10 Oct

Leadership is a behavior, not a role

Leadership is not defined by role or hierarchy, it is defined by behavior. After 35 years in global executive roles, I’ve seen the same truth everywhere: when leaders listen, decide, align, and act consistently, organizations perform. When they don’t, culture weakens, collaboration breaks, and operational results decline. Leadership is a daily behavioral practice, and the strongest organizations are led by those who understand this. --- If you want a shorter or more SEO-focused version, I can create that too.
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05 Sep

When the lights went out: leading through chaos in a VUCA world

When TNT’s global network went dark during the NotPetya cyberattack, every system failed — but people didn’t. In this story, Jan Salomons shares how leadership, trust, and adaptability kept Europe’s largest logistics network running manually for days. It’s a story of crisis leadership in a VUCA world — where volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity tested every level of society, organization, and individual behavior. As old hierarchies crumbled, new leaders emerged, purpose became crystal clear, and collaboration turned chaos into...
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29 Aug

Find your true purpose

Purpose isn’t a slogan or a statement — it’s a force that moves you. In this post, Jan Salomons explores the difference between intellectual purpose and deep purpose: the kind that calls you into action even when it’s uncomfortable. Drawing on insights from Frederic Laloux, his coaching practice, and his experience in VUCA leadership, he explains how purpose guides choices, builds trust, and creates focus amid uncertainty. Discover how to sense your true purpose — not from your mind,...
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22 Aug

A new formula for change

Change doesn’t fail because of poor plans — it fails because people haven’t made the psychological transition. In this article, Jan Salomons explores his formula for successful change, combining shared vision, urgency, leadership, learning, and capacity. Drawing on his decades of experience and his VUCA leadership approach, he explains how leaders can guide teams through endings, transitions, and new beginnings while maintaining trust and connection. Learn why managing change isn’t enough — leading transition is what truly drives sustainable...
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15 Aug

Beyond being busy: how leaders can reclaim focus and purpose

Busyness has become a badge of honor, but it rarely leads to impact or well-being. In this post, Jan Salomons explores why being busy is more often a habit than a necessity — and how leaders can shift from managing time to managing focus. In a VUCA world, where speed and complexity dominate, clarity and reflection become the real leadership differentiators. Learn how to move from motion to meaning through self-awareness, attention, and purpose, and discover why slowing down...
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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...
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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...
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14 Mar

Why people abandon their principles (sometimes)

Why do visionary leaders sometimes abandon their principles when the pressure mounts? Decisions like Meta ceasing fact-checking or Elon Musk supporting divisive figures highlight the complex interplay of fear, short-term thinking, and herd mentality in leadership. This blog explores the psychological and organizational dynamics behind these behaviors and offers actionable strategies to help leaders stay authentic, aligned with their values, and principled in turbulent times.
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