10 May

What is my colleague’s salary? I have the right to know!

Infographic titled 'Same work' showing salary bars for three senior managers: €87,500, €105,000 and €128,000 with figures and icons beneath.
The EU Pay Transparency Directive shifts the burden of proof onto the employer. A pay difference will now require an objective, documented justification, or a correction. "She negotiated harder when she joined" is not a defence. "He's been here longer" might be — if your tenure logic is documented. The leaders who navigate this well will be the ones who do the work before the questions arrive. Conversation by conversation, fairness becomes a leadership problem.
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12 Mar

Does Executive Coaching Actually Work?

Does executive coaching work? The short answer is yes — with conditions. A growing body of peer-reviewed research confirms significant, measurable effects across performance, behavioral change, and leadership outcomes. The harder question is how you know when it is working in your organization. This article examines the evidence, exposes the limits of widely cited ROI claims, and outlines what a rigorous evaluation framework actually looks like.
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12 Dec

My leadership journey: from engineering teacher to global executive to leadership (team) coach

man leaning against glass window with his reflection in it
In this personal leadership journey, Jan Salomons shares how he transitioned from an engineering teacher to a global executive and ultimately to a leadership and executive coach. Drawing on more than 35 years of international leadership experience across complex organisations, he reveals the pivotal insights that shaped his purpose: leadership is human work, not just technical or operational skill. His evolution into coaching grew from a belief that sustained behavioural change and self-awareness unlock real performance and resilient teams
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11 Dec

Evidence-Based Impact of Coaching: What the Most Reliable Studies Show

The latest scientific research on workplace coaching shows a clear, measurable pattern: meaningful change happens in four stages. Leaders first gain emotional clarity and self-awareness, then release limiting beliefs, realign their behaviour and skills with a stronger identity, and finally see measurable performance improvements. This progression mirrors the 4R Model (Reflect–Reset–Re-Align–Rise™). Backed by meta-analyses and randomized controlled trials, the evidence confirms that sustainable leadership performance begins with inner clarity—not with KPIs.
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17 Jan

What Harvard Business Review has really taught us about coaching

coaching fingerpoint hand
Over the past decade, Harvard Business Review has shown that coaching is not about fixing people—it's about helping leaders rise. HBR highlights coaching as a collaborative partnership that strengthens self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to navigate complexity. From executive development to performance and long-term growth, the research is clear: coaching improves leadership behavior, deepens team trust, and creates healthier, more resilient organizations. At its core, effective coaching is built on listening, reflective questioning, aligned goals, and honest accountability—exactly the foundations of modern leadership in a VUCA world.
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06 Sep

A Grateful Announcement: Joining the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council

I am both humbled and deeply honored to share that I have been invited to become a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council. This invitation is not only a recognition of my work but also a responsibility I hold with great care. Harvard Business Review (HBR) is an institution that stands at the forefront of leadership, management, and innovation thinking, and to be part of the Advisory Council means joining a group of professionals dedicated to shaping the future of business.
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