Workplace Insights by Adrie van der Luijt
Careers aren’t really ladders, they’re more like messy scribbles with occasional moments of clarity. I’ve spent decades watching talented people waste years chasing what they thought they should want rather than what actually suited them.
The posts in this section reflect what I wish someone had told me thirty years ago: that the most successful careers are built on knowing your strengths, acknowledging your limitations and having the courage to navigate workplace politics without becoming what you despise.
Whether you’re just starting out or questioning decades of choices, you’ll find honest reflections on creating a career that works for you rather than burning yourself out for an organisation that sees you as replaceable.
Government emails from Companies House often lack trauma-informed content and empathy, compounding the distress of bereavement or crisis. Content expert Adrie van der Luijt examines the damaging effects of trauma-ignorant messaging and offers practical steps for a more humane, trauma-informed approach to official communications.
Micro trauma—the accumulated effect of everyday stressors—significantly impairs users’ ability to process information effectively. Learn how trauma-informed content design principles can create more accessible digital experiences that accommodate cognitive limitations caused by stress, anxiety and distraction, helping vulnerable users complete critical tasks when they need support most.
Job titles in management support often mask the real strategic responsibilities we have taken on, suggesting that we are merely assisting rather than proactively shaping the workplace.
The Entrepreneurial EA is making a comeback, decades after I pioneered the concept between 1997 and 2007. It is as relevant in the AI era as it was back then.
True content strategy works at a higher level from that of most self-proclaimed strategists who merely make existing content perform incrementally better.
Drawing from three decades crafting content for vulnerable audiences, Adrie van der Luijt shares hard-won wisdom on creating trauma-informed content that genuinely works. Beyond academic theory, this practical guide reveals what actually helps people process information during their most difficult moments, based on real projects for the Metropolitan Police Service, Cancer Research UK and Universal Credit.
AI hasn’t created new forms of contractor mistreatment; it’s simply intensified existing patterns. Discover how the excuses change but the bullying stays the same, and learn practical strategies to maintain your professional dignity in the AI era.
AI fake experts are infiltrating journalism. A former business editor explores how journalistic instinct remains our best defence against AI-generated fake experts, drawing on experience with breaking financial news verification under extreme deadline pressure.
The rise of AI is not a threat; it’s an opportunity. To stay relevant, professionals must upskill, build AI literacy, and redefine their roles. Those who do will be more valuable than ever in the AI-driven workplace.
Navigating the AI revolution with a personal guide for Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, Senior Secretaries and other management support professionals.