01 Aug

When fear rules….. silence takes over: rebuilding trust and connection at work

Fear can quietly take over organizations — through silence, control, and pressure — until trust disappears and performance collapses. In this article, Jan Salomons explores how fear-based leadership emerges and what leaders can do to reverse it. He shares five practical ways to rebuild trust, including how to reframe control, invite openness, and restore team rhythm. In a VUCA world, where change and uncertainty trigger anxiety, leaders who recognize and address fear become the real stabilizers of culture. Learn how awareness, consistency, and courage can turn fear into focus and connection.
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25 Jul

Make strong emotions work in your advantage

trong emotions aren’t the enemy — they’re leadership data. In today’s volatile and uncertain world, emotions like frustration or fear often mask deeper values and unmet needs. Reframing helps leaders decode those emotions, turning tension into insight and pressure into performance. In this post, Jan Salomons explores how emotional intelligence and reframing allow leaders to stay grounded in a VUCA world — transforming reaction into reflection, and reflection into purposeful action. Learn how to work with, not against, your emotions and use them as a catalyst for self-leadership and organizational growth.
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18 Jul

Strong emotions aren’t the problem! Your Frame is. Change it!

Strong emotions aren’t the problem — how we frame them is. In today’s volatile and uncertain world, leaders face constant pressure that triggers frustration, fear, or doubt. Reframing helps transform those emotions into clarity, courage, and connection. Instead of reacting, leaders learn to pause, reflect, and uncover the message behind the feeling. In this post, Jan Salomons shares how reframing turns emotion into data, reaction into reflection, and pressure into leadership strength — a crucial skill for leading in a VUCA world. Learn how to make emotions your ally and navigate complexity with self-awareness and purpose.
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11 Jul

Finding the coaching in criticism: turning feedback into a growth advantage

Feedback is often misunderstood as something to endure rather than embrace. Yet in my years as an executive and leadership coach, I’ve learned that growth doesn’t come from giving the perfect feedback—it comes from receiving it well. When we move beyond defensiveness and see criticism as potential coaching, feedback turns from a threat into a tool for learning. The moment we shift our mindset from “What’s wrong with me?” to “What can I learn here?”, we unlock one of the most powerful levers of leadership growth: the ability to find the coaching in criticism.
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04 Jul

Team building with core qualities of Daniel Ofman (incl. Dutch version)

The Core Quadrants by Daniel Ofman are an effective tool for team building, helping teams understand individual dynamics and how to collaborate better. By identifying core qualities, pitfalls, challenges, and allergies, teams gain insights into strengths and areas for growth. For example, one team member’s creativity (core quality) may lead to chaos (pitfall), while another’s structure (core quality) could result in rigidity (pitfall). By discussing complementarities and irritations (allergies), teams learn to value differences and work cohesively. Regular reflection and integration of core quadrants into daily collaboration foster a culture of feedback, problem-solving, and celebrating contributions, strengthening overall team performance.
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27 Jun

Debunking the Ikigai venn diagram myth

book cover with ikigai written in Japanese
Discover the true essence of Ikigai—far beyond the popular Venn diagram. Rooted in Japanese culture, Ikigai is about finding joy and purpose in the small, meaningful moments of everyday life. Learn how this concept has been misunderstood and how embracing its authentic meaning can lead to a more fulfilling existence.
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20 Jun

How decision-making impacts team performance

Strong decision-making is the cornerstone of effective leadership. It provides clarity, empowers teams, and ensures agility in complex situations. By defining problems accurately, gathering diverse perspectives, and taking decisive action, leaders can reduce inefficiency and build trust. Decision-making isn’t just about choosing the right path—it’s about fostering alignment and learning from outcomes. When leaders approach decisions systematically, they create momentum, confidence, and long-term success for their teams and organizations.
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30 May

RESET TO RISE: A Proven Team Coaching Approach

High-performing teams don’t emerge by accident — they are built through a deliberate sequence of reflection, reset, alignment, and growth. My Reset → Align → Rise framework guides leaders and teams through this journey. We begin by exploring energy, values, and alignment, before surfacing truths and rebuilding the foundations of trust, safety, and purpose. From there, we clarify priorities, roles, collaboration rhythms, and decision-making norms. Finally, the team rises into sustained high performance, powered by clarity, courage, and shared ownership. This is how teams transform drift into direction — and pressure into performance.
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