Onboarding

 


Collaborate with Dutch American Connection to design a dynamic onboarding program, ensuring that new American employees experience the differences in management, communication, and workplace behavior between the Netherlands and the United States for a faster and smoother integration into the company.


Reach out for a complimentary consultation, and discover how I can help enhance employee satisfaction and reduce costly staff turnover


Case Study:

A Dutch company hired a US sales manager and invited the manager to the Netherlands for a 2-week introduction program. On Saturday, the CEO hosted the US sales manager for dinner at his house. During the evening, the sales manager played soccer with the CEO's kids, helpoed the CEO cook and helped set the table, making him feel right at home.

However, upon returning to the US, tensions between the CEO and the sales manager started to escalate. Recognizing the situation was becoming unsustainable, the company turned to Annette van der Feltz of Dutch American Connection to investigate the matter. It quickly became apparent that the US sales manager had interpreted the CEO's hospitality as a sign of personal friendship – after all, he had been to the CEO's house, met his family, and spent a Saturday evening with them. On the other hand, the CEO believed their relationship was strictly professional, despite enjoying the evening.

Once the root cause of these tensions was identified, the CEO and the sales manager were able to clarify their expectations. This newfound understanding allowed the sales manager to thrive in the US, eventually expanding his team to include eight members.

The moral of this story is clear: when onboarding employees from different cultures, design a program that takes into account both cultures, highlights differences in business styles, and creates ample opportunities for open discussions to align expectations and agree on the way forward. And if you are inclined to invite the new employee over for dinner - opt for a restaurant rather than a personal home, as this can send a different message across cultures.

Testimonials

  • I have worked with many professionals throughout my journey, but Annette has really stood out to me. Annette is a perfect example of a genuine and kind person with an extreme willingness to go the extra mile. With her guidance and knowledge, she enabled me to design outstanding documents. Annette really knows what she does, and I am honored to have been helped by such an expert!

    Roshan, the Netherlands

  • Annette masters the skill of coaching people to see different perspectives to any situation. She helped me navigate the new normal by finding more balance, purpose and acceptance with a professional approach that felt personal and genuine at the same time. With Annette’s guidance, drawing from her 20+ years‘ wealth of knowledge of the intercultural workspace and communication, she brought clarity to challenges I’m facing and useful insights to cope with it.

    Fransisca, Dutch expat in the US

  • Annette created an engaging, informative, and fun presentation on intercultural education for our multicultural, international staff. Annette's passion and expertise for the field comes through in her extraordinary work. Our staff not only enjoyed her presentation but learned so much about the ins and outs of communicating between cultures.

    Patrick, USA

  • We would like to thank you again for everything you did to make our arrival in the US a peaceful and stress-free process. We couldn't be happier - and we have you to thank for that.

    Francoise and Habib, France

  • I met Annette during my transition from LA to Europe. Her experience and the way she performs the sessions clearly demonstrate her caliber in inspiring us to explore new viewpoints, opening our eyes to different perspectives and new possibilities.

    Carlos F, expat in Europe

  • De introductiecursussen van Annette zijn zeker geen overbodige luxe als je nieuw bent in de VS en succesvol wilt zijn in de omgang met de Amerikanen. Als Belg dacht ik altijd dat Nederlanders en Amerikanen veel met elkaar gemeen hebben, misschien vanwege de handelsgeest die beide culturen kenmerkt. Toch zijn de verschillen erg groot, en daarvan kun je je maar beter bewust zijn als je in de USA woont en werkt. De lessen van Annette zijn waardevol en iedereen aan te raden die voor langere of kortere tijd in dit fascinerende land komt wonen.

    G.V. Belgian expat in USA

  • Annette brings such color to her trainings - you feel like you can't wait to visit the Netherlands and you will be in awe of the Dutch culture. She is a professional facilitator who takes great care in the details and in her delivery!

    Dayna K, Global Dynamics

  • Annette conducted a very useful session for a potential business partner and me as we began to explore a potential business relationship. Her light-hearted but useful advice helped us develop rapport and understand potential pitflls.

    Michael , American working with Dutch business partner

  • Annette delivered a wonderful presentation in my Business Communication class at the Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University. The presentation was engaging and students gained an insight in what intercultural communication is and how they can use intercultural communication skills to create a competitive advantage.

    L.V. Lecturer at Fordham University, New York

  • Annette maakt het thema interactief en voegt haar ervaringen toe. Mooie bijeenkomst.

    Innovation Quarter, The Hague

  • I thoroughly enjoyed the very interactive presentation by Annette van der Feltz on “Diversity & Inclusion”. Her style was very engaging and I certainly learned new information and skills that will help me both in my professional career and personal interactions. An understanding of Diversity and Inclusion is a key subject area in the toolkit of the 21st Century Leader.Thank you for sharing your extensive experience.

    Matthew Thonhill

  • Annette is one of our senior associates, our go-to person for working and living in the NL. She provided a virtual cross-cultural training for our engineering client group, which was well received by the team. She is very professional, personable and I would recommend her for your training programs.

    Global Dynamics