training & development
powerful learning
“If you look closely at a frog’s tail, you will see that it has none.”
Lao-Tzu (Chinese philosopher, 6th century BC)
In order to arrive at groundbreaking sustainable solutions, it is necessary to penetrate deeper into the layers of daily reality. To make maximum use of your full imagination and free thinking space.
Our training courses are therefore characterized by the inseparable combination of:
- changing your perspective and learning to see from multiple perspectives, ‘stretching’ your brain, abandoning your limiting beliefs;
- replacing duality and discussion with exploration and dialogue;
- applying universal methodology and ways of thinking such as Systems Thinking, System Dynamics and divergent thinking;
- discovering the (im)possibilities of our brain.
Our training courses are intended for professionals in the design and implementation practice, administrators and managers. In short, for anyone who regularly has to deal with complex issues, multiple problems, complicated dilemmas and contradictions.
Free (thinking) space is an absolute condition for the creation of original and inspired work in the visual arts. It is not without reason that we make a foray into this world of creation in some training courses.
We invite renowned artists to take participants on specific assignments, but also to explain how they achieve or get away from that free creative space.
The training and simulation games can also be followed in the design studio of Jos Metselaar and Madieke Fleuren. A place where special art arises from free space.
ateliers in de Krayenhoffkazerne in Nijmegen.
basic training Layers of reality
Uncovering layers of reality, an intensive introduction to systems thinking and brain theories.
The universal ways of thinking of Systems Thinking and System Dynamics are discussed, but also the (im)possibilities of our brain in dealing with and solving complex situations.
But also the pitfalls that we easily fall into when it comes to confronting a complex reality.
The practical introduction and theoretical introduction is interactive. This means that we work as much as possible with real-life case studies of current examples that occur in society.
duration: 1 day, including lunch.
multiple, non-linear viewing & thinking
Training in broadening the different ways you look at an issue. In a special day program we work with cases and examples from living and working areas where complex problems are up for grabs.
The focus is on multiple viewing. For example, by changing your perspective and making less obvious combinations. By not stopping your search too quickly, but looking again from a delay.
You will be trained in a range of systemic techniques based on tough case studies. With this tool you look for information that would remain hidden with a single glance. You also assess the value, validity and impact of this information.
duration: 1 day, including lunch
revealing questioning
To actually find hidden information, connections and relationships, the ways you search determine the result.
In this training we go far beyond the well-known conversation skills. We choose a methodology that makes it possible to penetrate deeply into an issue very quickly.
With a series of challenging practical cases, we train interview and conversation techniques with divergent and systemic questioning and probing as the central theme. We also consider the dynamics of information, the unexpected locations, combinations and connections.
In short, searching and finding essential information in complex situations takes on an extra dimension after this training.
duration: 1 day, including lunch
stretching the brain
An essential condition for being able to look more broadly at a complex issue is the flexibility of our way of thinking.
In this training we will work on setting the scope of our thinking and imagination in motion. The physical limitations of our brain are discussed, but also the wide range of limiting beliefs that we have internalized. We look at how this hinders the resilience of our thinking, creativity and ingenuity.
Using challenging practical cases, we investigate our mental models and the way in which we can positively influence them.
duration: 1 day, including lunch
jumping into the free thinking space
New York, Inge Hondebrink photography
In this training we are directly introduced to entrances into the free thinking space.
We’re jumping right into the middle of it.
In addition to the practical application of Systems Thinking, System Dynamics and divergent thinking, we will work in the world of visual arts, in which free creative space is a determining condition. Key question: how does an artist open up that space?
Based on the practice of professional photography, in this training you will create a unique photo image by looking more consciously from different perspectives. We make combinations in which cognition and intuition, methodology and free application are not mutually exclusive, but reinforce each other.
Together with Jos Metselaar, expert in the application of systems thinking, systems dynamics, divergent thinking and visual artist and Inge Hondebrink, renowned documentary photographer, we jump into the free thinking space for a day and determine how you can implement those jumps in your own professional practice .
training & intervention
The approach in this training is twofold:
- we carry out a system-dynamic analysis, focused on our own situation that seems to be stuck, keeps repeating itself or seems unsolvable;
- at the same time, we teach the participants how to jointly expose the layers of such a situation and gain insight into decisions and measures that provide peace and space.
The layers of the situation, the ‘hard’ as well as the ‘soft’ aspects, come into focus and it becomes visible which actions can have which consequences. A direct way to thoroughly get to know the dynamics of the system in which you find yourself.
This training is fully tailor-made, where the guarantee of a safe learning and working environment is an essential condition.
course Layers of Reality
Although we know very well that we cannot solve problems with the thinking that created the problem, we do so anyway, every day, in many situations. After all, our brain doesn’t like changes very much. It is familiar to choose proven paths, best practices.
However, to actually give a development process wings, more is needed than sailing around the familiar port.
We therefore designed a multi-day course that takes you out of the sea inlet! With which you broaden your view enormously, learn to structurally change your perspective and learn to make creative use of the endless potential of available information.