17 Oct

The wheel of work life: A powerful lens for understanding your well-being at work

The Wheel of Work Life is a powerful framework that reveals what truly shapes your well-being at work. By exploring eight essential dimensions — from psychological safety and leadership to autonomy, workload, recognition, growth, collaboration, and recovery — you gain a holistic view of what energizes you and what drains you. This model helps individuals and teams understand their current reality and identify the small, meaningful steps that lead to healthier, more sustainable performance.
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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 how awareness, consistency, and courage can turn fear into focus and connection.
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21 Mar

It happened to me — and it changed how I lead forever

angry man shouting
I still remember the moment I lost my cool. The frustration had been building for days, and during a routine meeting with one of my subordinates, I snapped. My words were sharp, my tone unkind, and the look on their face—shock and hurt—was a painful reminder that I’d crossed a line. As leaders, we often pride ourselves on staying composed, but we’re human, too. That day, I learned the hard way that managing others starts with managing yourself. Emotional outbursts can damage trust and relationships, but they can also be a wake-up call for growth. If you’ve faced similar challenges, it’s time to take charge of your emotions and lead with resilience. Let me guide you. Explore my coaching services or...
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03 Jan

Creating a safe and speak-up culture in teams

Creating an environment of psychological safety is vital for team trust and collaboration. Leaders can achieve this by modeling vulnerability, encouraging inclusive participation, establishing clear communication norms, implementing structured reflection, providing support, and monitoring team dynamics. Key strategies include sharing personal mistakes, seeking feedback, promoting open dialogue, valuing diverse perspectives, setting respectful interaction expectations, conducting regular debriefs, offering training, and assessing psychological safety. These practices empower team members to express ideas and take risks, fostering a culture of innovation and mutual respect, ultimately enhancing team performance.
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29 Nov

Crying with Wolves: How Leaders Can Break Free from the Negativity Trap

wolves crying on mountain in front of trees
Negativity can quietly erode team morale, productivity, and even a leader’s confidence. In this post, I share the story of Nathalie, an operations manager trapped in a cycle of workplace stress and unproductive venting—both in her team meetings and personal life. Together, we explored the psychological roots of negativity, its contagious effects, and strategies to break free. From reframing challenges to fostering constructive team dynamics, this journey reveals how leaders can transform negativity into solutions and growth. If workplace stress and team negativity feel overwhelming, this is your guide to leading with positivity and purpose.
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