Tanja Verheyen

Speaker
Dutch
English
Photo of Tanja Verheyen

Who is Tanja Verheyen?

In 2011, Tanja Verheyen wrote a book called ‘Remotie. Een stap terug is een stap vooruit samen’ (Remotion. A step back is a step forward), together with her partner Bob Vermeir. The book presents the stories of 14 people who were demoted by force or by choice. The stories are punctuated by advice from e.g. coaches and psychotherapists on how to deal with demotion and how you can change a step back into a step forward. Lawyers also explain your rights and obligations if you have been demoted. Tanja and Bob wanted to use this book to support demotees and offer them insights and new prospects.

Tanja is convinced that demotions will be increasingly common in the future. Certainly when you consider robotisation, longer working hours, the burnout epidemic, the emergence of self-managed organisations, changing careers, etc. These (r)evolutions mean that demotions will become the new normal. And if that’s the case, then we should embrace demotion and see how we can address it as a win-win situation.

Request your offer

    Demotion works, and will be an inherent part of careers

    Demotion is something that occurs every day in many companies and many careers. Tanja provides a positive view of this taboo, about which she has written a doctorate thesis and two books. She possesses a lot of theoretical and practical knowledge, and is able to clearly convey her know-how and passion. She challenges the audience to be interactive and supports her knowledge with relevant video quotes and practical examples. While demotion is a taboo, Tanja is not afraid to tackle it head on. She encourages people to look beyond the taboo and joins the audience in looking for specific and useful tools for organisations, managers and individuals.

Occasionally you need a eureka moment. Someone may give you a tip, or you may read a book, that suddenly makes you view the facts from another perspective. Remotie. Een stap terug is een stap vooruit by Tanja Verheyen and Bob Vermeir is such a eureka moment. In these times of ‘always moving forward’, a plea for a sideways step can appear fresh and wise. Highly recommended, because it helps you to change your perspective. And that is what you sometimes need in order to move forward again.

Ivan De Vadder

Belgian political analyst VRT NWS and TV presenter

Photo of micro

In times when change is the only certainty, companies must constantly adapt their organization. Of course, this has an impact on employees. At the same time, as a company you want to treat people with respect, but you can’t always guarantee that employees can keep the same job. Internal mobility is essential, but ‘demotion’ is a reality in this context. I am convinced that, with a good framework, ‘remotion’ can be an opportunity for better understanding oneself and for renewed learning. An important and galvanising moment in people's careers. Tanja Verheyen shows us how it can be done.

Bert Van Rompaey

HR en Change manager Eurowings