Sometimes things turn out a little differently than planned. Our Agile Champion Connect session was originally scheduled for September 18, but that date turned out to be extremely popular with many organizations for PI events and trainings. And well… of course, we want as many Champions as possible to be able to join. That’s why we’re moving the session a bit further down the calendar.

• The new date is Thursday, November 6.
• Location: Restaurant Seven, Utrecht (5 minutes’ walk from Utrecht Central Station)
• Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, followed by networking drinks
• Participation is free of charge

The program will be just as inspiring and challenging as you’ve come to expect from Agile Connect. We invite speakers who share their real-life cases – real challenges, real stories. Afterwards, you’ll work together in an interactive way to explore possible solutions and co-create the journey towards change and improvement.

Confirmed speakers so far:

• Mark Heistek – Agile/DevOps Transformation Coach at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, sharing insights and challenges from guiding the IT organization to strengthen delivery together with the business.
• Karin van Ooijen – Experienced transformation coach at Allianz Direct, inviting you to explore: “How can I inspire and encourage teams to embrace self-organization within a Laloux Orange organization?”
• Els Verkaik – Agile Coach at Schiphol Group, exploring her department’s subculture and helping you discover how to spark change when people say, “Things are fine the way they are.”
• Erik Cremers – Business & Information Consultant at APG, recently completed his PhD on multi-team dynamics, sharing insights from this fascinating field.
• Patricia Bebelaar – Agile Consultant and Organizational Coach, sharing lessons learned from her agile transformation work and challenging you with a practical case.
• Edwin Clerkx – Agile Coach, sharing practical insights from the agile transformation at Brabant Water and presenting a hands-on challenge to dive into.

Because the date is shifting, we kindly ask everyone to register again. This also applies to introducees (friends of change). You are more than welcome to bring someone along – just let us know in the form so we can plan accordingly.

• There are only 50 spots available, so don’t wait too long to sign up.
• Register using the button at the bottom of this page (just scroll down a bit).

We’re really looking forward to welcoming you in Utrecht on November 6. With inspiring stories, interactive sessions, and of course, a relaxed networking drink to close the day together.
See you then!

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SESSION IS MOVED TO NOVEMBER 6TH. REGISTER HERE: https://amigos.nu/en/agile-champion-connect-new-date-thursday-november-6/

On Thursday, September 18, we will bring the Agile community together for a new Agile Champion Connect session in Utrecht. This is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new people, and exchange experiences across different organizations.

We’ve put together another exciting program for you, featuring a number of inspiring speakers who will share their real-life challenges. In an interactive setting, you will then work together to explore possible solutions and co-create the journey toward change and improvement.

We can already announce the first speakers – and more will follow:

• Roy Gielen & Mark Heistek – on the approach to agile working in a completely different industry: the Port of Antwerp.
• Karin van Ooijen (fellow Champion) – on her challenge at Allianz Direct (Laloux: orange organization) to inspire and encourage teams to embrace self-organization.
• Els Verkaik – on making company culture visible in agile working at Schiphol and how the Behavior Game can spark movement.
• Johan Vink, Product Owner in the educational materials sector – on his challenge: balancing business value and technical quality.

Practical details

• Location: Restaurant Seven, Utrecht (5 min walk from Utrecht Central Station)
• Date: Thursday, September 18
• Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, followed by networking drinks
• Participation is free of charge
• There are only 50 spots available. Registration is therefore required so we know when we’re full.
• You may bring a guest (a friend of change) – please make sure they register as well.
• You can register via the link at the bottom of this page.

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It’s time to connect again and talk about Agile in practice. On Thursday, June 26, from 15:00 to 17:00 CET, we’re hosting the next Agile Connect Event – fully online, interactive, and full of inspiration.

Whether you’re in the middle of a transformation or simply curious about how other organizations are becoming more agile, this event is your chance to share experiences, ask questions, and help others grow.

What to Expect:

• Bring in your own Agile topics or challenges (no pressure – it’s optional!)

• Support others by sharing your perspective and experience

• Discover new insights and practical solutions

• Connect with professionals from other organizations who are also on the path to greater agility

This session is open to everyone driving change in their organization – not just certified Agile Champions. So feel free to invite colleagues as well!

Ready to join?
Just fill in the RSVP form (link below) to receive your confirmation and the event details by email.

Let’s inspire and learn from each other. See you on June 26!

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Accelerating and resting may seem to oppose each other, but in reality, they reinforce one another. Rest is necessary to accelerate sustainably, and after acceleration, structured rest is again essential. Holidays or planned moments of rest, weekends, and daily sleep are structured moments of rest that help us ‘slow down to speed up’. This seems logical, but it’s not always easy. For many people, it’s challenging to step out of high gear. You’ve likely heard people say, “The vacation or weekend was too short to disconnect from work,” or “I had trouble sleeping because I was still thinking about work in my sleep.”

The reverse situation is also probably familiar: accelerating again after rest. The inbox is overflowing, meetings are piling up, and the daily routine suddenly feels all-consuming. Sometimes it seems like that restful break was just a distant dream.

How can we make the necessary transition between speeding up, resting, and speeding up again, more smoothly?

By returning to the six core values for agility:

1. Together
2. Learning
3. Value
4. Simplicity
5. Fun
6. Doing

Together, we can improve the transition from rest to acceleration. By consulting with colleagues and sharing tasks, we leverage each other’s strengths. No one has to do it alone; collaboration enables us to adapt quickly, inspiring and motivating one another. This applies just as much to the transition from acceleration to rest, where mutual support and agreements can make a difference.

Learning is also crucial. After a period of rest and reflection, let’s use that time to try new things. Perhaps there are better ways to tackle our tasks or new skills we can learn to perform our work more effectively. An open mindset helps us learn faster and work smarter instead of harder.

Additionally, focusing on Value is important. During the rest period, we could concentrate on what truly matters: rest, relaxation, reflection, health, and fun. Returning to the acceleration phase, we can maintain this value-oriented focus by prioritizing tasks that truly add value, avoiding unnecessary busyness and focusing on what really counts.

Maintaining Simplicity is essential. After a period of rest, work can quickly feel overwhelming. By keeping processes simple and focusing on core activities, we avoid getting bogged down in bureaucracy. A straightforward approach makes us more flexible and effective.

And let’s not forget Fun! Fun isn’t only for rest moments; it’s also part of acceleration. Humor and a positive attitude can make a big difference in maintaining momentum.

Finally, Doing. Instead of complaining about returning to routine, we can simply get started. By taking action, we set the first steps toward a productive and positive acceleration period, with a view toward the next rest moment.

Before you know it, you’re back in the “flow” of continuous acceleration.

In our book, Expedition Agility, we start with these six values for good reason. The values serve as an anchor to always return to, the foundation for our thinking and actions. In the bustle of daily life, these core values provide support and structure.

So, embrace these values for a smooth transition from rest to acceleration, and vice versa!

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Last week we had a great milestone: Our book Expeditie wendbaarheid is at the printer and can be pre-sold! Yoehoe, the flag can fly! It took a while to work hard to meet the agreed deadline, but then we have something that we are really proud of. We can’t wait to get our hands on it! If you are already curious, we expect to have the book in Dutch and English on the shelves of bol.com at the beginning of September.
Did you know that this book was written especially for you, friend of change? It is your hand luggage for the journey to agility of you and your organization. It is for people who believe that they can make a difference, can take people with them and together make the organization a little better every day. Together, with pleasure and in a sustainable way, change things.
How? Is the question we answer with the book. In the book you will find our experiences and approach to helping organizations change. It is written as a journey of discovery, where you will discover step by step why your organization is not yet so agile. It is a graphically beautifully designed workbook that remains open very conveniently when you start working with it. You will find no less than 76 fun work forms that you can use very practically to bring about change. By structuring and bundling our experiences, it has already helped us solve practical situations. We hope that will be the case for you too.
The proverbial final steps were tough. Nevertheless, we look back with pleasure on the past years in which we have written and shaped the book. Each of us had our own role in this. By continuing to inspire each other and questioning critically, we have been able to make the book a little better each time. Fortunately, it did not become an endless iteration and we are now really finished with the Dutch version. The translation into English will be done this summer and then it will be time for the book launch! We will keep you informed!
Do you want to be one of the first to receive a copy of the book Expeditie wendbaarheid? Then reserve the book here now, and you can be sure that it will land on your doorstep in September.

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