The new SZ. magazine is out. A magazine with 88 pages full of inspiring stories from various entrepreneurs. From Geldmaat to Robeco and from Swijnenburg Transport to Audax. On May 9 the curtain came down on our staff meeting and now it is high time to bring you up to date. For this magazine, among other things, we visited three family businesses. What is it like to work with family members? Does it manage to keep work and private life separate? Has succession been arranged? We kick off with a nice 'family dinner' story with Rob van Os (owner and general manager at Schouten Zekerheid), his son Daniël Dancewicz and daughter Laura Post-Dancewicz. Schouten Zekerheid has been around since 1953 and in our company several family members work together, including Rob, Daniel and Laura. (1).png)
Can you explain in what respect Schouten Zekerheid is a family business?
Rob: "Together with Henk Touw, I am the owner and general manager. We both have two children working at Schouten Zekerheid . Willem and Piet-Hein, Henk's sons, and my son Daniel and daughter Laura."
Daniel: "The company has grown tremendously in recent years to now 250 employees. Despite that growth, we do our best to keep the family and familiar feeling. We treat all our colleagues as family members and know very well how they are doing.
Laura: "I have only been working at Schouten Zekerheid since December 2021 and used to hear the stories about this personal involvement at the kitchen table. Now I see it with my own eyes, for example from the reactions I received when I got married this year. I also received messages from colleagues who are not in my department. That gave an incredibly warm feeling."
What is it like to work with family members?
Rob: "Especially Daniel and I have to be very careful not to talk too much about work at home. At the office I don't distinguish between Daniel, Laura and the other colleagues. Everyone is allowed to express their opinion with us, so they are too. As long as I use their opinion objectively and don't make policy through their eyes."
Daniel: "A little more is expected of Laura and me, the bar is just a little higher with us. You have to be able to deal with that. To keep it pure we have agreed that I will never fall in line with Rob, furthermore we have learned to deal with each other in the office. For example, I myself weigh what I think Rob should know about me and what I don't."
Rob: "I never let it be known that certain information came from Daniel or Laura."
Laura: "I worked in the hospitality industry for years, when I thought it was time for something else I had to follow the normal application process at Schouten Zekerheid . I certainly didn't get a preferential position. Some of my colleagues think it's a bit odd that my father works here. I have to learn to deal with different opinions and therefore sometimes stand firm in my shoes."
Are family issues discussed at home and business at work?
Daniel: "At the office it can be about anything, including private matters. If it can wait, I have the conversation at home; if not, it depends on the subject whether I discuss it behind a closed door or simply at the canteen table with Rob or Laura. It works the same the other way around: at home we also talk about work-related matters. There's no other way, because we don't have a 9-to-5 job. We are always "on.
When was the last family fight?
Rob: "We don't always agree with each other, but we never argue. No, not really."
Laura: "Rob can be quite fiery at the office and say what's what, but after that it's done. At home he mainly goes for harmony, he just doesn't feel like fussing."
Daniel: "The last fight I can remember was when some family members wanted to quit après-ski a little earlier than the rest, haha."
What trait do you admire in your father and does he also need to unlearn?
Laura: "Rob walks around the departments every day and is personally involved with all colleagues. He used to know everyone by name and even knew when someone's child's birthday was. Now the company is too big for that and I know he finds that very annoying."
Daniel: "Rob is very approachable and human. He connects easily with others, has the favor factor and therefore always gets a lot done. You also know immediately what you have on him. He can curse people stiff and then solve a difficult case together. I find that clever. Sometimes he could give his opinion a little more nuanced, but on the other hand that is a strong part of his character. Moreover, he is man enough to admit his mistakes openly. Rob can dish out as well as collect."
Rob: "Everyone at Schouten Zekerheid knows that I reserve the right to walk through the china shop like an elephant. But I will never saw someone off in public; I always take someone aside. And if I'm wrong afterwards, I'll be the first to acknowledge it."
What do you think of your children?
Rob: "His student days were not his most successful, but Daniel is really intelligent and his coming to our company has worked out well. His skills fit well here, especially analytically he is very strong. Daniel could be a bit smarter and looser in conversations. I sometimes say: make sure you know what Feyenoord has done, then you will be a better discussion partner for the customer. Laura is also very intelligent, and thanks to her experience in the hospitality industry she has a great feel for customers. And she really is a hard worker. She now needs to get her Wft diplomas quickly, she really needs them to be able to move on to other positions."
How do you see the future of the company?
Rob: "Ten years ago we had sales of 10 million euros, now we are on our way to 40 million. We want to continue to grow, offer security to our own staff and strive to be the best insurance broker in the Netherlands. With our own products in co-insurance and proxy, with which we can serve our customers, from small SMEs to large corporations, in the very best way. What makes us unique are our insurance concepts. For example, we do not sell a separate absence policy, but also an occupational health and safety service and additional case management so that we completely unburden the customer."
Daniel: "We talk to an entrepreneur about what keeps him awake at night. In this process, data is becoming increasingly important. Every year we invest a lot of money in automation and develop innovative tooling, for example to create predictive insight based on historical results. This allows us to advise a client about a claim he does not yet have but is likely to get."
Finally, is succession already in place?
Rob: "I will remain general manager at least until the end of 2023, after which I will hand over to Wilco de Haan. I will probably remain active for the company in another role. Which one, we'll see, but doing nothing is not an option for me."
Laura: "I like the idea that Rob still means something to the company. After all, he's the father I'm proud of."
Daniel, laughing: "As long as Rob doesn't interfere too much with my work, he can definitely stay as far as I'm concerned. But I also really begrudge him something fun to do next to and later after his work at Schouten Zekerheid. Like spending a lot of time with his grandchildren. Grandpa is already enjoying that too!"
[Who's Who]
Rob van Os (1957) has worked at Schouten Zekerheid since 1979, of which he became general manager and co-owner in 1997.
Director of procurement Daniel Dancewicz (1984) joined the company on Oct. 1, 2003. Daniel also manages the proxy business.
Laura Post-Dancewicz (1988) worked in the hospitality industry for many years before becoming commercial account management officer at Schouten Schouten Zekerheid in December 2021.
