THE OBEYA WAY: EMPOWERING PEOPLE THROUGH CLARITY WITH EMY VOERMANS
If strategy sets direction, people determine whether you’ll ever get there.
For Emy, Obeya is more than just a way of working. It’s a way of making sure people feel heard, supported, and empowered to take action. At Essent, people are our most important assets. Because when people experience clarity and ownership, results follow naturally. As part of the leadership team, they want to understand how things are going, identify any areas that need attention, and even steer or initiate actions. Employees being happy and experiencing job satisfaction is a key for success!
From visibility to ownership
At its core, Obeya creates clarity on what matters most.
Through a cascading system, priorities become visible across teams, and everyone understands where the focus lies. But visibility alone doesn't do the trick. It’s about what people can do with that visibility.
“It’s a transparent way of working,” Emy explains. “People can see what we’re prioritising and also directly influence outcomes by raising topics on the board.” Teams don’t just observe priorities...they shape them. By adding signals, questions, or requests for support, colleagues actively contribute to decision-making at the leadership level.
From inboxes to interaction
Before Obeya, much of the communication within the leadership team lived in e-mails or scheduled meetings. Topics were collected, discussed later, and often delayed by competing priorities. Obeya changes that rhythm entirely.
“We used to rely a lot on e-mails and planned discussions,” Emy shares. “Now we have daily contact with the leadership team, questions are visible immediately, and we can act on them much faster.”
Instead of waiting for the next meeting, topics are addressed in real time. HR-related questions, operational challenges, or emerging concerns are picked up early in the week and evolve through continuous updates. The result is simple: less delay, more clarity, and faster action.
Giving people a voice that leads to action
One of the biggest shifts Obeya brings is how it empowers colleagues across IT.
Teams have their own boards, but they are not isolated. Topics can be escalated to the leadership board, where they gain visibility and priority.
“Questions are now addressed collectively,” Emy explains. “People can see that their input is taken seriously and leads to action.”
This collective approach removes barriers. Multiple teams that often would have had the same question crop up repeatedly can now find the answer collectively. It becomes easier to speak up, easier to contribute, and easier to see impact.
And while openness is key, there is still space for confidentiality, with options for anonymous or private input when needed.
Turning signals into action
Obeya creates momentum by capturing what would otherwise be lost.
Small questions no longer disappear into the day-to-day. They are written down, made visible, and followed up. “Quick questions can quickly turn into actions,” Emy notes. As more topics are addressed, there is less that falls through the cracks. And instead of reacting late, teams can respond early and proactively.
Making Obeya work: rhythm and commitment
Like any way of working, Obeya depends on how it’s used.
For Emy, alignment within the leadership team is critical. Regular contact, preparation, and keeping the boards up to date are what make the difference. “You need to really use it as part of your daily way of working,” she says. “Otherwise, it becomes just another administrative task.”
The strength of Obeya lies in its rhythm. Daily interaction instead of weekly catch-ups. Continuous updates instead of static reports. A shared commitment instead of individual follow-ups. Teams adopting Obeya should take the time to build that routine and make it their own.
A way of working that puts people first
For Emy, the impact of Obeya goes beyond structure or process. It strengthens alignment, improves collaboration, and helps teams move forward together with a shared understanding of what matters. “If you use it well, it really helps you achieve your goals together,” she concludes.
And perhaps most importantly, it ensures that people are not just part of the process, but at the centre of it.
Because when people feel heard, trusted, and empowered, progress follows!
Next up: Annelies van Dijk on cascading Obeya to the teams
Emy showed us the human side of Obeya and how clarity, ownership, and trust empower teams to turn insight into meaningful action. Next up, Annelies van Dijk explores how cascading Obeya to teams helps embed that same alignment and momentum across the organisation.