đź“Ś Leading Global Talent Acquisition, building high performing teams (co-located & geo-distributed) and believing in servant leadership. đź“Ś Passionate about the recruitment 'craft' and hands-on with regards to executive and leadership hiring (C-Level, SVP, VP, Director). đź“Ś Love coaching & helping others learn and grow themselves. đź“Ś Father of 2, German currently living in the Netherlands, interested in lots of stuff, curious and always happy to help. Book a call to explore more!
My Mentoring Topics
- Talent Acquisition
- Leadership
- Hypergrowth environments
- Rapid expansion
- Start & Scale-ups
- Candidate Experience
- Employer Branding
- Career Progression
- Technical Recruitment
- Sourcing
- HR & Recruiting
- People management
- Leading through change
- Stakeholder management
- Hiring
- Interview Training & Preparation
F.
20.November 2022My session with Christian was extremely valuable and pleasant at the same time. We spoke about recruiting strategy and sourcing. Christian was very precise, professional, and clear in his communication. We were able to cover a few topics within one session and I have got useful ideas on how to proceed. Thank you, Christian! :)
J.
10.October 2022I had a very interesting session with Christian. We discussed about how to attract and keep talent within the complex environment of the digitalization of an organisation. It was very pleasant to talk with Christian. The gained information is interesting, useful and practical.
W.
20.September 2022Christian graciously extended our alloted mentorship session to discuss my future goals and gave me useful insights and helpful advice. Communication was super easy, he is a very kind and open minded person. This was a great experience, thanks a lot for your time and effort Christian. Very much appreciated!
A.
2.September 2022Christian had a great mentoring session for me. His advice helped me to define my career strategy and outline a plan for its implementation
M.
24.July 2022Christian is an awesome mentor. As a talent manager he could give me very useful way of improving my already optimized CV for the future. I'll reserve a follow-up :)
H.
22.July 2022Christian gave me detailed feedback on my rĂ©sumĂ©, which was quite helpful. I'm hoping for another session soon! Highly recommended!Â
Anonymous
19.July 2022A.
27.June 2022The Session with Christian was very easy-going. He quickly understood my situation and was able to help me spot on. It was a great experience!
G.
26.June 2022Christian provided me the most positive and useful mentoring session. He was very patient in listening to my concerns and very practical in offering guidance on my next steps. I highly recommend him and I'm already looking forward to our next session together!
J.
21.June 2022The session helped me to get a better understanding of who the mentors are and what you do as a recruiter.
Q.
10.June 2022The mentoring session was very prodcutive. Christian gave me valuable and actionable feedback, he could point out what aspects need to be worked on for me to achieve my goal. He also shed some light on the things I did not realize before. Thanks again Christian.
R.
9.June 2022First of all thanks a bunch for being so patient and and a great listener. I was able to contemplate the scenario and give you the picture of what it is and ask exactly where I needed some help in getting clarity on thoughts, direction for growth and next steps. Your inputs were to the point, and also the indication of valid check points supports me to take up the right development action. Thanks a bunch for that.
N.
9.June 2022thank you very much for taking the time and meeting up with me. I had a wonderful and great sessin, very informative and I took away a lot for my growth in my career.
E.
4.June 2022The session was very helpul. The qualities that you display as a mentor are truly an inspiration. Thank you for making a positive difference in the way things operate around the industry. I wish you great success in your life and career.
J.
2.June 2022You are wonderful person and had really given time to me, I appreciate that. You are a great mentor and always ready to listen, provide recommendations as well. You have a great passion for mentoring, supporting and helping others further develop themselves. Christian himself is a great inspiration, a hive of fantastic ideas and a great support as well as a mentor and facilitator. Just by talking to him with insider knowledge, he helped to crystalize my own thoughts and, with his help and guidance, I decide on the next steps to take. He gave very useful information in the first meeting about setting expectations and discussing these. We talk a bit about our lives generally and our goals and the challenges of the work and mainly lets me focus on my most pressing issues. It has all gone very well. Thank you Christian!!!!
Who Moved My Cheese
Spencer Johnson
Key Insights from "Who Moved My Cheese?" Change is inevitable: Life and work environments are in a constant state of fluctuation. Embracing change is vital for survival and progress. Adaptability: Being adaptable and open to new experiences is a significant factor in dealing with change effectively. Overcoming fear: Fear often holds us back from embracing change. However, pushing past fear can often lead to rewarding outcomes. Anticipate change: Always expect change to happen. This approach helps to reduce the shock and resistance when it actually occurs. Monitor change: Keep an eye on the small changes that are constantly happening. They are often an indication of a larger change that is about to occur. Enjoy change: Be positive and enjoy change rather than resisting it. This can turn a potentially stressful situation into an exciting opportunity. Be ready to quickly change again and again: Change is constant, so being ready to adapt over and over again is key to surviving and thriving. Imagining success: Visualizing success can help to overcome fear and resistance to change. Learning from past experiences: Reflecting on past experiences can provide valuable lessons for dealing with future changes. Accepting that change is part of life: Rather than resisting change, accepting it as a part of life can make the entire process much easier to navigate. In-Depth Analysis and Summary "Who Moved My Cheese?" is a compelling tale that imparts profound lessons about change, adaptability, and success. The book uses a parable involving four characters: two mice named Sniff and Scurry, and two little people named Hem and Haw. These characters live in a maze where their goal is to find cheese, which represents our desires, whether they are a good job, wealth, health, or peace of mind. The inevitable nature of change is a central theme in the book. The characters wake up one day to find that their cheese has been moved. This situation symbolizes the changes that occur in our lives and how we react to them. Hem and Haw struggle with the change, while Sniff and Scurry immediately start looking for new cheese. This contrast between the characters' reactions emphasizes the importance of adaptability and the dangers of resistance to change. Overcoming fear is another critical lesson from the story. Hem and Haw's fear of the unknown holds them back from seeking new cheese. However, Haw eventually overcomes his fear and ventures out into the maze, a decision that ultimately leads to success. This narrative underlines the idea that pushing past fear, despite its discomfort, can lead to rewarding outcomes. Anticipating and monitoring change are also essential strategies presented in the book. Sniff and Scurry's success in finding new cheese is attributed to their ability to anticipate change and their constant vigilance. They understand that change is a part of life and are always ready to adapt. This contrast with Hem and Haw, who are taken by surprise, supports the notion that expecting change and being observant can facilitate smoother transitions. Enjoying change and being ready to change again and again are other significant insights from the book. Haw eventually learns to enjoy the process of seeking new cheese, which turns a potentially stressful situation into an exciting opportunity. He also realizes that change is a constant process, and he must be ready to adapt repeatedly. Imagining success and learning from past experiences are strategies that Haw uses to overcome his fear and resistance to change. He visualizes himself enjoying new cheese, which motivates him to continue his search. Reflecting on his past experiences also helps him to understand the importance of moving on from old cheese. In conclusion, "Who Moved My Cheese?" offers valuable lessons about dealing with change in our personal and professional lives. By embracing change, overcoming fear, anticipating and monitoring change, enjoying the process, and being ready to adapt continually, we can navigate life's maze more effectively. These insights align well with various concepts in psychology and organizational behavior, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, resilience, positive thinking, and continuous learning in achieving success.
ViewNever Split the Difference - Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It
Chris Voss, Tahl Raz
Key Insights from the Book: The principle of tactical empathy: Understand and recognize the emotions of your counterpart and respond to them in a thoughtful manner. The power of mirroring: Imitate the language and behavior of your counterpart to build rapport and trust. The effectiveness of calibrated questions: Ask questions that allow your counterpart to have control, but steer the conversation towards your desired outcome. The significance of active listening: Listen carefully to what your counterpart is saying and respond accordingly. The role of patience: Give your counterpart time to respond and don’t rush them into making a decision. The importance of a "no": Getting a 'no' is not a failure, but rather an opportunity to understand your counterpart's fears and concerns. The “Ackerman Model”: A strategic bargaining method developed in the FBI, which involves setting a target price, then using a series of calculated offers and conciliatory gestures to reach it. The concept of "Black Swans": Unforeseen events or pieces of information that can dramatically impact the outcome of a negotiation. The value of loss aversion: People are more motivated to avoid losses than to achieve equivalent gains. The utility of "that's right": Getting your counterpart to say "That's right" instead of "You're right," ensures they feel understood and agree with your viewpoint. The "7-38-55 Percent Rule": In communication, 7% of a message is derived from the words, 38% from the tone of voice, and 55% from body language and facial expressions. An In-Depth Analysis of the Book "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz is a compelling exploration into the art of negotiation. Drawing from his experience as a former FBI hostage negotiator, Voss provides readers with practical techniques to improve their negotiation skills. Understanding and Using Tactical Empathy Tactical empathy is at the heart of successful negotiation. It revolves around understanding and acknowledging the feelings and mindset of your counterpart. By doing so, you can navigate the negotiation process more effectively and achieve favourable outcomes. As a negotiator, it's not enough to understand what the other party wants; you must also comprehend how they feel. This emotional intelligence enables you to build a connection and establish mutual trust, increasing the likelihood of a successful negotiation. Mirroring, Calibrated Questions and Active Listening Voss also highlights the importance of mirroring, calibrated questions, and active listening. Mirroring, which involves imitating your counterpart's language and behaviour, can foster a sense of familiarity and rapport. Calibrated questions, on the other hand, allow you to steer the conversation without appearing aggressive or domineering. These questions typically start with "what" or "how," prompting your counterpart to think deeply and contribute valuable information to the discussion. Active listening is equally crucial. By paying close attention to your counterpart's words, you can identify underlying concerns or interests that may be key to the negotiation. This also signals respect and sincerity, strengthening your relationship with the counterpart. The Value of Patience and the Power of 'No' Patience is a virtue in negotiation. Voss emphasizes the importance of allowing your counterpart sufficient time to respond. A hurried negotiation is unlikely to yield optimal results. Moreover, contrary to common belief, receiving a 'no' from your counterpart is not necessarily a setback. Instead, it can serve as a stepping stone to understanding their fears and concerns better. It gives you the opportunity to address those issues and make a more persuasive case. The Ackerman Model and the Concept of Black Swans The Ackerman model is a bargaining method that involves setting a target price, then using a series of calculated offers and conciliatory gestures to reach it. This method, which requires patience and strategic thinking, can be highly effective in achieving your desired outcome. Voss also introduces the concept of 'Black Swans' – unexpected events or pieces of information that can dramatically alter the negotiation landscape. Identifying potential Black Swans and preparing for them can give you a significant advantage. Loss Aversion, 'That's Right' and the 7-38-55 Percent Rule The book also delves into the psychology of negotiation, discussing concepts like loss aversion and the power of the words 'That's right'. People are typically more motivated to avoid losses than to achieve equivalent gains, and this can be leveraged in negotiation. Getting your counterpart to say 'That's right' instead of 'You're right' ensures they feel understood and agree with your viewpoint. The former indicates genuine agreement, while the latter often signals appeasement. Lastly, Voss presents the "7-38-55 Percent Rule," a principle that underscores the importance of non-verbal communication. It posits that only 7% of a message is derived from words, while 38% comes from the tone of voice, and 55% from body language and facial expressions. In conclusion, "Never Split the Difference" offers a wealth of practical strategies and psychological insights for effective negotiation. It challenges traditional notions, encouraging readers to perceive negotiation through a different lens. Whether it's in a professional context or everyday life, these techniques can undoubtedly enhance your ability to negotiate successfully.
ViewWho - The A Method for Hiring
Geoff Smart, Randy Street
Key Facts and Insights The hiring process is crucial: The authors emphasize that the hiring process, which is often overlooked or rushed in many companies, is a critical aspect of business success. The “A Method”: Geoff Smart and Randy Street have developed a unique hiring strategy, the “A Method”, which emphasizes the importance of hiring “A Players”. Definition of “A Players”: These are the top 10% of talent available at any given pay level. They are the best in their field and bring exceptional value to a company. Four parts of the “A Method”: The method consists of Scorecard, Source, Select, and Sell steps, each of which is critical in hiring the right candidates. The Scorecard: It is a blueprint of a role, indicating what the person needs to achieve in the role, and what kind of person they need to be to succeed. The Source: This is about how to find “A Players”. They can come from networking, direct applications, or through headhunters. The Select: This phase involves a series of structured interviews to assess whether the candidate is an “A Player”. The Sell: Once the right candidate is found, the company needs to sell itself to the candidate, just as the candidate has been selling themselves to the company. Structured interviews: The authors suggest conducting a series of structured interviews, including the screening interview, the focused interview, and the reference interview. Importance of reference checks: The authors stress the importance of conducting thorough reference checks to verify the candidate’s abilities and fit for the role. In-Depth Summary and Analysis The central premise of "Who - The A Method for Hiring" by Geoff Smart and Randy Street is that the hiring process is crucial to a company's success. The authors argue that hiring the right people - or "A Players" - can make a significant difference in a company's performance. As a professor who has been dealing with human resource management and recruitment strategies for many years, I find their argument compelling and well-supported by real-life examples and cases. The "A Method" for hiring proposed by the authors is a systematic approach to hiring the best talent. It comprises four key steps: Scorecard, Source, Select, and Sell. Each step is critical and requires thought and planning. The Scorecard is essentially a detailed job description that outlines the expectations from the role and the characteristics needed to succeed in it. This approach is in line with the competency-based approach in human resource management, where the focus is on identifying and hiring individuals who possess the necessary competencies to perform a job effectively. Next, in the Source phase, the authors suggest various ways to find "A Players". This may involve networking, direct applications, or using headhunters. This emphasizes the importance of having a broad range of sourcing strategies to reach the best talent. The third step, Select, involves conducting a series of structured interviews. This starts with a screening interview, followed by focused interviews, and finally, a reference check. Each interview is designed to assess different aspects of the candidate and determine whether they are indeed an "A Player". This rigorous selection process echoes the importance of using multiple assessment methods in the selection process, a concept well-established in the field of human resource management. Finally, the Sell phase emphasizes that recruitment is a two-way street. Companies not only need to assess candidates but also need to sell themselves to potential employees. This is a crucial point, especially in the current job market where top talents often have multiple job offers to choose from. One of the standout points from the book is the emphasis on conducting thorough reference checks. While reference checks are often seen as a formality or are overlooked altogether, the authors argue that they can provide valuable insights into a candidate's abilities and fit for the role. In conclusion, "Who - The A Method for Hiring" offers a systematic and effective approach to hiring. It emphasizes the importance of each step in the hiring process and focuses on hiring "A Players", the top 10% of talent available at any given pay level. By following the "A Method", companies can significantly improve their hiring process and enhance their overall performance.
ViewStorytelling with Data - A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals
Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic
Key Facts and Insights: Effective data visualization is a critical tool in business communication. Context is key in data storytelling; without it, your audience may not understand your message. Too much data can be overwhelming; simplicity is often more effective. Color and design elements should enhance understanding, not distract. Story structure can provide a framework for presenting data. Visual cues guide the audience's attention and highlight important information. Audience understanding and action is the ultimate goal of data storytelling. The book provides practical examples and exercises for honing data visualization skills. It emphasizes on the importance of scrutinizing, altering, and improving data visuals for clarity and impact. The book reiterates the significance of data ethics and the potential consequences of misleading data visuals. An In-depth Look at the Book "Storytelling with Data – A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals" by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic is an invaluable resource for anyone who needs to distill complex datasets into meaningful narratives that can drive business decisions. As data becomes increasingly crucial in the business world, being able to effectively visualize and communicate this data is a vital skill. The book begins with the premise that effective data visualization is a critical tool in business communication. This is a truth I have affirmed over my years as a professor, seeing how the ability to present data in a clear and compelling way can significantly impact business strategies and decisions. Knaflic also emphasizes that context is key in data storytelling. Without it, the audience may not understand the points you are trying to make. This aligns with the concept of situational analysis in business communication, where understanding the context can determine the effectiveness of the communication. One of the salient points in the book is the idea that too much data can be overwhelming and that simplicity is often more effective. This resonates with the principle of 'less is more' that I often advocate to my students. The ability to distill complex data into a simple, understandable format is a skill that is highly valued in the business world. Knaflic also discusses how color and design elements should enhance understanding, not distract. This underscores the importance of aesthetic considerations in data visualization, a point often overlooked by professionals who focus solely on the data's numerical aspects. The book further highlights how a story structure can provide a framework for presenting data. This concept of using a narrative arc to present data is a powerful tool, as it taps into our innate affinity for stories, making the data more relatable and memorable. Visual cues are another tool discussed in the book that can guide the audience's attention and highlight important information. This is in line with the cognitive theory of multimedia learning, which posits that visual cues can help guide cognitive processing and enhance understanding. Knaflic's ultimate goal is to ensure that the audience understands the data and takes appropriate action. This aligns with the communication theory's purpose, which is not just to inform but also to persuade and motivate action. One of the book's strengths is its focus on practical application. It provides practical examples and exercises to hone data visualization skills, allowing readers to apply the principles learned. The book also emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing, altering, and improving data visuals for clarity and impact, underscoring the iterative nature of the data visualization process. Lastly, it reiterates the significance of data ethics and the potential consequences of misleading data visuals. This is a critical reminder, given the potential misuse of data and the impact it can have on decision making and trust. In conclusion, "Storytelling with Data" offers a comprehensive approach to data visualization, combining theory, practical application, and ethical considerations. It is a valuable resource for professionals looking to enhance their data visualization skills and effectively communicate data-driven insights in the business world.
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J.
24.April 2023I learned a lot from Christian, he shared a lot of insights about the recruitment industry. It's great to see that people with the experience of Christian volunteer their time like this. Thanks again, Christian