Blogposts covering my work in internal & change communication, inclusive leadership, LEGO® Serious Play® team facilitation, and more.
Throughout this series, we’ve explored why LEGO® Serious Play® works: the cognitive science that creates deep engagement, the communication mechanisms that transform dialogue, and the cultural conditions that create a sense of belonging. Now we arrive at the heart of the matter: what all these elements enable when they come together: co-creation.
Why LEGO® Serious Play® works: Co-creating positive change Read More »
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In Parts 1 and 2, we explored the cognitive science that makes LEGO® Serious Play® effective for individual learning, and the communication mechanisms, metaphor and equal voice, that transform how groups interact. And something even more fundamental happens when these elements combine: they create the cultural conditions for genuine sense of belonging.
In Part 1, we explored the cognitive science behind LEGO® Serious Play®. How constructionist learning, embodied cognition, and flow states create conditions for deep individual engagement. The methodology’s power extends beyond how individuals think. It fundamentally transforms how groups communicate and collaborate.
Why LEGO® Serious Play® works: The power of metaphor and equal voice Read More »
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Ever wonder why building with LEGO® bricks creates insights that hours of talking couldn’t reach? There’s actual neuroscience behind it. When your hands build, your brain thinks differently, accessing knowledge you didn’t even know you had. This is constructionism in action, and it’s transforming how teams solve complex problems.
Why LEGO® Serious Play® works: The cognitive foundations Read More »
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Most companies treat community management as housekeeping: moderate discussions, answer questions, keep things civil. But we’ve seen something different: organizations reimagining it as strategic listening, a systematic way to catch problems early, understand culture as it actually lives, and turn everyday conversations into intelligence that improves how work gets done.
Do you hear what I hear? From reactive to strategic listening in organisations Read More »
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This episode marks my final one as host of the IABC EMENA podcast and I couldn’t have asked for a better guest. I sat down with Simon Cavendish, new Chair of IABC EMENA, to talk about the human side of leading change. From trust and transparency to the IKEA effect, we explored how internal comms shapes transformation and why involvement matters more than perfection. While I’m stepping away from this podcast, I’m not done podcasting. I’ll be continuing the conversation over at my own Good Comms podcast, where we’ll keep asking better questions about leadership, inclusion, and communication that makes a difference.
On change, trust, and conversations that matter Read More »
Blog, Cases, Podcast
Toen mijn zoon een parel vond en vroeg of ze echt was, liet ik hem voelen: een echte parel is een beetje ruw, een neppe is glad. Dat moment bleef hangen. Want hoe vaak doen we op het werk alsof we echt zijn, terwijl we eigenlijk gepolijst gedrag tonen? Het lijkt veilig, maar het doet ons geen goed. Authentiek leiderschap glanst niet omdat het perfect is, maar omdat het oprecht is. Echte parels, en echte leiders, ontstaan door wrijving.
Echte parels: over authenticiteit en leiderschap dat glanst van binnenuit Read More »
Blog, Cases, Podcast
After a recent conversation with internal communication professional and researcher May Oostrom-Kwok, I found myself thinking more deeply about the role we play in making neuroinclusion a reality. May’s research explores how internal communication can support line managers in fostering a neuroinclusive workplace. Her findings are a powerful reminder that inclusion doesn’t start with a policy. It starts with trust, dialogue, and the everyday actions of people leaders. This post reflects on what I learned from her study, and why it matters now more than ever.
Internal communication and the missing link in fostering neuroinclusive leadership Read More »
Blog, Cases, Podcast
2025 has become the year of backlash. Against BDEI, against justice, and, apparently, against facts. From false claims of reverse discrimination to political spin that blames inclusion for everything from job loss to social division, misinformation is being repeated so often it’s starting to sound true. This blog unpacks the most common myths about BDEI and social justice backed by data, not drama. If you’re tired of opinion pieces dressed up as fact, this one’s for you.
BDEI myths and how they spread Read More »
Blog, Cases, Podcast
This summer, my family and I travelled through Piedmont and Liguria: from Alba’s rolling vineyards to Genoa’s busy port. Somewhere between wine tastings and gelato, I ended up looking for traces of my maiden name: Ballo.
What’s in a name? Belonging, bias, and the Ballo story Read More »
Blog, Cases, Podcast