Leaders Into The Wild

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Leadership

What do Simone Weil and Hans Vijlbrief have in common?

Trust is the basis of relationships, of the social contract, of tackling the Great joint challenges for the future.
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Islands in a sea of chaos

Islands in a sea of chaos The world is always changing. And chaos, polarisation and despair are part and parcel of transition. Many people think that your personal choices and actions are of little use in the face of a major crisis or challenge. Professor of Transition Studies
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I wish everyone a goat at the door

It has been four years since I had the privilege of waking up every day with a goat at my door. Rest assured, it was not my Hipster pet in Amsterdam-West or cuddle project imposed by my life coach. Because this goat really exists and lies...
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How I'm going to give the Pablo Escobar of human trafficking an extra sleepless night

"I've never done it before, so I think I can do it."With this quote from Pipi Langkous, my colleague completed the briefing of a new project six months ago. The intention was to support an NGO in launching a new initiative in it...
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From’ Ok boomer ' to ' Hey boomer’

With the Coronavirus and a global crisis as a result, the law of insanity seems more relevant than ever: from today we can no longer continue to do the same things and still expect a new outcome. No matter how we want to turn or reverse it; we go one...
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The agreement between Instagram and cocaine

Written by Amanga Mane and Niek van Droffelaar Niek: "Amanga, you are a Millennial and therefore grew up with the internet. I think that smartphone must have grown on your hand by now... but still you don't have Instagram? Tell me."Amanga:" that's right, in fact;...
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Help! There's a monster in the office.…

In my work as a consultant, I am in daily contact with leadership teams from the Dutch business community. The psychologist in me is always curious about the peculiarities of a human being, and yes; everyone has them, especially the executives! This...
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Where is the Chief Millenial Officer?

Walk into any office, take the elevator to the top floor, walk into the boardroom, step directly onto the person behind the largest desk and ask him or her the following question: “What is essentially different today than in the past?"Chances are you...
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Talking to millennials and CEOs about the leadership of the future

Written by Jolein Hallegraeff and Niek van Droffelaar " good morning, I have an appointment with the CEO."The receptionist looks up. "And who are you?"I swallow. "Jolein Hallegraeff, intern at The Transformation Group."She looks at me suspiciously. I don’t blame her:...
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Who does well, meets well…

Last week Ria and I ended up on the terrace of “the House with the pillars” in Bergen after a wonderful boat trip around Alkmaar. Saartje, our Jack Russell puppy, was at our feet and we enjoyed a delicious glass of rosé. A family passed by, father, mother and...
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Wilderness

Wilderness experiences deepen our awareness

Wilderness often possesses a pristine quality that offers the opportunity to transcend our ordinary, ego-driven consciousness, which is often constrained by social structures, cultural constructs, and artificial environments.

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Maslow's mistake, human contact and nature

We all know the famous Pyramid of Abraham Maslow (1928-1970), in which physical needs, such as food and shelter, are at the base.

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Journey into your own wilderness

A journey into the wilderness of unspoiled nature reserves is also a journey into our own ‘wilderness’. We often postpone or do not dare to embark on that journey of discovery into our deep self, we are actually afraid of being confronted with ourselves. Yet we all carry...
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Zondi and the power of intuition

I wake up. The sun slowly appears over the hills across the Umfelozi river. It's still a little rough. Slowly I get up, but keep the sleeping bag close to me. It's still pretty cold. The night passed quietly. During the...
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The senses that guide us

In the NRC last Saturday I read with more than ordinary interest an article about the influence of smell on our behavior. That interest stems from my time with Sara Lee when I was also responsible for Ambipur, the devices that smell in the House...
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What makes a wilderness trail so special?

Every day we experience situations that we learn from. New connections are then made in our brain. But do they linger? And does this change something permanently in our attitude and behavior? Comfort zones sometimes do, scientists say. But you have to...
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Synchronicity, or miraculous coincidence.

‘Boy, this happens all the time…’. That's what Ian Read, The famous South African wilderness guide, said during our podcast ‘Leaders into the Wild’ #10. Niek and I talked to him about synchronicity, or ‘meaningful coincidence’. As an introduction, I asked Ian...
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Solo in the wilderness

When it's already light, I wake up from the concert of the birds. I doze some more and then get up. Nature is awakening. Together with weed I do some yoga exercises that he suggests to me. I still have a lot to learn. Everyone is waking up a little now. What time would it be...
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Reflection in the wilderness

I'm sitting on my own on a large rocky plateau that rises above the water of the river. The water level is low and much of the sand bed can be seen. We have already crossed this river, the Black Umfelozi, a couple of times, and the water did not reach further than ours...
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A wilderness trail entails asking true questions.

During a wilderness trail we learn to listen deeply: to Nature, to the other and to ourselves. Sometimes it is necessary to go even deeper by asking true, honest questions. And then,we just wait in stillness. Stillness, inner silence, is waiting inside - with true and...
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Natuur in Bewustzijn

Nature in Consciousness

Feb 11, 2026 |

Nature in Consciousness How Experiences in the Wilderness can permanently change our Consciousness. Dr Boy van DroffelaarWhen a person retreats into the silence of the wilderness, away from the noise of the city and the hustle and bustle of obligations, a...

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In Nature We Feel, Therefore We Learn

In Nature We Feel, Therefore We Learn

Apr 4, 2025 |

Stepping beyond our comfort zone and into the wilderness offers us a powerful pathway for personal growth. Emotional awakening in the wilderness fosters our self-reflection, deep learning, and transformation that extends into both our professional and personal lives.

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Eilanden in een zee van chaos

Islands in a sea of chaos

Jan 4, 2024 |

Islands in a sea of chaos The world is always changing. And chaos, polarisation and despair are part and parcel of transition. Many people think that your personal choices and actions are of little use in the face of a major crisis or challenge. Professor of Transition Studies

read more
Ik gun iedereen een geit voor de deur

I wish everyone a goat at the door

Sep 18, 2023 |

It has been four years since I had the privilege of waking up every day with a goat at my door. Rest assured, it was not my Hipster pet in Amsterdam-West or cuddle project imposed by my life coach. Because this goat really exists and lies...

read more
Van ‘Ok boomer’ naar ‘Hey boomer’

From’ Ok boomer ' to ' Hey boomer’

Sep 11, 2023 |

With the Coronavirus and a global crisis as a result, the law of insanity seems more relevant than ever: from today we can no longer continue to do the same things and still expect a new outcome. No matter how we want to turn or reverse it; we go one...

read more