Dutch National Police

Trust as the foundation for growth

Why is mutual trust so essential for a team to function well? In this article, we speak with Rens Amersfoort from the Dutch National Police about how Engagement Builders has strengthened several of his teams. He explains their challenges, our approach, and the impact it has had on his teams. We believe that almost any team can benefit from this approach, and we are pleased to share this inside look into the process.

“Every team carries some form of pain. Naming that pain and making it discussable is the first step towards real collaboration. Without trust, we cannot grow as a team, that’s where everything begins. Thanks to the guidance of Engagement Builders, we’ve laid that foundation, allowing the team to collaborate more effectively, speak up more confidently and stand stronger in reaching our shared goals.”

Rens Amersfoort brings extensive leadership experience within the police force, from basic teams in the municipalities of Leiden and Katwijk to his current role as team leader of the ZSM team in the Central Netherlands region. This team works in collaboration with partners such as the Public Prosecution Service, HALT, the Child Protection Board, Victim Support and Safe Home. Each year, it handles thousands of criminal cases, ranging from simple shoplifting incidents to complex matters that require deeper collaboration between the involved partners.

The team functions as a central ‘cockpit,’ where partners jointly determine the most appropriate approach for each case. The goal is not only to handle cases quickly and efficiently, but also to find the most meaningful solution for the victim, society and the suspect. With 17 police officers, the ZSM team is committed to processing cases ‘carefully, swiftly and effectively.’ But Rens’s insights go far beyond this specific team; in various leadership roles he has seen how crucial it is to understand team dynamics and to build trust, regardless of the team or context.

“Every team carries some form of pain. Naming that pain and making it discussable is the first step towards real collaboration.”

Rens Amersfoort, Nationale Politie Nederland

The challenge: strengthening trust and collaboration

“When I start working with a new team, I often see that trust needs to be strengthened and collaboration improved,” Rens explains. “Recognising patterns, addressing unspoken tensions, and opening up communication are essential steps in this process. By creating space for personal and professional stories, we gradually build a foundation of trust. That foundation is what allows teams to make real progress and reach their goals together.”

The Engagement Builders approach

“Engagement Builders supported us throughout this process,” Rens explains. “I had worked with Chantal before in other teams and knew she understood exactly what was needed to help us move forward. She listens closely and asks the kinds of questions that really make you think. This quickly brings the real pain points to the surface. I was able to clearly express what I needed from her right away. We’ve now worked together several times and, although we follow roughly the same structure each time, every session looks completely different. Chantal is flexible and responds directly to what is happening in the group at that moment. This ensures the sessions are always relevant, impactful and fully tailored to the team.”

Using methods such as creating a timeline and identifying both enabling and limiting patterns in team dynamics, Chantal helps teams articulate and work through key issues:

“During these sessions, people share both personal and professional stories,” Rens says. “The process helps participants gain insight into underlying patterns and tensions. By discussing these openly, moments of connection and mutual understanding emerge. Chantal is not only focused on solving immediate problems, but on building a foundation of trust.”

Results of the collaboration

“Thanks to our collaboration with Engagement Builders, we have truly gotten to know each other better,” Rens explains. “Trust within the team has grown, which means we now have open conversations more easily and feel comfortable addressing each other’s behaviour and ways of working. This has made us a stronger team and greatly improved our collaboration. Because we understand each other better, a culture of openness and honesty has emerged. This has contributed not only to better performance, but also to a stronger bond within the team.”

“The beauty is that we can now build on this ourselves,” Rens continues. “We’ve laid a foundation, and that development continues in our daily work. I make sure we keep applying the lessons we’ve learned, so trust continues to grow and we keep improving as a team. Just two weeks ago, we devoted another session to this, reflecting again on our core values and how we put them into practice. That helps us keep communication short, reinforce trust and strengthen it further.”

Broader application and future outlook

Rens emphasises that the lessons he has learned can be applied to any team. According to him, it always begins with trust and making underlying issues discussable, whether you are working with specialists or with a basic operational team.

“What’s powerful about this approach,” Rens explains, “is that every team, no matter how different, can benefit from the same core principles. Building a foundation of trust ensures that people collaborate more effectively, solve problems faster and ultimately achieve better results. I have worked with Chantal on this theme in three different teams, and the results speak for themselves. That’s why I’m certain I want to continue working with Engagement Builders in future teams as well. Every new group brings its own dynamics and challenges, and I am convinced that this approach can make a difference every single time.”

Conclusion

The collaboration with Rens shows just how important it is to invest in trust and team development in order to help teams perform at their best. At Engagement Builders, we believe that every team, regardless of the sector, can thrive when a culture of openness and collaboration is actively nurtured. Our approach not only helps organisations work together more effectively but also ensures that teams can unlock their full potential. This leads to lasting results, stronger performance and a future in which teams truly make a difference.