18 Mar

The Leader Who Stopped Learning

Most senior leaders don't derail because they lack intelligence or drive. They derail because they stopped learning — and didn't notice until the damage was done. In this article, executive coach Jan Salomons explores the neuroscience behind why behavioral change is so hard, the five warning signs that a leader's learning agility is eroding, and what the research really says about what separates leaders who keep growing from those who quietly plateau. Drawing on decades of evidence from Korn Ferry, the Center for Creative Leadership, and the neuroscience of neuroplasticity, this is a practical, behavior-focused guide to one of the most critical — and most overlooked — leadership competencies of our time. If you have ever caught yourself relying...
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15 Mar

“Not Strategic Enough”: The Label That Hides the Real Problem

The phrase “not strategic enough” is one of the most common labels used when leaders hit an invisible career ceiling. But in executive teams it often hides a deeper problem — unclear expectations, power dynamics, or low psychological safety. Before developing the individual, leaders must first examine the system that produced the label.
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22 Feb

AI doesn’t replace leaders. It exposes them.

AI is often framed as a technology challenge. In reality, it is a leadership one. By accelerating speed, increasing transparency, and making decisions comparable, AI exposes how leaders decide, where judgment is avoided, and how accountability is handled. This article explores why AI does not replace leaders, but reveals leadership behaviors that were previously hidden—and why credibility in an AI-driven world depends less on technical expertise and more on explicit judgment and ownership.
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20 Feb

Five leadership decisions AI should never make

As AI becomes embedded in organizational decision-making, not all decisions should be automated. Some choices define values, require accountability, and demand human judgment under uncertainty. This article explores five leadership decisions AI should never make—not because AI is incapable, but because leadership legitimacy, responsibility, and trust cannot be delegated to technology.
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05 Jan

Three Questions I Return to in my Coaching Supervision – and have meaning for every leader

In coaching supervision, I return to three questions that keep me sharp as a coach — and grounded as a leader. They are not about tools or techniques, but about self-awareness, restraint, and the courage to slow down when speed is expected. These reflections matter not only for coaches, but for every leader navigating complexity.
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18 Dec

One-on-ones as a leadership discipline: from status updates to development dialogues

2 persons having a one-on-one conversation in a meeting room behind a table with icons above their heads illustrating content components
One-on-one meetings are one of the most powerful leadership tools — and one of the most frequently misused. Drawing from personal leadership experience and evidence-based research, this article explores how leaders can design and execute one-on-ones that go beyond status updates and become conversations that build clarity, trust, and sustainable performance.
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10 Dec

45+ and you need a new job? This is why professionals struggle more than their CV shows

Many professionals over 45 hear the same reassuring phrases when they lose their job—yet the reality they face in the Dutch labour market is far more complex. This article explores why experienced mid-career professionals struggle not because of capability, but because the hiring system interprets their broad value too narrowly. Based on the 4R Model (Reflect–Reset–Re-Align–Rise™) and real client insights, it reveals the hidden dynamics that shape career transitions and what truly helps professionals rise stronger.
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09 Dec

Stillness and reflection: the hidden courage behind authentic leadership

In a world full of noise and pressure, the most courageous leaders are not the loudest ones, but the ones who create space for stillness and honest self-reflection. Like a quiet bridge reflected in calm water, authentic leadership emerges when we stand steady in who we are and dare to look inward. Clarity, integrity, and presence begin not with action, but with awareness.
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