‘Well! If you can’t handle it, I’ll do it!’ She almost screamed the sentence then stood up and left the meeting room. She went straight to her working space, fell in her chair and gazed through the window. She felt exasperated. Her team was not able to pull it off. The past 2 years, [...]
Sometimes I’m just a participant of a meeting. I cherish these meetings. I’m just one of the pack, do not need to lead the meeting and can decide my own role according to my whims. This time I was in an observing and learning mood. A crowd of approximately 40 participants had gathered around the [...]
People unite and gather to make great achievements. When these gatherings become formal we call them meetings. And everyone will agree that there are good and bad meetings. Sadly enough, in most organisations the bad ones dominate over the good ones. And it is sad indeed. Because you disengage from the group and that, in [...]
It was a former colleague at my first job that ignited my interest in meetings. He got me onto meetings… and how to avoid them (see also my other posts and workshops). But he did it in a strange way. Just after my graduation I started working for a big organisation, one of those [...]
Paul Iske is the Chief Dialogues Officer at the ABN AMRO Bank. It’s an intriguing position in which he is responsible for the Dialogues House and Dialogues Incubator. The ABN AMRO Bank created these spaces to support entrepreneurial and innovative thinking and behaviour within and outside the bank. Ruben: The Dialogues House and Dialogues [...]
Coming to a closure is always one of the most difficult challenges a group faces. Recently, I was leading a workshop on meetings and many participants faced the difficult issue of decision-making. One of the participants put it clearly: ‘I hate it when I’m being asked to join a meeting to give my opinion [...]
Hurray! My site has reached the young age of 1. And look at all the possibilities that exist with number 1. 1 quote: ‘It’s better to be 3rd instead of 1st’ Malcolm Gladwell 1 thing I’m thankful for: Ella, born on October 11th 1 book that inspired me: ‘Delivering Happiness’ by Tony Hsieh 2011: [...]
The era of social media is teaching us new rules for public speaking. When the crowd is by definition connected to the rest of the world via smart phones, tablets and computers, you also need to change the way you’re presenting says blogger Drew Neisser. Don’t expect the crowd to look at you while you [...]
The whole village had gathered to hear her speak. Young and ambitious, she stood fearlessly on the small podium and was explaining what good she would be doing for the community. A vote for her would not be lost. Her campaign had taken momentum after a TV debate with fellow candidates, all male and well [...]
About you
You're leading a team. And you hold meetings; regular ones, occasional ones.
Meetings consume valuable time so you want to get the most out of them. You want them to energize the participants, develop your team and help you achieve your change or innovation.
About Ruben
I'm Ruben van der Laan and I'm here to make your team flow.
I coach, (re)design and lead your meetings unleashing creativity, building teams and organising expediency.
