Spaces to OpenUp

What should you do when a colleague makes an inappropriate remark? Do you brush it off or address it directly? Social discomfort and the challenge of giving honest feedback are things we all face from time to time, both in the workplace and beyond. Many of us shy away from confrontation in order to keep the peace: perhaps out of fear of conflict or of damaging a relationship. Yet, this avoidance often allows issues to fester, leading to unwanted behaviour that persists or even gets worse.

In this masterclass, Roos Vonk, professor of social psychology, will explore the subtle psychological mechanisms that shape our reactions in such moments. You’ll gain insight into how group pressure, hierarchy, fear of rejection, and our natural urge to save face can make us passive bystanders, even when we don’t intend to be. More importantly, you’ll discover how to break this pattern in a way that strengthens relationships rather than strains them.

In this session, you will learn:

What social discomfort really means, and why we’re inclined to avoid it

Practical techniques for giving honest feedback without causing harm

How to foster a culture of openness, trust, and mutual respect

Can’t attend live? No worries! When you register, you’ll receive a link in your inbox to rewatch the session afterwards.

In this session for managers, we will focus on managing emotions during feedback conversations. Emotions can be challenging because they can cloud judgment, trigger defensive reactions, and hinder effective communication. You’ll gain insights into both your own and others’ emotional reactions, understanding how these reactions influence each other and the overall conversation.

We will explore techniques to maintain a broader perspective and effectively navigate emotions during feedback exchanges. This includes learning about emotional interactions and practicing a case study together, ensuring you can approach these conversations with confidence and empathy.

For this session we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, because it is interactive and needs your participation.

Balancing team management with the demands of senior leadership can create significant pressure. Managers deal with a lot of responsibility and daily demands, which can cause a strong sense of pressure. But… How do you handle this pressure?

This interactive group session is designed to help you navigate these challenges by providing practical tools and support. By learning about mental toughness, resilience, and leveraging your strengths, we will help you increase your mental capacity to deal with pressure. Additionally, you will engage with fellow managers and share experiences and strategies.

For this session we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, because it is interactive and needs your participation.

During this session for managers, we will focus on burnout and the vital role you, as a manager, play in preventing it within your team.

We will provide you with the essential tools and knowledge to identify early warning signs of burnout. By engaging in discussions and sharing experiences with other managers, you will gain insights into practical strategies for supporting your team effectively.

To enhance our discussion, please bring a real-life example of challenges you are facing in recognizing signs of burnout or in approaching team members about this issue. Sharing your experiences will help us tailor our strategies more effectively.

Please note that this session is designed to support managers in guiding others through burn-out symptoms. If you are personally experiencing burn-out, we recommend attending THIS session tailored to individual support.

To ensure the success of this session, we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, as it will be interactive and needs your participation.

This is part 1 of our “healthy boundaries” series. A well-balanced physical and mental well-being requires boundaries. They provide security, increased self-esteem, realistic expectations, and much more.

The first step in setting boundaries is to be self-aware and know your needs. The next step is to communicate well with others so that these needs, as well as your own identity, are respected.

This group session allows you to learn more about yourself and your own limitations. It will help you to discover the challenges you may face when trying to understand and communicate your limits, so that you can find your balance.

For this session we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, because it is interactive and needs your participation.

This is part 1 of our confidence series! What’s the effect of your thoughts and beliefs on your level of confidence? In this group session, you will (together with a psychologist) work on your limiting beliefs to feel more confident. Because everybody has them but nobody tells you how to deal with them.

In the group session is enough space to ask questions, learn from each other, and gain insights and tips about limiting beliefs. Also, you’ll be working together on assignments to find out what you can do to turn your beliefs around.

For this session we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, because it is interactive and needs your participation.

In a series of two sessions you will learn how to deal with your emotions in a healthy way. During this part 1 session, we will first gain more insight into what emotions are, their function, how to recognise your emotions, and how you currently deal with (challenging) emotions. You can expect a lot of interaction, sharing, and learning from each other.

For this session we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, because it is interactive and needs your participation.

How often do the currents of worry sweep through your mind? Have you pondered the weight they carry on your mental well-being and level of anxiety?

In this group session, we will delve into the intricate realm of worries:

Understanding the underlying functions of worry

Recognizing the effects of excessive worrying

Learning effective strategies to navigate worries and ease your mind

In this session we will interact, share and learn from each other through personal stories and practical exercises. Please be aware that this session will not cover severe anxiety or panic attacks, as 1:1 sessions are more suited if you’re having these experiences.

For this session we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, because it is interactive and needs your participation.

During this session for managers we will focus on how to have a good, healthy and constructive conversation with a team member who is struggling. Facilitating a conversation in which you might feel uncomfortable or not knowing how to approach it can be very challenging.

Therefore we will explore our 5 pointers of meaningful conversation and practice a case together, aiming for you to feel empowered to have that meaningful conversation and support your team.

For this session we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, because it is interactive and needs your participation.

Are you curious about the power of your breath and how to harness it effectively? Understanding and improving your breathing is crucial as it directly affects your mental, emotional, and physical health.

Breathing is a remarkable, natural tool for relaxation, readily available to everyone. In our upcoming session, you’ll learn to master deeper breathing techniques, uncover how these practices can alter your emotional state, aid in stress relief, and enhance your sleep quality.

What you can expect:

– Foundation of Breathwork: Essential knowledge everyone should have about breathing.

– Four Versatile Techniques: Explore breathing methods tailored for various life situations.

– Practical Experience: Feel firsthand how controlled breathing can foster relaxation, sharpen focus, relieve stress, and improve sleep quality

Please ensure your camera and microphone are on, as this interactive session requires your active participation.

Discover the power of listening to transform your relationships. This interactive group session will guide you to better understand the art of listening and how it enhances communication.

What you will learn:

Insights into why listening can be challenging

A deeper understanding of what listening is and its benefits for your relationships.

Practical tools to cultivate empathetic listening.

Whether you’re looking to improve your relationships at home, work, or in social settings, this session offers a unique blend of expert insight, group collaboration, and hands-on practice to help you grow into a more empathetic and effective communicator.

For this session we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, because it is interactive and needs your participation.

If you want to take the reins in your own life instead of letting it carry you along, it’s important to be able to direct yourself towards the things you find meaningful and valuable.

Values add this direction to your life. You can think of your values as your internal compass that helps you to set the course for your life. Living by your values helps you to set goals and to make choices that suit you and make you feel fulfilled.

It’s time to discover what your values are so that you can take steps towards living in line with what matters to you. This group session helps you to discover what’s important to you and how you can live by your values.

For this session we ask you to switch your camera and microphone on, because it is interactive and needs your participation.

Our early experiences shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. The patterns we develop as children – how we deal with emotions, connect with others, and respond to stress – often stay with us into adulthood. Sometimes these patterns help us; sometimes they hold us back.

In this masterclass, psychologist Jochem Bukman will guide you through understanding how your early life experiences continue to influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviour today. Drawing on insights from systemic therapy, you’ll learn how these patterns were once useful, and how you can start transforming them to support your well-being now.

This is not about blaming your past, but about understanding it, so you can create more freedom and choice in the present.

In this masterclass, you’ll learn:

How early experiences shape your current behaviour and emotional reactions

Ways to recognize recurring patterns that no longer serve you

Practical steps to begin changing these patterns with awareness and compassion

Can’t join live? No worries! If you sign up, you’ll receive a link in your inbox after the session to watch the replay.