Caleidoscope Academy

Take a different perspective

Programme overview

Caleidoscope Academy aims to increase the effectiveness of team members and leaders in an intercultural context.

We do this by helping you to recognise and understand cultural patterns, both in yourself and in others.

Increase your effectiveness
in culturally diverse teams

Being part of a diverse team means being confronted with a multitude of norms and behaviors based on different sets of values. These value patterns give us a sense of what is good, right, and what works.

In culturally diverse work environments, such as global teams in private or public organizations, a shared pattern of values is missing. This makes it harder to cooperate effectively; team members do not identify with each other, perceive each other as part of different groups, and sometimes do not recognize each other as of equal value.

We usually do not realize that we do everything from a certain value-based point of view, until we experience a tension in our interaction with our environment. This happens when we are confronted with people who hold different value patterns. Only then do we realize how difficult it is to change our perspective, even if we wanted to.

We support leaders and members of culturally diverse teams to recognise and understand different value patterns, both in themselves and in others. By engaging in reflective dialogue, in which we invite all value patterns to be present without judgment, we create room to approach differences in a humanizing, inclusive and loving manner.

Caleidoscope metaphor

The caleidoscope metaphor represents our view on working in teams in which team meambers hold different value patterns. By turning the caleidoscope, the pattern shifts and we are introduced to a different perspective. As each different pattern reflects a new vision, it opens up the possibility to discuss differences without judgement.

A humanistic perspective

We approach intercultural leadership and cooperation from a humanistic perspective. The pillars of the humanistic ethos serve as guidelines for all that we do.

Human nature

People are more than just homo economicus. In the humanistic view of human nature, (wo)man is a holistic being, a being with dignity, a need for connection, and a sense of meaning. This view leads to a different way of leading and organizing, aiming to create wellbeing rather than wealth, putting dignity at the core of leadership practices.

Human dignity

Human dignity can be either ignored, respected, protected or promoted. In order to flourish, people need to feel dignified in three ways: first, human dignity needs to be protected based on a shared humanity in which we are all equal. Second, human dignity needs to be respected in its various forms, as people are free to choose and express their social and cultural value patterns. Third, human dignity can be promoted through love and care for ourselves and others inviting personal growth and realization.

A holistic view

We do not isolate any aspect of the human person to explain behavior. It is not just our personality, our experiences, our relations, our culture, our gender or our age that causes behavior, it is always a combination of all these things, and many other influences. We believe people act and interact because we are unique, because we are part of several social and cultural groups, and we are all part of the human species. Recognizing and understanding value patterns can help understand ourselves and others better, but it can never predict behavioral outcomes.

How can we support you?

In-company training

Coaching and workshops

Learn more

In-company research

Action research

Learn more

Executive
education

Lectures

Learn more

Speaking engagements

Key notes and webinars

Learn more

About Danaë

My name is Danaë Huijser. I am a business psychologist and researcher, specialized in intercultural organizational behavior. I support intercultural team leaders and members in dealing with individual and cultural differences at work. Approaching intercultural leadership and cooperation from a humanistic perspective, my services reflect a holistic view on the human person, based on inherent human dignity, appreciation for cultural variety, and genuine care for the unique individual.

I am also an external PhD candidate, researching the intercultural potential of humanistic management. I specifically focus on the promotion of human dignity in intercultural teams.

More about us

Caleidoscope Academy

Take a different perspective