Deafening silence !

Don’t you often wish that all the noise from around you, as well as from inside of you, would stop for a moment? That you could be in harmony with yourself. To just have nothing on your mind for a minute. Is there such a thing?

For one, psychology indicates that this works differently for woman than it does for man. But I know that man can wholeheartedly enjoy it. However, a certain ambiance is an absolute must. It is not possible to achieve such a ‘state of silence’ at your workplace, at the coffee-corner, or at similar locations. In ordinary life it is all too much about you, there are simply too many incentives, and what to think of the wide range of responsibilities...

Living the Benedictine way

Two weeks ago on a Saturday night I was on my way home. In Stellenbosch I received a call informing me that my flight to Amsterdam was cancelled.  Fortunately they immediately booked me on another flight via Johannesburg and then onto Amsterdam, however this was 24 hrs later. On the one hand this was a big disappointment - especially for those at home - but soon the bright side of it all became apparent. Again one more day in this beautiful environment. There was nothing I could change and so I could easily accept it and turn it into a positive experience. This was not difficult at all. It gave me the opportunity to consciously experience this day without any obligations as a true gift.

In my daily life I actually experience every day as a new gift. In the morning I start with a ritual - a short meditation - to greet the day with silence and contemplation. At the end of each day I usually close off with listening to a short version of a Celtic compline - each night a different one - and an evening prayer. A good start and a worthy closure. In between those two moments my day unfolds with a lot of variety. A healthy rhythm gives structure to my daily life and helps me to stay on top of the hectic realities. I do not always succeed, but it surely does help.  

Resignation: tragedy or possibility?

It is striking that when hiring employees a lot of attention goes out to the application process. The importance to get the right person for the right job is recognized. However, too often the importance of a resignation process is underestimated. Legal bickering and/or negative, emotional energy can be prevented by coaching employees with care and respect towards their resignation.

As a leader you cannot escape it: within your career, sooner or later you will have to deliver a resignation message because of economical recession or because the person in question is ineffective in their role. Especially now, in times of financial crisis, downsizing and reorganization are taking place within organizations. Healthy leadership implicates a healthy HR-policy with clear procedures. In practical terms this means that as a leader you have thought about a careful and respectful resignation procedure.

How can you develop a procedure that shows care & respect?
5 questions that can help you along:

South Africa

Albert Hoekstra and I are sitting in the ‘Koopmanshuis’ in Stellenbosch (R.S.A.). It is currently about 35 degrees Celsius. So, it is rather warm, especially compared to the minus 18 that is lately turning Europe into a freezer. Which is, by the way, the reason that we found ourselves sitting here. We’ve added an extra day to our amazing and inspiring journey through South Africa. We had to, since nearly no airplanes were able to fly from and to Schiphol (Amsterdam).

Next to learning patience, it means an extra day to think and to evaluate the journey. This was the second xpand visit to South Africa, and a way to discover how we could participate in building this fantastic country. A country of 47 million people, 11 languages, and a long and at times difficult history, great challenges, and amazing people.

Managers build a team, leaders build a community

Being a manager means you are responsible for the effectiveness of your organization. Quite a responsibility! How much can be won by just organizing better and more efficient? How much energy is constantly lost due to poor communication and working chaotically past each other. And what to think of the many poorly prepared meetings, which are often for about 50% useless. In short, there is plenty to ponder about for all our excellent managers out there. It is evident that they are absolutely needed, on all levels.

All that though, is just one side of the coin. Managers have to build a team, with whom they effectively realize projects. This is not enough nonetheless to captivate and bind talent. Who, anno 2012, wants to find, acquire, develop and keep ‘the talent’ has to have leaders, next to the mere managers.

Appreciating

Karel is an ambitious manager who works with the greatest integrity.  He is leading a ‘care-institution’ of 3000 employees. He is a good strategist, but at the same time as a manager and as man deeply involved with the patients. Furthermore, he is passionately leading his management team, a team that exists of excellent professional man and woman.

Recently I have spent a day with Karel and his management team. We took our time to get to know each other (better). Something that I really noticed was that they all showed the need of appreciation…