Follow the design of life itself.
aim your attention to these three elements, and you'll be well on your way.
movement
The premise is simple: everything in life is constantly in motion. Stagnation goes against nature. If you are struggling or unable to resolve problems, you are inadvertently working against nature.
connection
What connections have you made unconsciously that result in stagnation? Forge connections that restore movement. That way, you can fully embrace your life.
bandwith
Going against your nature costs energy. It consumes bandwidth meant for what you actually want and are capable of doing. You pay for it with your strength and zest for life.
The basics
On connections and systems
Systemic work is about understanding how connections between parts are organized. When they are well-organized, you experience abundance, a sense of ease, and well-being. But when they are strained, you lose energy, get caught in patterns, and everything becomes an uphill battle. Everything is interconnected; nothing stands in isolation. When these connections are in good order, things flow naturally (and indeed, most things do go well on their own).
Moving Questions is a form of systemic work that focuses explicitly on examining—and restoring—those connections. It is a way of allowing things to go well for you.
Definition
Of a system according to systemic wisdom
A system is a whole
made up of parts.
These parts are interconnected.
Information and energy flow through these connections.
This allows the system to form a whole and acquire its own identity. It becomes something other than the sum of its parts.
Connections
Each with its own contribution to the wellbeing of a system.
Each with its own contribution to the wellbeing of a system.
At some point, you chose the house where you currently live. You had a good reason for doing so. Perhaps you were pursuing a specific lifestyle, working within a certain budget, or simply found it to be the only house available. The reason you chose this home represents its "origin." As long as that reason remains relevant, the home has not yet reached its full "destination" for you—there is still untapped potential. If your circumstances have changed, however, you will likely find less enjoyment in living there.
The connection between "origin" and "destination" is therefore about the relevance of the interaction. Does it still matter? This applies to all kinds of connections: not just your home, but also your partner, the work you do, and whether you are an employee or an entrepreneur.
What belongs (and what therefore doesn't)
The connection defined by "what belongs" establishes boundaries. Not everything needs to be part of a specific system; otherwise, it would be literally endless. This connection is often referred to as "inclusion" or "completeness."
The crux of this connection lies in making the right choice regarding what belongs and what does not. This requires precision: if something does not belong but is given space anyway, it drains the available energy. Consequently, this comes at the expense of the parts that do belong.
Conversely, if something belongs but is not permitted to exist (such as a taboo or a secret), energy must be expended to keep it suppressed. For instance, when keeping a secret, you must remain hyper-vigilant if the conversation veers toward that topic; you have to lie or be evasive. All the attention and energy devoted to this is no longer available for what you truly...
Organization (or, in classical terms: order)
In the course of your life, you have likely organized a few things. In your kitchen, the knives have a designated spot; you have devised a system for managing your email; and you have a morning routine. Having a fixed place and a set time creates a sense of calm and clarity. You do not need to waste energy every day looking for a knife to butter your bread. Systems work the same way.
The ‘organization’ connection (often referred to as ‘ordering’) ensures that every component has its own designated place. If something or someone deviates from the norms associated with that place, the connections become tangled. Energy must then be spent figuring out the situation. This leads to further problems and causes things to get stuck.
The ‘organization’ connection concerns how connections are structured so that interaction can occur naturally and effortlessly.
Origin and destination
The ‘maintenance’ connection ensures that connections can endure over time. This requires a kind of balance between what you contribute and what you receive in return. Just think of a time when you received a gift that was too lavish. The purpose of giving a gift is to affirm or strengthen the relationship (or connection).
However, if the gift is excessive, it creates awkwardness and actually weakens the relationship. Many people avoid the giver because they feel obliged to reciprocate in a way that restores the balance. Other terms often used to describe this connection include ‘exchange’ and ‘dynamic balance’.
In this way, the ‘maintenance’ connection enables a response to the outside world and allows for flexibility and adaptation.
contact
keynotes
Presentations or workshops for groups of 25–500 people in Dutch or English. Focused more on content than on entertainment. Always tailored to your needs.
training
Always focused on integrating—and thus applying—systemic intelligence in the ways organizations think, make decisions, act, and manage. A favorite among leaders, HR professionals, auditors, and board members. Online or on site.
organization coach
Facilitating and guiding difficult conversations—whether because they keep circling back to the same issues, seem hopeless, involve a problem that’s too big, require a clear direction, or involve interpersonal conflict. Starting at the management team level; never on an individual basis.