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.
AI in the workplace promises revolutionary transformation, yet management support professionals are caught in a reality gap, simultaneously told AI mastery is essential whilst facing substantial organisational barriers that prevent actual adoption.
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.
The right to disconnect exists already by law in France. But despite executives claiming to support a similar move, many Executive Assistants routinely receive calls, emails and text messages from work out-of-hours.
AI in the workplace promises revolutionary transformation, yet management support professionals are caught in a reality gap, simultaneously told AI mastery is essential whilst facing substantial organisational barriers that prevent actual adoption.
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.
