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Michael Houben shared thisInteresting look into the working mechanism of a ball pen💡 It might look simple, but actually it took decades to come up with the variant we use today. The ball pen’s development began in the US with John Loud, who patented an early design in 1888. His pen used a ball bearing to mark leather, but wasn’t suitable for everyday writing. In 1938, László Bíró from Hungary refined Loud’s design and created a pen that functioned well on paper. He had to conquer several engineering challenges, like the formulation of the ink (too thin would leak, too thick would clog) and precise manufacturing (the ball and socket had to be accurately made for smooth writing). By overcoming these technical hurdles, Bíró brought the ball pen into the hands of everyone. And quite literally put his mark on history! Movie source: Amir Sanatkar
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Michael Houben shared thisCharisma is often seen as one of the defining qualities of good leaders. We associate it with confidence, inspiring communication, and the ability to energize a room. Those are valuable qualities, and there is no doubt that charisma can help leaders engage people and create enthusiasm. But how much weight should we really give charisma when judging a leader? Early in my career in the automotive sector, I worked for a leader who was exceptionally charismatic. He was genuinely likable, optimistic, and people (including myself) enjoyed being around him. Yet when I look back more critically, I realize the team itself functioned quite chaotically. Priorities were unclear, collaboration lacked structure, and important issues often remained unresolved. His charisma made a positive difference, but it did not compensate for the absence of the leadership needed to build a high-performing team. That experience taught me an important lesson. The danger isn't charisma. The danger is assuming charisma is all it takes. Charisma can sometimes mask what's happening beneath the surface. A leader may inspire, yet lack the skills required to build a truly effective team. I've also worked with leaders who were less charismatic, but did possess those skills. They built teams with clear priorities, strong collaboration, and an environment in which people could consistently perform at their best. They earned respect not because of who they were, but because of what they enabled their teams to become. The risk is that these highly capable leaders are overlooked when leadership is judged superficially and solely on charisma. Charisma deserves to be part of the picture, but it certainly shouldn't be the whole picture. Perhaps the strongest leaders can combine both. They use charisma to inspire people and rally others around a vision, while pairing it with the consistency and discipline needed to build trust, develop people, and sustain high performance. And the strongest leadership teams intentionally combine complementary strengths. Some leaders naturally create energy and momentum, while others excel at creating clarity, developing people, and turning ambition into results. When they value each other's strengths instead of competing for the spotlight, the entire organisation benefits. What has been your experience? Have you worked with leaders whose charisma outweighed their leadership effectiveness, or leaders who successfully combined both?
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Michael Houben shared thisUsing Lego to engineer vehicle concepts with small turning circles! I especially like the last design, though it might be tricky with a full load 😅 Useful exercise to spark students' interest in STEM, and as a middle ground between system-model simulations and real-life systems? A possible next step could be to evaluate the concepts against additional criteria, such as travel speed, load capacity, and wear on the contact surfaces. Video credit: Brick Experiment Channel
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Michael Houben shared thisLet’s cherish this refreshing definition of KPI! An alteration of Richard Branson's famous quote comes to mind: 'KPI do not come first. People come first. If you take care of your people, they will take care of your KPI.’ One additional thought: even though KPIs often have a negative connotation, they’re powerful steering tools that we simply can’t ignore. I think an important reason KPIs are unpopular, is that they’re often tied to unrealistic targets. However, management theory suggests that attaching targets isn’t always needed. (If you’re curious, Peter Drucker’s book The Ultimate Drucker has some further background and examples on this.) What really matters is that the KPI is relevant, measured consistently, and communicated regularly to everyone who can influence it (e.g. monthly). When this happens, improvement often comes naturally, without the pressure of targets. That said, I’m not saying targets should never be used. I do think they should only be attached when there’s a clear and demonstrated need. What’s your experience with this? Image credit: Brandon James Mergard
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Michael Houben shared thisWhen a leader fails to provide feedback throughout the year and then catches their team member off guard with a negative performance review... I’ve experienced it from both sides. And I’m still grateful to the team member who had the courage to tell me that my overdue feedback should have been shared earlier. It was a humbling and at the same moment enlightening experience. So, when should feedback be given? The basic rule of thumb: within a week. To that, I’d add this: unless urgent, resist the urge to give it instantly. Sleep on it, give it a day to let your emotions settle. This kind of ‘slightly delayed feedback’ will drastically improve its quality 💪
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Michael Houben shared thisImpressive look at the workings of a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), including the mechanisms for wall construction and debris removal. Engineering at its best! 💪 Movie credit: Herrenknecht AG
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Michael Houben shared thisAristotle identified 3 types of persuasion: 1️⃣ Logos: persuade through logic 2️⃣ Ethos: persuade through credibility 3️⃣ Pathos: persuade through emotions As Engineers, we sometimes overlook the importance of ethos & pathos and rely only on logos. To be most effective, it’s best to apply a mix of all 3. 👉 Which type of persuasion is the kid in the movie using? For a deep dive into the art of persuasion, I recommend Robert Cialdini's book 'Influence - The Psychology of Persuasion’ 💪 Movie source: JJ Delgado
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Michael Houben shared this‘This is EXACTLY what happens to a team when an incompetent leader takes charge.’ This was my first thought when I saw this clip. But actually, it says more about leadership than it seems. If you look closely, you’ll see the fence is already broken. That’s the team’s system and organization, unstable before the new lead even arrives. This is a legacy the new leader will have to deal with, bring back stability. Yet at the same time, every leader also has to work on themselves. Research shows that 80% of leaders are unaware of their weak spots, because they overidentify with one of these strengths: ➡️ Expertise - proud of their knowledge, but struggling to accept they can’t know everything ➡️ Gettings things done - focused on results at all costs, even when it hurts people around them ➡️ Building relationships - wanting to be liked by everyone, and avoiding tough conversations and decisions In the clip, the new leader rushes in and by doing so, brings down the entire team. He wants to get things done quickly but reaches the opposite. The ‘When I’m in charge, things will quickly be different’ mindset often has the opposite effect. Because Leadership isn’t just about jumping harder on the fence. It’s about strengthening it. And everyone sitting on it. So they eventually repair the fence themselves instead of waiting for someone to do so. Having coached many emerging engineering leaders in discovering their blind spots, and having built many data-backed Personal Leadership Development Plans along the way, I’ve seen how important it is for leaders to occasionally pause and reflect on themselves. A good place to start is this question: 👉 Which of the strengths mentioned above do you recognize most in yourself? And where might it be holding you back?
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Michael Houben shared thisA rudimentary 1930s version of today's 3D concrete building tech. No CAD, no multiaxial actuation, but still result. It was invented by William Urschel in Indiana (US). Concrete is compressed between spinning disks to create the layers. Simple yet effective ingenuity 💪 Movie credit: Lukas Ziegler
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Michael Houben reacted on thisMichael Houben reacted on thisWe're proud. Pauwels Consulting has been named a Leading Employer 2026. 🏆 Last week, Koen Willems (HR Director) & Jenifer Sottiaux (L&D Coordinator) accepted the certificate in Brussels. This is one recognition you cannot buy, apply for, or influence. It is measured objectively against thousands of companies, purely on how we are seen as an employer. We do not take that lightly. Looking after our people is not a slogan for us, it is the work itself. Every day we push to do better, to grow, and to build a company that is more resilient and ready for whatever comes next. And we are proud of something that is easy to overlook: stability. In a market that shifts constantly, our people know they can count on us. That is what this award really reflects. Thank you to every colleague who makes Pauwels Consulting what it is. Many thanks to LEADING EMPLOYERS.
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Michael Houben reacted on thisMichael Houben reacted on thisWe zijn weer aan het bijbouwen bij Xeryon. Deze keer een speciale geklimatiseerde ruimte voor een CMM. Dat is een meetmachine die, met een taster, objecten kan opmeten tot op één duizendste van een millimeter nauwkeurig. Nauw, dat is keurig! (heb je hem?)
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Michael Houben liked thisMichael Houben liked this📢 Exciting opportunity for 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 P𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 in MedTech! We're looking for an 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿 who doesn't just follow the process, but elevates it! Someone who gets energized by turning complex regulatory requirements into 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸-𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 that actually stick. If you love diving deep into protocols, driving compliance with confidence, and making a real impact in a cutting-edge environment: this one's for you! You'll be joining Vivolta, we are a fast-growing 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗗𝗠𝗢 in the Eindhoven region, pioneering the development and manufacturing of 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗽𝘂𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀. ➡️ ➡️ Ready to take your validation expertise to the next level? Or do you know someone who would be a perfect fit? Drop us a message, we'd love to connect! 🔗https://lnkd.in/e-ttkQcy
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Michael Houben liked thisMichael Houben liked this🌟 𝗪𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘁𝗮! We are looking for two talented individuals to join our team: 📌 HR Generalist 📌 Executive & Office Administrator Are you someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, loves keeping things organized, and wants to make a real impact? We'd love to hear from you! 📩 Interested? Send your CV and cover letter to jobs@vivolta.com or apply via our website: https://lnkd.in/etgQjuu8 #Hiring #HR #Admin #Vivolta #JobOpening #JoinOurTeam
Experience & Education
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MACH 8 - Helping You Grow a Benchmark Engineering Team
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Projects
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1-on-1 Sparring with Nobian
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Douwe Tuinstra is the Industry 4.0 Program Manager at Nobian, a leading European company in salt, chlorine, and other essential chemicals production. His role involves creating and achieving the company's digital roadmap and to oversee projects like advanced process control and automation across all global sites.
Douwe is passionate about readying Nobian's plants for contributing to the green energy shift. To achieve this, he looks beyond the purely technical, and actively supports his…Douwe Tuinstra is the Industry 4.0 Program Manager at Nobian, a leading European company in salt, chlorine, and other essential chemicals production. His role involves creating and achieving the company's digital roadmap and to oversee projects like advanced process control and automation across all global sites.
Douwe is passionate about readying Nobian's plants for contributing to the green energy shift. To achieve this, he looks beyond the purely technical, and actively supports his colleagues in developing their skills, both technical and interpersonal. He also strives to alleviate organizational hurdles to unleash Nobian’s experts.
To refine his strategies and skills, and enhance his team's capabilities, Douwe works with Michael as his sounding board. Together, we’ve discussed various topics including workshop organization, leadership, change management, project tracking methods, and knowledge sharing. Many new ideas and approaches where generated, which now help to forward Nobian’s digital roadmap and sustainability efforts!
A few words from Douwe on the cooperation with Michael:
‘Michael helps me to bring management and engineering in balance with practical tips and new insights. If you’re looking for a sparring partner, don’t doubt and cooperate with him!' -
Leadership Development Training Program with Comate
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Comate is an innovative Belgian company that helps others develop their high-tech products so their ideas have the best chance to succeed. They offer a wide range of Engineering and Design services through a team of highly dedicated tech enthusiasts.
What sets Comate apart is their amazingly open culture, down-to-earth attitude, supporting employee growth, and prioritizing people!
To sustain this culture during periods of growth, Comate partnered with Michael to train their…Comate is an innovative Belgian company that helps others develop their high-tech products so their ideas have the best chance to succeed. They offer a wide range of Engineering and Design services through a team of highly dedicated tech enthusiasts.
What sets Comate apart is their amazingly open culture, down-to-earth attitude, supporting employee growth, and prioritizing people!
To sustain this culture during periods of growth, Comate partnered with Michael to train their emerging Team Leaders and Coaches. The program focuses on people-oriented leadership, covering concrete management & coaching techniques as well as personal leadership skills. This joint leadership journey benefits not only Comate but more importantly their employees and work culture.
Throughout our collaboration, the Comate Team consistently impressed with their open-mindedness and willingness to discuss and apply new leadership insights!
A few words from Comate’s Design & Engineering Director Senne Van Rompaey on the cooperation with Michael:
‘We’re very pleased with our cooperation with Michael Houben and MACH 8 in our Leadership Development Program.
Michael’s background in Engineering Leadership allows him to quickly build trust with the training participants and understand our specific challenges. His training method is practical, lean and respects our high workload. Still, it effectively helps our Team Leaders and Coaches in growing their skills and handling their daily leadership challenges, including coaching their team members.
Our organization is expanding, and the program really helps in fueling our signature culture of openness and our emphasis on people. In short: highly recommended!’ -
Team Development Project with MasterShip
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MasterShip, a pioneering Dutch company specializing in shipbuilding work preparation, has been at the forefront of innovation since its inception in 1986 under the leadership of founder Jacques Hoffmans. MasterShip offers cutting-edge ship construction software along with naval architecture and engineering services.
What sets MasterShip apart is its unwavering commitment to innovation, and being a fun place where employees thrive in an open, collaborative environment.
In the…MasterShip, a pioneering Dutch company specializing in shipbuilding work preparation, has been at the forefront of innovation since its inception in 1986 under the leadership of founder Jacques Hoffmans. MasterShip offers cutting-edge ship construction software along with naval architecture and engineering services.
What sets MasterShip apart is its unwavering commitment to innovation, and being a fun place where employees thrive in an open, collaborative environment.
In the spirit of continuous improvement, MasterShip embarked on a partnership with Michael. Together with MasterShip's dedicated team, Michael facilitated a scan workshop using his signature MOMENTUM approach. This workshop unearthed a multitude of ideas to further improve MasterShip’s organization.
Next, key focus was the cocreation of Career Development Tracks tailored to each individual employee. Additionally, important efforts were directed towards enhancing the efficiency of international cooperation between MasterShip's teams in the Netherlands and China.
A few words from MasterShip’s founder and director Jacques Hoffmans on the cooperation with Michael:
‘At MasterShip, we're always eager to innovate and improve. Not just our products, but also our company's organization. We're constantly seeking ways to keep our organization inspired and energized.
In this pursuit, we discovered Michael Houben's MACH 8 organization. We were particularly drawn to Michael’s MOMENTUM company analysis approach, and his ideas about annual appraisals and progress interviews.
We collaborated with Michael to analyze our company structure and culture. We were delighted with the bottom-up method used, which revealed new opportunities for further innovation and improvement. This was followed up with an analysis and update of our appraisals and personal development plans.
Michael's knowledge and drive undoubtedly played a significant role in the success of these initiatives!’
Languages
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English
Full professional proficiency
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Chinese
Elementary proficiency
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French
Limited working proficiency
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German
Limited working proficiency
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Dutch
Native or bilingual proficiency
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