Workshop: Trust as the Basis for Positive Leadership
Stichting Meerderweert is responsible for 14 primary schools and one special education school in the Limburg municipalities of Weert and Nederweert. The foundation employs 360 staff to provide quality education for 3,000 children. Luc Mintjens is Head of Operations at the Meerderweert Bureau, which supports the foundation in executive, administrative, and policy-preparation tasks. Together with Marc Stijfs, founder of the MyDrives MyHabits MyMatch methodology, he reflects on the recent workshop Trust as the Foundation for Positive Leadership, attended by the directors of Stichting Meerderweert.
Experienced and Less Experienced Directors
Luc: “We have been using MyDrives for some time, running multiple workshops to increase self-awareness and better understand others. The workshop Trust as the Foundation for Positive Leadership focused specifically on the diverse composition of our directors’ group. Some have extensive experience, while others are less experienced. As a result, the less experienced directors did not always feel comfortable speaking up during meetings. This happens in many other sectors as well. Our goal was to ensure that all directors feel at ease during meetings and can collaborate more effectively.”
Trust, Feedback, and Flexible Behavior
Marc: “To achieve this goal, we first explored together what trust actually means. Second, we focused on giving—and asking for—feedback as the foundation for trust. Third, using MyDrives’ seven-color theory, we showed the directors how to demonstrate flexible behavior with each other. For instance, someone with a decisive red driver can show less ‘red’ behavior, while someone with a structured blue driver doesn’t always need to focus on details when the situation doesn’t require it.”
Making Directors Feel Comfortable During Meetings
Eye Contact Exercise
Marc: “Like all MyDrives workshops, this workshop combined theory and practice.”
Luc: “I remember one exercise where we had to look into each other’s eyes for two minutes. Initially, it felt quite uncomfortable, but it became easier.”
Marc: “The exercise is designed to push you out of your comfort zone—to do something you wouldn’t normally do. Only by stepping out of your comfort zone do new growth opportunities arise. Neuroscience also shows that making eye contact creates a genuine emotional connection, increasing mutual trust.”
Sharing a Personal Story
Luc: “In another practical exercise, subgroups of experienced and less experienced directors shared personal stories that others had not yet heard. It was surprising and inspiring to see that simply being vulnerable and authentic immediately fosters understanding. After the workshop, the relationships between directors improved, and as a result, the feedback culture changed positively.”
No Trust, No Leadership
Luc: “Based on the seven-color theory, our directors now better understand who is naturally more performance-oriented (orange) or creative (yellow) without labeling anyone. Overall, MyDrives is a professional yet accessible tool for learning to communicate better with each other, helping the organization make significant progress. It also strengthens trust in relation to leadership. Without trust, it is impossible to successfully lead a team.”