A well-functioning organization based on love and creative power is a beautiful thing. There is plenty of love and creative power in culture and entrepreneurship. Only, that creative power is not always also directed at the organization itself.
Strategic work and organisational development for me is always about this question:
How do you best use what is there, to create the organization that gives wings to your goals?
My method in strategy and organisational development is strongly informed by a decade of working for professionalization in the cultural sector and 6 years of studying Structural Dynamics.(The underlying structure of an organization determines its behaviour and outcomes). This was developed by a composer, filmmaker and writer who has translated the ability of artists to create to strategic consulting work for business, government and non-profits.
Develop your organization as a festival
A festival, exhibition or art project is designed through an artistic imagination process. No one would think of approaching a festival as a series of problems to be solved. With the development of our organizations, we do tend to be reactive rather than creative.
The tension between the desired outcome and the current reality is called structural tension. Whether they know the term or not, athletes, artists and creative people are good at using it.
Structural tension as an engine for strategy and organisational development
In short, structural tension generates the easiest path to a desired outcome. This is because:
- Structural tension is a channel that focuses and organizes all decisions and efforts.
- Through that focus, creativity, innovativeness and adaptability flourish while we find ways around shortages, obstacles and changes.
- That focus also generates things like running into the right information at the right time and that breakthrough idea in the shower. It makes intuitive work more successful.
- The channel generates a (physics based) flow that makes taking the next step easier than not taking it. That saves a lot of toiling, pushing and pulling!
- Creating strong structural tension means having the very best clarity. About the desired outcome, the current reality, the plan and what changes while we take action. Intrinsically motivated people are the inevitable result.
- When you share structural tension with a group, it creates that priceless phenomenon of getting something done together. Working together becomes easy.
It is not the best method that makes the difference but how to best to make use of what is there
Working with me
I work with executive and management teams, boards, project teams or departments. I build each assignment around the question and need of your organization. We can create clarity in an element of your process in one session or I can work with you over a longer period of time to give wings to your creative process. Or anything in between.
My job is to facilitate and guide, but I also like to leave the organization with a greater understanding and skill level of creating together.
For people who want to read more, I have divided my offer into three separate elements that in reality intertwine and can come together in one assignment.
Strategy
In strategy sessions, we co-create the path of least resistance to the outcomes you envision. Where people are making goals and plans together, whether at the management level or at the team or project level, I provide clarity that makes collaboration possible, easy and effective. Both in ambition driven and necessary changes.
Process design
Process (re)design is about the art of organizing work to achieve strategic goals. Although this is usually part of strategic planning, I mention it separately because process optimization is a hot topic. And rightly so because a carefully designed process is half the work of good execution. But again, without structural tension, process design is useless. Many (digital) desk drawers are filled with well-intentioned but unused process outlines. To grow those wings for our ambitions, a process must generate a clear outcome and make maximum use of (and account for) what is there.
Leadership Coaching
Leadership coaching serves the organization and the person. The well functioning of an organization depends on good leadership. And good leadership is an art to develop, a fascinating creative process and sometimes a lonely road. In 1-on-1 sessions, I bring that extra pair of eyes and those questions that expand your powers of observation and focus on where you want to go.
in Organisatie Ontwikkeling
For whom?
I enjoy working for extraordinary organizations. I did half of my flying hours in the cultural sector, the other half in the commercial world. I work for organizations, companies and entrepreneurs who create new worlds, make smart things, open doors, spread beauty, create opportunities, have fun, organize hopeful futures or do something else cool or useful. Big and small.
