Many companies spend huge amounts of money on ‘branding’. In an attempt to create an image that will be acknowledged by their target group as well as to proclaim a brand promise. Based of course on the assumption that when people can identify with what the company stands for, this will generate … Read full story
Today’s working environment consists increasingly of a complex network of virtual teams, project teams and self-managing teams. All these teams are under pressure to organise efficiently, perform effectively, and continually adapt to changing circumstances – all at breakneck speed. And it is assumed that the team members already know how to achieve … Read full story
Would you allow an unqualified surgeon without any medical training to operate on you? Probably not, unless… In around 1926, an African is born somewhere in a tiny village in South Africa. Till the age of 14 he goes to school but when his family can no longer afford it he has to … Read full story
Imagine a cage full of monkeys. A banana is suspended from the ceiling, and a ladder placed directly underneath it. It isn’t very long before a monkey sees the banana and starts climbing the ladder. But as soon as it does so, all the monkeys in the cage get sprayed with ice-cold … Read full story
The traditional way to improve team performance is to focus on the individual. For example, by making an individual team member aware of his or her dominant style of thinking, acting and communicating, and by making clear what effect this has on the collaboration within the team. Various instruments or models are … Read full story
Do you want me to give you an impossible assignment? OK then, try to describe completely what you’re feeling right at this very moment. Well, how’s it going? Of course you can come up with words like angry, tired, calm, relaxed or surprised. But that’s just the first layer. These are words … Read full story
Dr. John Gottman has spent more than 25 years conducting research aimed at answering the question: ‘what makes relationships work?’. His insights enable him to predict with a great degree of accuracy whether a relationship will prove to be a long-term one. By focussing on how couples communicate with each other, both … Read full story
In the world we live in a group of people is creating a ‘culture of fear’ around the Muslim faith. They insist that if we don’t watch out and don’t take action, we will lose our ‘own identity’ in the long term. And not only that, but these people also claim that … Read full story
It’s Monday morning and you walk into the meeting room. ‘Hi Cindy, how was your weekend?’ ‘Great, and yours?’ ‘Fine thanks. What’s on the agenda today?’ And the conversation switches to work. Sound familiar? Otto Scharmer describes these kinds of polite exchanges in his book ‘Theory U: Leading from the future as … Read full story
Just imagine this: you have everything you could want. A fine house, more than enough money, holidays whenever you want to take them, good health, etc. But you don’t have anybody to share these with. Can you still be happy? Not according to the American social psychologist Roy Baumeister. His research leads him … Read full story
