I believe in the power of balance between man and nature based on our accountability to the world we live in. My focus on ancient paths of Zen and Tao combined with my business knowledge brings old and new wisdom together for desired harmony.

The Earth is an abundant planet, prosperous with its 7 seas. We are here to enjoy the marvellous wonders of the world. I believe this brings with it the role of stewardship and personal accountability.

My mission, and the purpose of all my activities is to contribute to Earth’s revival.

The 5-day Project
Leadership programme

The inner journey, a path to high performance, self-discovery and a meaningful life.
HEAVEN
The expansive sky does not obstruct the floating white clouds. Can you say anything further?

This five-day programme offers an opportunity to integrate ancient wisdom with contemporary leadership practices. Designed to support participants in developing their project leadership skills, the course provides a distinctive, holistic approach that unites both mental and physical disciplines.

Programme audience

This programme is designed for leaders who lead programs, projects and or work within transformation-oriented environments. The participants can be project managers, program managers, and transformation leads or consultants. It is also suitable for managers and teams seeking to enhance communication and achieve greater balance in their working style. The programme addresses challenges faced by leaders experiencing:

  • uncertainty and stress
  • resistance and misalignment
  • personal issues
  • difficulties with decision making
  • the need for high performance and excellence

The programme also aims to benefit professionals who feel constrained within the corporate structure.

“Nog een mooie quote verzinnen van een Zenmeester over dit programma“
~ Zen master XYZ

About the journey

During the five days we do more than just focus on new business models, management theories, feedback loops, or psychological analyses. We combine these contemporary ways of management with ancient wisdoms. To create an inner journey, helping you connect with yourself and gain a renewed outlook on meaningful project leadership.

This programme is designed to unlearn the learned. To challenge and re-evaluate established beliefs and limiting thought patterns. Participants will learn how to thoughtfully apply tools, methods, and theories in renewed ways that best support both the project objectives and team members. A practical approach with a renewed common sense.

It is a journey that provides an opportunity to explore alternative perspectives on high performance and excellence, emphasising the integration of body and mind. Focusing not only on individual development, but also on fostering alignment among team members and stakeholders.

In this 5-day programme you will learn to:

  • stay grounded in uncertainty rather than reacting with fear
  • embrace flow and flexibility, just like agile methodologies promote adaptability
  • lead with openness and presence, rather that rigid top-down decision making
  • navigate change calmly and effectively: which is crucial in fast-moving environments.

It is designed to foster more natural and intuitive leadership. And a meaningful life.

Both during the programme and beyond.

Theme per day

Day 1: Uncertainty and rapid change

Struggling with uncertainty, rapid change, AI, polarisation.

Adapting to an increasingly rapid pace of change and uncertainty is essential in today’s work environment. Developments such as artificial intelligence and the growing polarisation of opinions present new challenges. Uncertainty isn’t something to be solved or eliminated but rather to be encountered with openness and awareness.


What you learn:
Navigating these waves of life and society requires equanimity and the ability to adapt to evolving circumstances. Meeting uncertainty with curiosity rather than resistance. Embracing the “not-knowing ” mindset, from where effectively complex situations can be translated into clear, actionable strategies. To perform with ease, even under extreme pressure.

Day 2: Team alignment

Coping with resistance, conflicts and lack of team alignment.

Managing siloed or matrix teams often means addressing conflicting interests, managing stakeholder tensions, and bridging gaps between strategy and execution.


What you learn:
Lead with openness, address resistance early before it escalates, and use a gentle approach for effective results. True force is soft and gentle. Focusing on empowering others.

Day 3: When it gets personal

Coping when your body and mind are showing stress, leadership fatigue, or signs of burnout. A step toward meaningful work.

Balancing challenges, deadlines, and motivating yourself or your team is key. Push too hard and you risk burnout. Too little, and motivation suffers. Today leaders often need personal commitment to achieve results while struggling with their work-life balance.


What you learn:
Practices like Zen and Qi Gong can help you release stress and anxiety, restore energy and clarity, forming a foundation for sustained performance. The fundament of inner excellence, to live a life with ease, joy and confidence.

Day 4: Decision making

Preventing poor decision-making under pressure.

Stress, high stakes and pressure cloud judgement, often causing impulsive, reactive or fearful choices. Decompress, tune in, and respond with presence. Using intuition and logic.


What you learn:
Making decisions where ego and fear have less impact. Focus beyond urgency through ‘management by wei-wu-wei’.

Day 5: High performance and Excellence

Resolve disruptions affecting performance to keep the spirit(s) high.

Excellence is about aligning body, mind and spirit. About feeling, tuning in to intuition. To perform the unthinkable with ease, without struggle, fear and stress.


What you learn:
Removing mental and physical blockages that limit you and your team. Understanding the influence of habits, use of words, and certainly the workplace environment on team performance. Developing the ability to identify changes in energy within professional settings. Additionally, learning how physical spaces can affect both your mental and physical well-being.

What a day looks like

Theory

We’ll explore various theories, models, and methods related to project leadership, integrating perspectives drawn from Zen and Taoism. These ancient philosophies share notable parallels with nowadays needed leadership and offer practical value in today’s business world.

Leadership involves more than intellectual skills; the body plays a vital role. Your body’s wisdom, shaped by millions of years of evolution and encoded in your genes, often surpasses that of the mind. Qi Gong and Zen meditation can help you to connect to that wisdom.

Through a series of simple (not always easy) focused exercises, movements, and postures, Qi Gong enables you to develop greater awareness of both your body and mind. Fostering the connection between the two. It is beneficial for promoting grounding and emotional balance while facilitating the release of stress and tension through removing of blockages.

Over time, you may experience enhanced flexibility and resilience, both physically and mentally. Like bamboo that bends with the wind, adaptable yet strong. Qi Gong can boost your vitality and increases awareness of energy. Practicing in a group helps you to understand the nonverbal aspects of your connection with others.

Zen meditation involves dedicating time to stillness, contemplation and introspection. Through this practice, you may gain valuable insights or experience unanticipated revelations. Or maybe not, and that is in itself also a valuable insight.

It fosters a meaningful engagement with yourself and supports an ongoing inner journey amidst daily responsibilities.

Breath is the essential foundation of both meditation and Qi Gong, as well as life itself. We will dedicate focused time to this practice, recognising its role as the basis for all.

Details

Frequency: t.b.d. (6 x 1 day, weekly; 3 x 2 days, monthly; 2 x 3 days, monthly; 1 x 4 days and 1day next month)

Time: 09:00 – 18:30

Location: t.b.d. Perhaps a Zendo atmosphere. May also be conducted in-house at the client site.

Manual and handouts: t.b.d.

Date: Earliest time would be end of December.

Price: t.b.d.


Each day includes theory and discussion, practice sessions, Qi Gong, breathing exercises, and Zen meditation.

About your guide

Jeroen brings over 30 years of project experience to this programme and serves as a guide. His career has encompassed roles such as Program Manager, Mentor, Transformation consultant, Project owner (as head of a department), Project manager, Developer, and Marketeer across industries including waste management, publishing, and financial services.

He recognised the critical importance of project leadership soft skills early on during his work at KPMG. In 2009, Jeroen began implementing Agile methodologies. The first time was a multi-year change management initiative.

In addition to his business expertise, Jeroen has practised Zen meditation for 25 years and studied Taoist disciplines such as Qi Gong and Feng Shui. He has received transmissions (you could say a ‘master degree’) from both his Zen master and Feng Shui Grandmaster, as well as other Taoist (Grand)Masters.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION

    The logo consists of four old Chinese characters meaning:

     
    HEAVEN
    MAN
    EARTH
    HARMONY