Workplace Insights by Adrie van der Luijt
Organisations love to pretend they’re rational entities, but they’re actually complex human systems with all the messiness that implies. After working with everything from tiny startups to vast government departments, I’ve learned that what’s written in the org chart rarely reflects how things actually work.
The invisible networks of influence, unspoken cultural norms and shadow hierarchies often matter more than formal reporting lines. These posts explore how to navigate the reality of organisational life rather than the sanitised version in the employee handbook.
You’ll find practical approaches to understanding power dynamics, managing stakeholder relationships and getting things done in environments where the official process is often the least effective route.
The hollowing out we’re witnessing in software development, executive assistance and copywriting isn’t a coincidence. It’s part of a broader pattern reshaping virtually every knowledge work profession, though at different rates and with field-specific nuances.
If AI is taking over administrative tasks, where should EAs focus their energy? The answer lies in developing strategic, commercially valuable skills that make them indispensable.
Remote working was the norm during the Covid lockdown, so why are many employers now forcing workers back to the office?
The most effective EAs I’ve known aren’t those who fit perfectly into expected patterns. They’re the ones who bring their whole selves to the role, including the perspectives gained from sometimes feeling like they don’t entirely belong.
I’ve spent decades navigating organisational dysfunction so your teams don’t have to. My keynotes cut through corporate nonsense with practical insights on everything from digital transformation to workplace mental health. I bring humour, brutal honesty and actual solutions rather than motivational platitudes. Audiences leave with tangible approaches they can implement immediately.
My training sessions blend thirty years of hard-won experience with evidence-based techniques that actually work in messy real-world organisations. Whether it’s content design, leadership communication or AI integration, I focus on practical skills your team can apply immediately. No theoretical frameworks or pointless role plays, just honest guidance on navigating complex workplace challenges.
Sometimes you need someone who tells you the uncomfortable truths about your organisation or career that colleagues won’t. My in-person and online coaching for teams and individuals combines supportive guidance with the direct feedback often missing in professional development. I’ve helped executives, rising leaders and teams break through entrenched patterns and develop strategies that acknowledge workplace realities rather than ignoring them.
