Healthy competition as a driving force at HeadFirst Group
About culture, growth, and winning together
Within HeadFirst Group, you often hear the term "healthy competition." But what does that mean in everyday practice? It's about stimulating growth, ownership, and pride within a safe and supportive environment. Colleagues are challenged to get the best out of themselves, always with respect for each other. Like Joke de Graaf, Director of People and Culture at HeadFirst Group, puts it: "Ambition only really becomes meaningful when it is supported by clear frameworks and a culture of openness and mutual respect."
Equal opportunities, room for difference
Healthy competition means that everyone has equal opportunities, but that effort and performance can be seen and rewarded. Those who go the extra mile or achieve exceptional results are recognized for this, for example with development opportunities, challenging projects, a salary increase, or a bonus. This encourages people to get the best out of themselves.
It's not just about the big steps. Colleagues who contribute with creativity and energy see their efforts celebrated during the monthly celebration moment and rewarded with personal extras, such as a nice check or tickets to an event. This creates a natural progression: first recognition and growth, then surprises that energize and connect.
“When everyone knows what you are working towards and celebrates each other's successes, competition becomes a force that unites rather than divides.”
Joke de Graaf | Director People & Culture
Competition that connects
By consciously appreciating successes—both big and small—positive energy is created in which colleagues strengthen and help each other move forward. Healthy competition is not about beating each other, but about making each other better. This is reflected in the way we work, celebrate successes, and support colleagues. Everything is geared toward making achievements visible and sharing pride, within clear frameworks and with an eye for each other. As Joke says: "It's about creating a dynamic in which colleagues challenge and inspire each other and grow together. Without stress or rivalry."
Some colleagues go beyond following change; they create change. People who push boundaries, show ownership, and make an impact, while remaining human. For these changemakers, HeadFirst Group has created the Changemaker Awards. These awards celebrate colleagues who bring our culture to life every day: those who challenge assumptions, shape the future, take responsibility, achieve meaningful results, and collaborate with empathy. Nominations make it possible to put colleagues in the spotlight and highlight what it means to make a real impact.
Also, the planned incentive trip to Sicily in 2026 adds an extra dimension. It is a reward for colleagues who demonstrate how commitment, passion, and results come together. In this way, HeadFirst Group not only encourages performance and ambition, but also makes the experience tangible and unforgettable. This extra layer of recognition creates a culture in which healthy competition and personal growth go hand in hand with meaningful achievements and the celebration of real changemakers.
Positive competition in practice
To keep competition healthy, HeadFirst Group combines clear criteria, recognition at multiple levels, and opportunities for collaborative learning. Recognition can be big or small, formal or informal, but the most important thing is that colleagues feel seen and understand what is valued. Transparency plays a major role. When everyone knows where they stand and successes are shared openly, competition remains motivating and unifying.
Healthy competition makes people enthusiastic and engaged, and encourages ownership, collaboration, and innovation. Ultimately, it contributes to both individual growth and the success of the organization. At HeadFirst Group, colleagues simply want to do well, each in their own way. A culture in which performance is recognized and rewarded, and in which everyone can be proud of their contribution, forms the core of the organization.
Top-level sports mentality in practice
That mindset is also reflected in Team HeadFirst Group. Collaboration, discipline, and continuous improvement form the basis here. By organizing and actively sponsoring sporting events, we create moments where colleagues meet and challenge each other in a different way. Not to win against each other, but to stay sharp, persevere, and have fun in development. In this way, sport strengthens the culture in which positive competition connects, motivates, and energizes.
The benefits for everyone
According to Joke, it all starts with a clear cultural vision and transparency. Competition is never about winning for the sake of winning, but about a common goal: "When everyone knows what you are working towards and wishes each other success, competition becomes a force that unites rather than divides." Growth only really has value when you do it together. Healthy competition helps with that. Every day, together.