Frustration tolerance will be the most crucial skill for 2025 How do you respond to a new idea that takes you out of your comfort zone? In a world that is constantly changing, it is becoming increasingly important to be able to deal with discomfort and setbacks. Those who can embrace discomfort instead of walking […]
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Former KLM CEO Pieter Elbers turned resistance to change into enthusiasm with a ‘SWAT team’ When Pieter Elbers became CEO of KLM at the end of 2014, he faced a major challenge and needed to reduce costs drastically. For many KLM workers, this was nothing new because the airline had implemented many cost-cutting initiatives over
Every organisation needs rebels to move forward. Shall we stop bullying them? That one colleague who steps out of line and is contrary is quickly labelled a troublemaker. But these employees are the ones who get the ball rolling, and you don’t want to be the one to stop that, do you? The rebels in
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You’ll only see it when you get it: 8 difficult types at work and their priceless value xxx Disastrous health problem in India In the mid-1990s, mortality rates in certain regions of India began to rise. It was unclear why people were dying, but the problems seemed to be greatest in densely populated urban areas.
One simple question can prevent opportunism from having a devastating domino effect Read More »
8 impossible types at work and their priceless value (you’ll only see it when you get it – johan cruijff) xxx Johan Cruijff, not the easiest one Johan Cruijff is one of the best footballers of all time. No one else understood the game as well as he did. He was praised for his technique,
Unsolicited advice … a nightmare or a blessing? We typically ignore unsolicited advice because we find it annoying. But in doing so, organisations miss out on enormous opportunities. What if you would start listening to these rebellious employees? Sony Playstation In the mid-seventies, young Ken Kuturagi started working in Sony’s digital research lab. He spent
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Beware of the autopilot: What every manager can learn from crashed flight AF447 Philips was once the world champion in consumer electronics until the company started to drift off. This ‘complacency effect’ caused Air France flight 447 to crash and bank ING to receive a mega fine. ‘Unfortunately, managers all too often have the idea
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Why do we stick to one rule while happily breaking another? Rules provide structure, safety and clarity. Yet, sometimes people choose to break them out of conviction or necessity, or simply because the rules seem nonsensical. Innovation expert Simone van Neerven wonders what drives us to follow one rule but ignore another. Crime scene investigation
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Embracing discomfort makes you more successful What do John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the Wright brothers and the founders of Google have in common? They show that disagreement and opposing views can create magic. It is easy to walk away from uncomfortable situations, but often, new insights and opportunities arise in these moments of discomfort.
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The coolest entrepreneur in the Netherlands? Surprisingly, almost nobody knows her She saved Jewish people in hiding, refused to work for the Nazis and was way ahead of her time with personnel policy. Yet Lili Bleeker ended up in an unmarked grave, writes columnist Simone van Neerven. This is the extraordinary story of a brilliant
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Watch out if you are ahead of the pack… Dutch climate professor and frontrunner Jan Rotmans almost lost his job twice Innovation in organisations often comes with lots of resistance. The story of Dutch Climate professor Jan Rotmans, who almost got fired for his groundbreaking climate model, shows this. But his perseverance ultimately led to
Unsolicited advice: bloody annoying, but often the source of a breakthrough Swiss aerodynamics engineer Éric Favre changed how we drink and experience coffee with his idea for the Nespresso coffee machine. But it wasn’t easy: Nestlé initially rejected the idea. “Employees who spontaneously share advice show great commitment and engagement, which is what organisations need
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The fatbike problems drag on, but no one takes responsibility: ‘Where are the rebels?’ The fatbike: hated by some, a status symbol for others. According to innovation expert Simone van Neerven, the (often tuned) electric bikes also symbolise something else. ‘The fatbike is exemplary of how we deal with pressing problems. Thinking in impossibilities and
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The magic of innovation is totally underestimated, and that is why it fails so often During the Olympic Games in 1968, Dick Fosbury surprised the world with a completely new style for the high jump, which revolutionised the sport. That ‘Fosbury Flop’ is often used as an example of successful innovation, but some crucial success
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Everybody seems to love AI, but no one talks about the high price we pay for it There is too little attention to the dark sides of AI, according to innovation expert Simone van Neerven. Technology determines what we see, do, and how we feel. We get out of touch with our bodies, and we
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Five biggest misconceptions about innovation Organizations that do not innovate risk becoming obsolete in a rapidly changing and competitive landscape. Innovation is essential for staying relevant, fostering growth, and ensuring long-term success. To effectively spearhead change, one must truly understand its essential drivers. But a lot of advice is predicated on false premises. Here are
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You face a devilish dilemma; stick to your ideals or let them go? Making choices is rarely easy, especially when ideals and interests clash. Austrian climate minister Leonore Gewessler risked her career for the nature restoration law, while natural winemaker Frank Cornelissen risked his reputation to save his company. Two stories about courage, pragmatism and
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Toxic bosses have highly engaged teams, and people stay longer to work for them. How come? Many organisations understand the importance of engaged employees but are unaware of the paradox that toxic leaders can have a highly motivated team. At least on paper … Humiliating experience In 2008, Apple launched ‘MobileMe’, a new internet service
“Yes, but…” in the workplace seems forbidden, but we need more of it When United Airlines staff followed the rules too rigidly, they ended up with a bloodied passenger and significant reputational damage for the airline. Innovation expert Simone van Neerven advocates to stop covering all possible scenarios in procedures and let people think for
“Yes, but…” in the workplace seems forbidden, but we need more of it Read More »
Taylor Swift an innovator? You bet! Here are her 8 leadership lessons This week marks the release of Taylor Swift’s eleventh album. The American singer has become a worldwide pop sensation. Her stormy path to success contains many lessons for business leaders. Innovation expert Simone van Neerven lists eight. Follow your heart In 2023, Taylor
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Oh dear, a super chicken in your team! Now what? Many organisations focus on outcomes but pay little to no attention to how these results are accomplished. To ensure that a team performs at its best, KPIs for mutual collaboration are crucial, writes Simone van Neerven. Throw like a granny In basketball, free throw means
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Five things you should never say as a manager (plus better things to say) ‘Don’t bring me problems, give me solutions.’ is a phrase that leaders often say in meetings. A big problem, says innovation expert Simone van Neerven, as with these couple of words, leaders close themselves off for critical signals. And there are
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How come you don’t see the solution that’s right in front of you? The solution to most problems already exists and is probably right in front of you, but we just don’t see it. We are too stuck in our thinking, which hinders coming up with creative solutions, sees innovation expert Simone van Neerven. Here
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Struggling with change? These 6 steps guarantee success Implementing change in an organisation is difficult. Yet there is an approach that guarantees success, writes innovation expert Simone van Neerven: the six-step algorithm of office expert and columnist Japke-d. Bouma. “Just take a break from meetings for a while and see what happens.” Better than Elon
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Breaking the rules can save lives Rebels are known for colouring outside the lines. They never do this just because, though. Most rebels have a strong moral compass and act accordingly. They don’t break the rules because they want to, but because they feel it is the right thing to do. Deviating from the protocol
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