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Change Communication Culture Leadership Self awareness

Fishy smell

“A fish stinks from the head.”

Rumi

Rumi, a Turkish poet who lived towards the end of the 13th century, wrote “The Third Book of Masnavi,” where the phrase appears as follows: “Fish begins to stink at the head, not the tail.”

We often hear this quote in a business environment.

I’m sure you’ve heard it before, and it basically means that when problems arise in a business, it makes sense to look at the top of the company first.… Read the rest

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Culture Execution Freedom Productivity Self awareness

Good busy

Last week I asked a business partner how he was doing. 

His answer was, ‘I’m good busy.’

I asked him what that meant.

He explained that he was almost always busy, ranging from extremely busy to good busy.

Good busy meant that work was not crazy but did not allow much thinking or reflection time.… Read the rest

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Culture Freedom Human Resources Leadership Vision

One size fits all; part II

For visionary leaders, one size fits all is over.

These leaders understand that people are different, with different needs, different contexts, and different aspirations for the future.

You can’t lead these people as if they’re all the same.

Erikjan Lantink

Last Tuesday, I wrote to you about my regret for not pursuing opportunities to exploit this model.… Read the rest

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Culture Freedom Human Resources Leadership

One size fits all; part I

My biggest regret is something I did not do nearly fifteen years ago.

I was working in food retail and was part of a group of talents asked to define the organization’s future work strategy.

We did brilliant work.

I had that feeling then, but now fifteen years later, I’m sure.… Read the rest

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Change Culture Transformation Values

Culture Transformation? Yeah right!

Most leaders have no clue about culture.

No clue. Nada. Nic (Czech). Nothing.

Oh yes, they talk about culture. They convey a belief that they actually don’t understand, but they don’t.

In fact,

Those leaders that talk most about culture probably understand the least.

It’s all talking but no action.

The leaders I know who are good at culture transformation do quietly what needs to get done.… Read the rest

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Authenticity Culture Execution Kindness Values

Spirit to Serve

Some people have it by nature; others get it by training. Some never do.

Some people have a serving mentality just by being who they are.

Erikjan Lantink

This story is about them and to honor them.

Concretely, it is about two people working in the bar of the hotel I’m staying in while working in Ljubljana, Slovenia.… Read the rest

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Asking Questions Communication Conversations Culture Leadership

The Heart of your Business

Last week I conducted my training called “Growing Leaders and Culture.”

Its principles are based on effective dialogue.

Why?

Because dialogue is what makes people grow and deliver on their dreams.

You’ve done half the work if you understand that running a successful business is an accumulation of constructive, forward-looking, and growth-focused dialogues.… Read the rest

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Change Culture Leadership Mindset

Let’s talk about work a little (more)

Or let’s debate about work a lot (less).

Wow. 

If you’re a curious person like I am and interested in the future of work, these are FANTASTIC times.

They’re so so so good that it’s worth adding them to my portfolio of services. I’m just unsure how to call the service and what the tagline would be.… Read the rest

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Change Culture Leadership Purpose

Motivation! How hard is it?

How do you motivate people?

I’m asking because I recently had a conversation about a hybrid work environment that turned into a conversation about motivation.

My opinion about a hybrid work environment is well documented, for example, in this post.

But if you dig a little deeper, we get to the topic of motivation. … Read the rest

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Culture Growth Mindset Values Vision

Growing Pains

Can a company grow too fast?

The answer to that question is yes, but many will struggle to provide me with that answer because they’ve never experienced it.

Only those who’ve gone through a period of excessive growth and had to deal with the consequences will answer the question with a yes.
Read the rest
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Culture Human Resources Purpose Reflection Self awareness

When people start quitting, you’re already too late!

Three immediate and crucial actions to stop the bleeding.

By now, you must be familiar with the term The Great Resignation.

The Covid pandemic has caused people en masse to leave their jobs looking for a different career. It was the crisis people needed to open their eyes and seek new opportunities.… Read the rest

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Belonging Culture Purpose

The truth about work

Many things in life are a transaction.

When you buy your coffee in the morning, get gas for your car, work out at a gym, or pay for a subscription to read your favorite newspaper online.

For many people, work is also a transaction. They’ve agreed to do a specific job for you, and you pay them for the job done.… Read the rest

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Culture Leading Self Mindset Productivity

How busy are you?

Interesting article by McKinsey last week with the following heading:

“If we’re all so busy, why isn’t anything getting done?”

Followed by the first paragraph:

“With endless meetings, constant emails, and casts of thousands, companies have mastered the art of unnecessary interactions. Winning in the next normal requires much more focus on true collaboration.”… Read the rest

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Change Culture Leadership Trust

Why the great resignation starts with you!

People leave managers, not companies.

Read that again.

People leave managers, not companies.

NB. The quote does not say: people leave leaders, not companies.

Leaders vs. Managers. A subtle difference with significant consequences.

People don’t leave true leaders.

This week, I was personally confronted with a few stories of people leaving companies because of their managers.… Read the rest

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Courage Culture Fear Psychological Safety Self awareness

Don’t challenge me, Erikjan!

I consider myself outspoken and not afraid to voice my opinion when I disagree.

It’s who I am.

It’s how I was raised, and it’s part of the Dutch culture.

We’re direct, curious, and want to know why we’re doing something.

“Because I tell you so” doesn’t do very well with most Dutch people.
Read the rest
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Care Courage Culture Self awareness

Speak up!? How some people just don’t get it.

How often have you heard one of your leaders say the words “speak up”?

Or perhaps, how many times have you said them yourself?

I know that I’ve been in a few situations myself when I felt compelled to express those words. And I’ve also heard them being spoken to me a few times.… Read the rest

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Alignment Culture Performance Values

Start with values NOW!

Happy New Year!

A new year full of opportunity. I hope that you’ll be able to see the possibilities for you, and more importantly, you will be able to capitalize on them.

We, human beings, like the nature of (hard) transitions, such as the start of a new year.

It allows us to start all over again with a clean slate.… Read the rest

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Culture Leadership Trust

Leaders vs Managers

Why it always boils down to trust

There are days I start writing, and twenty minutes later, my insight is nearly ready. I do a grammar check, then leave the text for a few days.

A few days later, I reread the text, make some corrections, and then schedule it for distribution to my readers.… Read the rest

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Culture Leadership Vision

Smile? Nerve? Or Pissed off?

When was the last time you made time to daydream a little and imagine something you would like to create?

What was it like to pause? How did it make you feel? What were you imagining?

Or perhaps, you didn’t do any of that and the last weeks (or maybe even months) went by in a blur.… Read the rest

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Alignment Culture Mindset Self awareness

Are you fit for culture?

Last week I wrote about my resignation.

Apparently, I touched a little bit of a nerve.

I received some nice reactions on LinkedIn, but the most interesting responses I received were through direct messaging.

Many people considered me courageous, which is not the word I would have used for my move.… Read the rest