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By Esther Barfoot

BAM. My client drops her head on the table with a thump. ‘I.AM.LOSING.IT.’ Another day maxed out with meetings has squeezed any last whisp of joy out of her. In a hoarse voice, from just above the table, I hear: ‘In every meeting, I keep asking myself “WHAT is the point?!’”

A little later, when she has recovered slightly, she sighs: ‘Esther, there is so much talk about irrelevant topics, but the elephant in the room is never mentioned. Nobody dares to speak up. No one is brave enough to take the next step. There isn’t a single creative or original thought to be found. And the colleague from Communications! She’s the worst! She has mastered the art of waiting and seeing, if she is not actually trying to prevent change from happening.

 

I am always so relieved, when I finally get to go to a meeting with you. You are my oasis in the system world!’

 

Oasis in the system world

I blush a little and chuckle, when my client comes out with those words. But to be honest: It is not the first time I hear them. Well, maybe the ‘oasis in the system world’-thing is. But it is not uncommon for a client to call out something along the lines of ‘Finally, a fun meeting!’ or ‘My favourite meeting!’ when they come in. Or something like: ‘The best moment of my day!’ Or simply: ‘Yoo-hoo, Essie!’


There is always curiosity in a conversation with you.'


But why is it that I provide that ‘best moment of the day’? I have an inkling, but I decide to ask a few clients anyway. Tanja Oosterveld, organisational advisor at the municipality of Rotterdam: ‘There is always curiosity in a conversation with you. Curiosity about each other, about the world. Also, in a conversation with you I am able to be truly present. Anything that is alive in me, is allowed to be there. If I have a worry – be it business or personal – it is allowed to exist. With you, the whole person is invited.

 

‘And’, Tanja continues, ’because there is trust, there is room to create and work together on things that matter. I always come out of our meetings with a new insight. In other meetings, I am always the creative one. I am the one who has to disrupt. But in the conversations with you, we both disrupt. One of us is always saying: ‘Hang on, is there another way?”


You have a bubbly energy and really connect.’


 

Artist’s mindset
‘You have a bubbly energy and really connect,’ says Hester Schuiteboer, organisational consultant at Nissewaard municipality. ‘Whether it’s with me or with other colleagues joining in, I see you doing it. And the social commitment I see in you, causes you to perceive different things from most people and that produces fascinating conversations and insights. I think you have a kind of artist’s mindset: the inquisitive attitude combined with the social engagement. But it’s the overall picture I like: the clothes you wear and your hair-do. The overall impression you make.’


 

So, if you (the reader) ever wonder:

  • Who will create with me a cool, inspiring, creative communication that energises this big, complex change?
  • Who could revitalise our stalled culture change, organisational development or transformation?
  • Who could help us move forward this transformation?
  • Who would help us set up and breathe life into a network or movement of change agents?
  • Who will help me (or my organisation) get inspired again in this long, difficult change process?
  • Who is there to support me in this difficult, arduous and lengthy transition or transformation?
  • Who helps me find the words, arguments, strategy, theory & practice to what I feel more intuitively about this change?
  • Who helps me pitch the needed change and generate support in my company or organisation?

 

Call, email or app me for a cup of coffee and a chat!

Who knows, maybe I will be your best part of the day too.

 

Esther Barfoot

06-47586113

estherbarfoot@gmail.com

 

 


Recommendations

John Jacobs, strategic advisor & initiator Water Sensitive Rotterdam, municipality of Rotterdam: ‘Esther is a excellent professional who has earned her spurs in the field of communication, participation and the development of bottom-up initiatives. What is special about Esther is that she is an expert strategist, but also a go-getter when it comes to coming up with and implementing (wild) ideas and events.

 

We at Water Sensitive Rotterdam have demonstrably benefited from Esther’s talent – both in setting up and expanding the movement. Key words that sum up Esther are: proactive, creative, challenging, connecting (but not weary to confront when necessary) and enormously involved. In addition to the above, Esther is a wonderful person and I am happy to work with her.’

 

Harold Janssen, DeLimes | New Organising:  ‘Always looking energetically for what is going round, what is developing, what is unfinished, what is about to emerge. Curious, looking beyond the self-evident. And then making those ideas, stories and unfinished thoughts available to others, who can carry them further. Through whatever medium. Communication activist, she says. I would say: knowledge broker.’

 

Lily Martens, international facilitator, storytelling expert:
‘There are spunky journalists with a great pen, creative magazine editors with style and inspiring presenters with flair. Esther Barfoot combines it all. Add to that her overview, vigor and ambition. Exactly what this multimedial time needs!’

 

Fred Hermsen, Maters & Hermsen: ‘Esther stands out because of her sharp-wittedness and substantive commitment. She sets her teeth into topics, comes up with meaningful angles and doesn’t give up in searching for the best sources or interview candidates. Always with an obvious and cheerful friendliness. Complacency is alien to her.’

 

Luc van Beers, Proof Reputation: ‘Esther is an associative thinker with great empathy and understanding of the experience of her target audience.’