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 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.
Google’s Super Bowl ad for its Gemini AI was meant to impress. Instead, it became a cautionary tale. The ad showcased Gemini identifying objects, including Dutch Gouda cheese—but it got key details wrong. It took cheese enthusiasts just hours to spot the inaccuracies, forcing Google to edit the ad post-launch.
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.
