Unblock

I've just started selling the early digital edition of my book 🥳 ☀️ Enjoy your summer! Use the discount code LINKEDIN25 to get 25% off. https://lnkd.in/e99fFr9B

Think about your most recent business decision...was the motivating factor profit or sustainability? Don't be shy to say profit. We hear it from partners and clients all the time. That sustainability is important, but at the end of the day, profit is the bigger motivator. We won't change economic systems overnight, but we can change the decision-making architecture that navigates our choices and behaviors. Jurriaan Kamer and I outline 3 areas of an organization that guide our day-to-day decisions. We can "hack" them to manage the tension between long-term sustainability and short-term profits. Read more in CEO Magazine: https://lnkd.in/eaCabSSs 1) organizational strategy 👉 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲-𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘀 2) measurements 👉 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗣&𝗟 3) governance 👉 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 "𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆" 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 We can't tackle new problems with old ways of working. Ashoka Changemaker Companies × Unblock are here to support you to try it out. One of our tips: start with small experiments. #sustainability requires a new #futureofwork

Am I Really an Entrepreneur? Can I handle the uncertainty? Am I enjoying it? Starting a company is like walking a tightrope, where the thrill of uncertainty and full autonomy balance with the fear of failing. Nine months ago, I took that leap with Unblock. It felt like a marriage, or starting a family, as I joined forces with my partners, Jurriaan and Nelia - familiar faces, yet a new dynamic as we united around our shared passion for organizational design and new ways of working. But passion isn't always enough. When it comes to decision-making, I'm now on the other side of the table, sometimes finding it more difficult but also more powerful to explore different perspectives and balance that with making safe-to-try decisions. Like any organization, we've had our moments where we talked more than we acted, getting stuck in our own dynamics. But I'm proud that we've managed to change that. We started bold experiments with our operating rhythm to prioritize deep work, and set clear work agreements and boundaries. The results are showing. The entrepreneurial journey has led me to question myself: Am I really an entrepreneur? The first 90 days were tough, as I craved stability and certainty. I had more free time but was hesitant to take breaks and relax. Over time, however, I gradually embraced the uncertainty, and the initial fear and anxiety started to fade. Working on exciting new projects, having a clear strategy and dedicated operating rhythm, and learning from eating our own "dogfood" have all been immensely helpful. Now, I can honestly say that I'm starting to enjoy the journey. The uncertainty has transformed into an opportunity for growth and exploration. Starting a company together is a rollercoaster ride - scary, exciting, and full of unexpected twists and turns. But as I reflect on our progress, I realize that it's all part of the journey. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks, Nelia Booden and Jurriaan Kamer, for being on this ride together. 🎢🙏🚀

Instead of “Do you agree?” ask, “Is it safe to try?” Here's an excerpt from my upcoming book!

We just completed our Unblock retreat. Twice a year we take a break from client work to work on ourselves. We moved into an inspiring location to reflect, have deep conversations, and have fun. 🏓🥂 We practice what we preach and eat our own dog food! Here are some of the key questions that we've used to guide our process: 🤝 ICBD - Intentions: What is your intention for being at this retreat? - Concerns: What worries you about retreat? - Boundaries: What boundaries or requests do you have? - Dreams: What might happen if it goes amazingly well? - Knowing all of this, what agreements should we make for retreat? 💫 Retrospective - We used the six thinking hats of DeBono to reflect on these questions: - In the last 90 days, What went well? What could have been better? 🌟 Strategic Intent - In order to energize Unblock's purpose in the next 12 months, what is essential for us? 🎯 90-Day Outcomes - In the next 90 days, what will we complete? ⚖️ Strategic Trade-offs - What even-over statements will help us achieve our goals? (I'll share the even-overs later this week, stay tuned!) Photo: me with Koen de Boer taken by Nelia Booden (Unblock's co-founders).

How many decision-making experts does it take to decide on the name of a new venture? 💡 We got stuck in debating and wordsmithing, but we got unblocked while doing silent, individual exercises - while building on each other. 🚀 In this article, we'll share our journey and some helpful tips for when you're facing a complex, high-stakes group decision. Unblock = Nelia Booden Koen de Boer Juliane Martina Röll Jurriaan Kamer #decisionmaking #innovation

I received a comment from one of my 86(!) beta readers that made me realize I had to pivot the focus of my upcoming book. It was painful to read, but I'm very grateful for it. Read the full story and a sneak preview of the book's new focus in my latest newsletter.

Can you help me pick a subtitle for my new book? I wasn't happy with my title options, so today, I asked Koen de Boer and Nelia Booden for help. Below is a new shortlist that came from our exercise. Which of these do you like best?  I’m aiming at: "Clearly describes the value Even/Over Fun or interesting" (but ideally both!) 1. Unblock: A Radical Approach to Strategy, Decisions and Teamwork 2. Unblock: A Radical Approach to Achieving Meaningful Results and Empowered Organizations 3. Unblock: Next Level Leadership Teams that Master Strategy, Decisions, and Teamwork 4. Unblock: A No-Nonsense Guide to Effective Strategy, Faster Decisions and Better Results 5. Unblock: Effective Strategy, Faster Decisions, Better Results 6. Unblock: Stellar Leadership Teams, Effective Organizations, Better Results 7. Unblock: Get Shit Done with Effective Strategy, Faster Decisions, and More Ownership 8. Unblock: Stop Crawling and Start Running by Rethinking Strategy, Decisions and Teamwork 9. Unblock: Realize Your Strategy by Changing How You Lead 10. Unblock: Walk the Talk Twice as Fast 11. Unblock: Focus, Clarity and Impact 📘 More info about my book here: https://bit.ly/3VchkoV 🙏 Let me know if you'd like to have early access as a beta reader!

Are you encountering obstacles in advancing sustainability initiatives within your company? Are you seeking practical solutions to bridge the gap between intention and action, driving genuine change? Mark your calendars for an insightful online roundtable on April 24th from 16:00 to 17:30 (CET). Join us for an exclusive discussion, brought to you by Ashoka and Unblock where we confront a common truth head-on: many companies set ambitious sustainability goals, yet face barriers and outdated practices that hinder progress towards meaningful change. This event offers a unique opportunity to explore practical solutions and gain insights to catalyze real progress in sustainability and social impact efforts. At Ashoka Changemaker Companies and Unblock, we recognize the challenge of translating sustainability aspirations into tangible outcomes. Despite setting ambitious goals, entrenched barriers such as organizational inertia, bureaucratic red tape, and rigid structures often impede progress, hindering our collective journey towards a sustainable future. In this session we'll explore what lies behind the Intent/Action Gap. Together, we'll cover: ✅Overcoming organizational inertia and bureaucratic hurdles ✅Embracing innovation and research with a triple-bottom-line focus ✅Crafting adaptable strategies to address evolving societal challenges ✅Empowering employees to champion sustainability initiatives Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and strategies for driving sustainable transformation within your organization. Secure your spot or learn more about the event https://lnkd.in/dyN7zgSU #Sustainability #NetPositive

Rethinking the strategic process for today's highly complex world. In this article, we lay out the Adaptive Strategy process we have successfully used over the years to get clients unblocked. #strategy #strategytoexecution #strategyplanning #strategydevelopment #adaptivestrategy #strategyalignment