I learn a lot through reflections and reflecting.
On my morning walks with Ravi, our beagle, I often pause at the lake in the park. The sunrise, the trees mirrored in the water — it’s a reminder to stop, breathe, and notice what’s there.
This week I’ve been doing the same in my work life. It’s an exciting time! In a couple of days, we launch the Skillful Collaboration website — and I’ve been reflecting a lot. So much, in fact, that I changed the section of the site from Blog to Reflections. A blog didn’t feel right for this project. But taking time to reflect, to see what I/we can learn? That feels essential.
Launching something new is exciting, and it always brings me back to what I’ve learned from earlier entrepreneurial projects:
- Laikingland — a Creative Collaboration designing kinetic objects. I learned what I loved (product development and working with creative people) and what I didn’t (the supply chain and finance side of the business).
- ici2learn — where we support corporate leaders and teams in learning to truly connect, to work together, and to drive lasting success. . Here I’m reminded every day of our name: ici2learn — “here to learn.” That joy of learning with and for clients is something I carry everywhere.
- Gathering Natuurlijk — our leadership retreat in nature. I learned again about the power of togetherness: when people sit side by side around a campfire, wisdom emerges.
Looking across these reflections, I see the same three values shining through: Togetherness, Learning, and Creating. They are the values I want to fill my days with — and they are at the heart of Skillful Collaboration.
My mission is simple: Helping teams everywhere build the human skills of collaboration.
A friend recently asked me, “Everywhere? Isn’t that a pretty big place?”
Yes. And that’s the excitement.
So if you’re working with a team — in the Netherlands or beyond — and want to reflect together how to collaborate more skillfully: let’s connect.
