun van Brilliant Work waren de echte drijfveren achter onze beslissing.”
Significant Strides
Juul sees Patsboem!’s progress thanks to the programme with Brilliant Work. “We’ve truly made significant strides over the past three-quarters of a year, which means we’re confidently heading into the future.” With Brilliant Work by their side, the future is not only a promise but also a plan in execution. Juul wishes this for other entrepreneurs who want to grow and structure their processes too. “Coaching from Brilliant Work isn’t just for large companies; they’re accustomed to working with small organisations. The coaches are very approachable and personal in their approach to your issues. This means there are no hurdles when you encounter something, and you can ask anything.”
Do you also want to take steps in growing your company with the help of a subsidy? Then feel free to contact us without obligation!
Juul speaks candidly about the financial aspect of the coaching programme with Brilliant Work. For small companies like Patsboem!, investing in growth is an important consideration given the limited budgets. The available subsidy was a welcome addition, which offered Patsboem! the opportunity to confidently embark on the programme. Juul emphasises that, although the costs without subsidy would pose a greater challenge, the value and potential of the collaboration with Brilliant Work were clear. “The subsidy made it easier to take this important step, but the expertise and support of Brilliant Work were the real drivers behind our decision.”
