Hospitality is defined as the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors and strangers. GENEVA Camp and Retreat Center is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, just north of Holland. Executive Director, Kevin VanderKlok, says that at GENEVA they “strive to seek authentic hospitality in a friendly and welcoming environment.” They are known for hosting over 4,000 students each summer for Christian camp to connect kids to Christ. The setting alone takes young people out of their normal environment into a place free of distractions, demands, and expectations. This retreat is not only available for youth; businesses, churches, and other organizations are welcome to visit. GENEVA is a place to interact, reflect, rest, have fun, and seek clarity and direction.
GENEVA had already begun using the language, principles, and practices of Kolbe in 2001, five years prior to Kevin joining the staff as their then Director of Development. In the truest sense of the word, he is a champion of Kolbe concepts within GENEVA.
“We have Kolbe conversations all the time. Everyone on the team understands the language and uses the language. It has permeated into our culture,” says Kevin. Great teams have a language all their own. At GENEVA, Kolbe is their common team language because what Kolbe teaches team members always proves to be accurate. Kevin explains, “The assumptions are correct; it tells the truth. It’s a way for us to define reality as we work alongside each other every day.” He is a firm believer that great cultures are built through relationships and how people treat one another every day.
Every family, team, and organization experiences both relationship and task conflict. I have a way, you have a way, and right now you are just in my way! This is reality. Research consistently shows that high performing teams put intentional work into reducing relationship conflict and keeping it low. Additionally, high performing teams seek out task conflict. Task conflict really is a diverse set of skills and talents addressing situations, solving problems and making decisions together. Task conflict on a team is beneficial–it’s been linked to higher creativity and smarter choices. Kevin says, “if we are to be known for our hospitality, it must start with each other. One of the greatest benefits of using Kolbe is developing an awareness of our strengths and our differences. Beyond that, this tool helps me recognize when together we are not diverse, and we need others. We are always open and willing to invite others into the conversation, or outsource when we need a different strength to weigh in. When looking back on a project we are able to clearly see what we missed, the person or talents that we missed, and how to form the decision-making body in a more well-rounded way in the future.”
GENEVA has been blessed with a very stable team over the years, in part because of the insights PSG, through Kolbe, have provided. “Hiring is hard, period. The uniqueness of Kolbe in hiring is that you create a profile by getting leaders to weigh in on their belief of what will be essential for performance in that role. We walk away clearly identifying the needs of the role. The spookiness is the predictability of the tool to the deliverable on the job. These behaviors truly show up. It is spot on—accurate. This makes our process robust,” gleams VanderKlok.
“Now that I have hired a new team member Mari helps me understand how I care for and lead this individual. Expectations are huge. I know what and what not to expect from them. I want to help my team members be the healthiest version of themselves.”
“The spookiness is the predictability of [Kolbe] to the deliverable on the job. These behaviors truly show up. It is spot on–accurate.”
– Kevin VanderKlok, Executive Director, GENEVA
Kevin identifies three major benefits GENEVA gains from their work with PSG:
- They save money that can go directly into the mission.
- They can triage situations without taking it personally; and
- Their team is finely oiled.
He concludes, “it’s more about doing business with Mari Martin and PSG. She has longevity in this landscape and is able to share her breadth of experience regarding other teams like ours. It’s her level of experience that makes Kolbe come alive for GENEVA.”
What are the needs your team has and how can we help you?
One of our Core Values is: Create Champions. Champions are defined as ardent supporters of a person or a cause. Coaching leaders and their teams on the principles of the Kolbe System™ for 34 years, we have learned that when there is a need, a readiness and a champion, these staff development principles can be applied easily, consistently and with sustainability. We help you put your mission, vision, values, and goals into practice with your people.
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