Speerpunt 5
When we travel as a family to different places and we can visit a bookstore, we make it happen.
My daughter has inherited her love for books, bookstores, and libraries from my mother. Wherever we go, one of her first things to find out is the location of the bookstores.
Joyce, my brilliant Organizational Development mentor, often used the following quote when we talked about Organization Design:
“Every organization is perfectly designed for the results it gets.
Joyce Wilson Sanford
In other words, if your results are below expectations, there’s a big chance your design is flawed.
And vice versa, when you’re doing great, your organization works for you.… Read the rest
Last year in December, my headspace meditation streak that lasted for over 250 days got interrupted because I did not meditate for a day.
I’ll admit that I had set a goal of reaching 365 days of uninterrupted meditation, so when I skipped a day and saw the counter going back to zero, I had a slight moment of sadness.… Read the rest
It’s been a few weeks since I read “More Time to Think.”
More Time to Think is the sequel to Time to Think. The first book addresses the theory behind creating a thinking environment culture. The second book is more of a practical how-to guide.
Both books are created on a scientifically justified premise that when companies can create a culture where each individual feels safe and encouraged to access, use and share their thinking, all performance indicators point in the right direction.… Read the rest
There’s a commercial on Dutch TV about the risk of polarization. It’s short, cute, and full of great intentions.
You witness friends and a father and daughter argue over climate and immigrant issues. A voiceover enters the scene and states:
It was followed by making the point that our world is becoming increasingly polarized and that it’s really up to us to do something about it.… Read the rest
Are you a procrastinator?
Do you have days that go by without accomplishing anything? Days that you just looked at the work you needed to do, but in the end, you didn’t do anything?
You’re not alone.
Have you ever heard of the term ‘it’s in our DNA?’
Of course, you did.
Whatever language you master and speak, I’m sure there’s also a version in your culture.
It’s the translation of the scientific meaning of DNA as your genetic code into a real-life application, such as running a business.… Read the rest
I got some direct feedback recently that I was not always nice and nuanced for the corporate world. A world that has given me a lot in my life.
Both statements are true.
I’m grateful for my corporate time, and I’ve always said, ‘Never say never’ because I miss the team aspect of my work. … Read the rest
Do you have, get, make time to think?
Or is your head mainly a six-lane highway full of traffic and trucks trying to make their way through day in and day out?
The highway metaphor and the cultural components from the book More Time to Think by Nancy Kline.
Proverbial highways with trucks that create a constant noise always seem distracting, preventing you from focusing. … Read the rest
What category do you belong to?
Are you a trendsetter or a follower when it comes to work-related innovation?
Were you one of the first to jump on the agile train, one of the last, or do you still have to start?
And what about building a hybrid workforce culture?
Early adopter, mainstream, or laggard?… Read the rest
Recently I had to say goodbye to a family member.
Relatively sudden.
I won’t write about the circumstances, no worries. I’ll just write about a sudden shift in priorities when something like this happens to you.
From one moment to the other, things change dramatically. What mattered yesterday is suddenly not that important anymore. … Read the rest
We all have a story.
A story that shows who we are, where we come from, what we value, what gives us energy, and what stops us from being ourselves.
A story that we bring with us every day.
In every conversation we have.
With family, friends, colleagues, and strangers.
Over the past weeks, I’ve had three conversations where my conversation partner mentioned the phrase:
“We’ve set this person up for failure.”
Hiring manager
Otherwise said, we’ve failed ourselves to set this person up for success.
But that sentence you won’t hear very often. Both sentences imply the same, but only one puts the blame directly on the people responsible for this person’s success.… Read the rest
The hospitality industry has always fascinated me.
I guess it has to do with my curious mind, love for discovery and travel, and passion for making a difference in people’s lives.
When you work in hospitality, you need to have a feel for the fact that your customers are looking for a good experience while being away from their zone of comfort.… Read the rest
I love what I do.
Part of that love is the time I get to spend with clients.
I was privileged to spend time with a client in Madrid a few weeks ago.
Some clients include you in their entire program. Other clients are more reserved, which means dinner on your own.… Read the rest
I’m not a big believer in a sense of urgency as a driver of culture.
Every time I hear that sentence, the hairs on my neck raise, and a shiver runs through my spine.
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in speed. Just not in urgency.
Almost always, when managers (not leaders) utter these words, there’s more to it than just urgency. … Read the rest
Should I ask this as a question or make a statement out of it?
That’s the question I’m asking myself, pondering the title for this insight.
If I’m true to my point about curiosity, I should write it as a question.
But today, I prefer a statement.… Read the rest
It’s a Thursday, shortly after noon.
I planned to write for one hour before I headed out for a massage.
I’m now thirty-six minutes into my hour of writing, and these are the first sentences I’m writing.
I scanned through my list of open topics, I have about twenty available at any time, but none inspires me.… Read the rest
“I don’t pay you to think; I pay you to execute.” — Old School CEO.
Earlier in my career, I spent four years in a company where that was the culture early on.
I was on an expat assignment abroad, and part of my responsibilities was helping design en deliver interventions that would change the culture. … Read the rest
Last Friday, I started the day with a slight concern that it was going to be one of those days when you ask yourself at the end of the day:
“What did I actually accomplish today?”
I woke up a bit restless.
I knew I had set pretty aggressive goals for the day.… Read the rest
