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You Think You Know How to Lead Across Cultures. The Data Says Otherwise.
Most cross-cultural lea
How a four-framework cultural analysis translates into real leadership behavior — dimension by di
By Jan Salomons · Salomons.CoachEvery cross-cultural framework has blind spots. The real question i
By Jan Salomons · Salomons.CoachMost executives I work with have heard of Hofstede. Some have encou
By Jan Salomons · Salomons.CoachMost cross-cultural frameworks tell you how cultures differ. The GL
Most cross-cultural frameworks tell you how cultures differ. The GLOBE Study tells you what kind o
In the previous article in this series, we built a practical playbook from Hofstede's six cultural
Every manager who has ever led a multicultural team, negotiated across borders, or tried to impleme
And that confusion is costing you more than you realize. This post is based on the HBR article (202
I want to tell you about a pattern I have seen more times than I can count.
A senior leader, sma
Executive Team Coaching
I read an article of someone who overheard it in a café recently. Two p
Most executives I work with have heard of Hofstede. Some have encountered GLOBE. Almost none have h
What the evidence says and why the ROI question is both more complex and more answerable than most
Early in my career, I believed strong presentations were primarily about preparation: solid analysi
Every cross-cultural framework has blind spots. The real question is not which one is right, they a
Introduction
At senior level, your ability to present is no longer a skill set. It is leadership
Executive Summary
AI is not primarily a technology challenge; it is a leadership exposure mechan
Executive Summary
As AI rapidly augments decision-making across organizations, not all decisions
Executive summary
This article contains (1) an executive summary, (2) a chapter on how to build
The most cited framework in cross-cultural management research, decoded for practical leadership us
Why this topic still bothers me
For more than three decades, I have been involved in organizatio
1. Firefighting as Rational Behavior in a Complex System
A firefighting culture is not a failure
An excellent dialogue in a leadership team is not an open conversation without structure. It is a d
Alignment is built in dialogue
In many leadership teams I work with, alignment is treated as som
Summary
Generative AI has fundamentally changed the economics of expertise. Technical knowledge,
(and why experienced leaders often get it wrong)
At some point in almost every senior career, a
A leadership question every serious leader eventually has to face
There is a moment in almost ev
After decades in leadership roles and many years working as an executive and team coach, I have bec
When teams or leaders engage me, the conversation usually begins with familiar language: trust, eng
Rewriting your CV after job loss: from history to relevance
After redundancy, most CVs fail for
Especially after redundancy, stop introducing yourself — start positioning yourself
Losing you
For a long time, I believed I was doing one-on-ones well. They were frequent. Structured. Efficient
For a long time, my leadership life was defined by speed, decisions, and constant engagement. In co
Leadership was not a title I chased. It was something that emerged, slowly and consistently, as the
LinkedIn Post.The two most robust academic sources on coaching, a broad meta-analysis of coaching o
(Inspired by real client insights and the Dutch job market context)
When people over 45 lose the
When we think about leadership, we often imagine movement. Forward momentum and decisive action. Th
When I saw this video for the first time, it clarified so much of what is happening in my life impa
We talk about layoffs as if they are linear: job ends > new job starts.But real life doesn’t w
(If you dare to answer them honestly)
Most executive teams don’t fail because of strategy. The
When we talk about redundancy, we often focus on the emotional curve: shock, disbelief, anger, acce
Executive summary: redundancy as a leadership test and an opportunity for renewal
Redundancy
Tools that help you reflect deeper, act smarter, and achieve lasting results.
I use tools in coa
The paradox of performance
In many organizations today, teams are moving faster than ever — dr
Most leaders recognize the world around them is changing faster than traditional management tools c
Most of us spend more waking hours at work than anywhere else. Yet when we talk about “well-being
Why organizations fail when leaders don’t lead
For more than 35 years, I’ve worked as and wi
Inspired by the insights of Daniel H. Pink
In the world of leadership, learning is not a luxury
In this post I summarize the laws, rules & regulations in the Netherlands on employers making e
The 4R Model: A Practical Roadmap Through Disruption and Transition(and why it’s grounded in both
Insight into why this happens, what psychology and research say about it, and how you can regain co
How a global cyber crisis revealed the true power of human adaptability and leadership
On June 2
Why true purpose isn’t a slogan — and how to sense, not invent, your direction
Purpose is ev
Don't we all wish to have this? A way to approach change in organizations that guarantees success?
Why time management isn’t the solution — and what really matters instead
How does your morni
After I published my article on “Is it time to stay or move on?” on LinkedIn, — someone asked
Why leadership awareness is the antidote to fear-driven performance
I still remember sitting in
Mastering your emotions in a VUCA world
In the fast-paced and demanding world of work, strong em
A practical guide to reframe your perspective
Emotions are not weaknesses — they are data. The
Feedback. The word alone can make even seasoned executives flinch.
As a manager and executive I
The Core Quadrants by Daniel Ofman are a powerful tool for team development and building. They prov
Back to the roots of Ikigai (ni tsuite) - on the meaning of life
The Real Story on Ikigai
The conc
How can better decision-making transform team performance?
Have you ever felt stuck between opti
Key Message:Lara Boyd’s TEDx talk reveals one of the most empowering discoveries in neuroscience:
A desktop study to conclude when en when not to use the camera in virtual meetings
I’ve often
Why Serious Leaders and Teams Must Reflect, Reset, and Rebuild for High Performance in a VUCA World
Recently, Annette Magnusson, HR Director at Citymail Sweden, shared an inspiring reflection on Link
A practical outline for a playbook for leaders who want to raise performance without controlling pe
In today’s demanding and fast-changing workplaces, many professionals wait far too long before as
We often start a conversation by asking, “What do you do?” It seems harmless, but it shows how
What Leaders Can Learn from Sabina Nawaz’s You’re the Boss
Being the boss… leadership
Culture is often treated like wallpaper — something visible but superficial.Mission statements, v
Beyond ROI: The True Impact of Executive Coaching
We often measure coaching with
A blast from the past.
Between 2010 and 2013, I had the privilege of working with TU Delft and G
Navigating the VUCA workplace: a survival guide for (middle) managers
In today's workplace, chan
There’s a moment in every leader’s life that becomes a mirror. Mine happened years ago. Emotion
Introduction
The decisions by companies like Meta to cease fact-checking or Elon Musk's vocal an
Introduction: Empowering Experts to Secure the Future of Your Organization
Provide a new role a
Have you ever stopped to think about the stories you tell yourself?
As a leader, how you defi
When I developed the short online course "Become more self-aware I surprised myself. During my rese
Do your performance appraisals feel like a mere checkbox exercise?
For many managers, year-end r
My first post on defining VUCA (VUCA is not just the new management jargon) received several commen
How I work
Leadership is a dynamic journey of action, reflection, and growth. Over the years, I
How can strong communication transform your leadership?
Have you ever felt like your message jus
Over the past decade, Harvard Business Review (HBR) has shared a wealth of insights on coaching —
Executive Summary
Organizations typically allocate between 1% and 5% of their annual revenue to
Creating an environment where individuals feel safe to express ideas and take risks without fear of
Quenza App to further personalize coaching
Enhancing Your Coaching Experience with Quenza
In my
Procrastination - breaking through your emotional triggers
In the TED
From Negativity to Growth: A Coaching Journey with Nathalie
Negativity can be a powerful force, oft
Systems thinking is understanding how a single intervention can create profound, positive change
The
Leadership of Diversion, Inclusion & Belonging needs a balanced heart and mind approach – and
Reflecting on the First VUCA@Work Event: Insights, Challenges, and Takeaways
On November 1, we ho
Cooping with VUCA at the Workplace
Coping with VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiquity
Setting boundaries in coaching can be difficult because it often involves managing the emotional dyn
Brené Brown’s TED Talk, "The Power of Vulnerability," is a powerful e
When I first watched this video, many events in my business life passed through my mind. I realized
The Paradox of Busyness and Strategic Thinking
In today’s fast-paced world, being busy is often s
What to expect from a leader? What we all expect from our leader!
Expectations on our leaders, when
HBR called VUCA "Its crazy out there"... In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, business lea
Recently I coached one of my clients and experienced that setting boundaries in the session was chal
I am both humbled and deeply honored to share that I have been invited to become a member of the H
You Can’t Manage Time – But You Can Manage Yourself
Time management is a concept that has be
Coaching makes you jump life towards your dreams and who you really are, especially as leader of p
Do you go on holiday unprepared? I bet you don’t. I have experienced long days (and nights) just
Today, August 15th 2024, I start my summer holiday break. Together with my wife I hook on our
https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend?utm_campaign=tedspreadu
[15-Dec-24: This post has been rewritten based on comments and feedback received, check a shorter po
Here’s an example script of a Co-Active leadership coaching session where the coach demonstrates
Being a leader requires a multi-dimensional approach to the many situations. Luckily we have a brain
Stress is healthy! Really!
Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and yo