Some lessons in life only land the tenth time you hear them. I didn’t always know that. Early in my training career, I truly believed that one good workshop — full of smart insights, hands-on tools, and a few well-placed jokes — would change how people lead. You can guess how that went. A few […]

I once met a man—let’s call him Johan—who was the best technical specialist in his department. The kind of person who could solve problems others didn’t even see coming. Quiet, reliable, smart. His work was spotless. So, naturally, the company did what many do: they promoted him. “Congratulations, Johan. You’re now the new team manager.” […]

In the world of management, we often hear that it’s our job to “look after the team.” Managers are seen as pillars of support and guidance, responsible for creating a stable, thriving work environment. But the reality of leadership, particularly in high-pressure roles, is that it’s as mentally and emotionally demanding as it is rewarding. […]

When I left the army, I believed that my extensive leadership training would enable me to manage effectively in various situations. After all, I had been educated and trained in leadership, and I had quickly secured management positions in the civilian world. However, reality taught me that the military approach to leadership does not always […]

Slow down There are plenty of arguments to take it easy, to slow down. I find that, since living here in Botswana, ‘slowingdown’ comes naturally and it brings me a lot. If I compare my schedule now with the one of five years ago when I was living in the Netherlands, the difference becomes immediately […]

I sometimes think that being busy all the time is the only speed people know nowadays. People are busy with being busy. And if it was with things they like, but that is not many time the case. Look around you or at yourself. Do you really like all the things you are busy with […]

“Why is this coaching program taking so long?”, “Why don’t I experience change already?”, “I did the mother medicine journey and now I am back where I was before.” A few comments that are not made for the first time and probably not for the last when talking to people who want lasting change in […]

Life is happening IN the comfort zone! Did someone tell you ever that if you want to change something you have to get out of your comfort zone? That life is happening outside of the comfort zone? It has been said a couple of times to me as well and as a coach and trainer […]

Recently I was watching a Dutch program called ‘Tegenlicht.’ One of the episodes was about digitization, big data, artificial intelligence, robotics and more of this. It is not that I live under a rock, and I know that these things exist but when I watched that episode, my mouth fell open further and further in […]