{"id":263311,"date":"2026-08-14T14:09:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T12:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/?p=263311"},"modified":"2026-09-02T10:46:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T08:46:32","slug":"the-elephant-in-the-boardroom-e-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/the-elephant-in-the-boardroom-e-book\/","title":{"rendered":"The Elephant in the Boardroom – e-book"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Some time ago, Jeffrey Janssen published the article The Elephant in the Boardroom<\/em>, about seven boardroom dilemmas that quietly bring organisations to a halt, unless someone names them. The piece struck a nerve: many executives recognised the patterns of avoidance, false consensus and unspoken tension.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Since then, Jeffrey has shared short reflections on the same theme on LinkedIn, inspired by The Elephant in the Boardroom<\/em> by Edgar Papke. Those posts are now collected in a new e-book: eight compact lessons on leadership, tension and the truth that too often stays off the table.<\/p>\n

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Why this book<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

The problem in organisations is rarely conflict. The problem is what we avoid. That is the core of the book. Conflict is not a sign of weak leadership, it is a sign of real leadership. Avoidance may feel sensible in the short term, but it makes the bill more expensive later.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Eight lessons covered in the book:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Conflict is not a sign of weak leadership, but of real leadership<\/li>\n
  2. Not conflict, but avoidance makes the bill more expensive later<\/li>\n
  3. Self-awareness comes before intervention<\/li>\n
  4. The leader sets the norm, not the PowerPoint<\/li>\n
  5. Intent determines whether a conversation feels like an attack or an invitation<\/li>\n
  6. Listening is not a soft skill, it is an instrument of power<\/li>\n
  7. Understanding comes before commitment<\/li>\n
  8. Commitment is more than compliance<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    <\/p>\n

    This is not management theory, it is a mirror: for every executive, director or management team that recognises when tension gets smoothed over instead of addressed.<\/p>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/De-olifant-in-de-boardroom-e-book.jpg” title_text=”The Elephant in the Boardroom e-book” url=”\/wp-content\/uploads\/De-olifant-in-de-boardroom-ebook.pdf” admin_label=”Afbeelding” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”38px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_contact_form email=”in**<\/span>@********<\/span>rk.nl<\/span>” title=”Download the e-book for free: The Elephant in the Boardroom e-book” custom_message=”Naam: %%naam%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||Email: %%email%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||Toestemming: %%toestemming%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||Nieuws ontvangen: %%nieuws%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||||et_pb_line_break_holder||Deze ebook aanvraag komt van ENG formulier” use_redirect=”on” redirect_url=”\/wp-content\/uploads\/De-olifant-in-de-boardroom-ebook.pdf” submit_button_text=”Download” _builder_version=”4.27.8″ _module_preset=”default” _unique_id=”ab35352c-d5d4-4d08-8056-aedd07a86e1c” form_field_background_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”25px” form_field_text_align=”left” background_color=”#EEEEEE” custom_button=”on” button_bg_color=”#74C0EB” button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”9px” custom_padding=”2vw|2vw|2vw|2vw|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”naam” field_title=”Name” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”email” field_title=”Email address” field_type=”email” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”toestemming” field_title=”Consent” field_type=”checkbox” checkbox_options=”%91{%22value%22:%22I give permission for my email address to be used to send the e-book.%22,%22checked%22:0,%22dragID%22:-1}%93″ fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”nieuws” field_title=”News” field_type=”checkbox” checkbox_options=”%91{%22value%22:%22I give permission to receive news from CFO Netwerk.%22,%22checked%22:0,%22dragID%22:-1}%93″ required_mark=”off” fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_contact_field][\/et_pb_contact_form][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.6″ header_2_text_color=”#23356F” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

    Recognise this in your boardroom?<\/h3>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Our partners at CFO Netwerk guide leaders and management teams who want to break these patterns. As an interim CFO or boardroom adviser, we bring calm, direction and sharpness, and help facilitate the conversation that has been avoided for too long. We combine financial reality with human dynamics, and say what needs to be said. Not out of harshness, but out of responsibility.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    Which dilemma plays out in your boardroom? What is being avoided, while everyone feels it?<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    A good conversation often starts simply. Feel free to get in touch for a no-obligation, confidential introduction, at the table or via Teams. No commitments, no complicated process. Just a good conversation, direct and without frills.<\/p>\n

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    Some time ago, Jeffrey Janssen published the article The Elephant in the Boardroom, about seven boardroom dilemmas that quietly bring organisations to a halt, unless someone names them. The piece struck a nerve: many executives recognised the patterns of avoidance, false consensus and unspoken tension.Since then, Jeffrey has shared short reflections on the same theme […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":263025,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"The Elephant in the Boardroom - e-book download","_seopress_titles_desc":"Why often remains the truth unspoken in the boardroom? Download the free e-book 'The Elephant in the Boardroom' from CFO Netwerk.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

    Vorig jaar schreef Jeffrey Janssen het artikel De olifant in de boardroom<\/em>, over zeven boardroomdilemma's die organisaties stil laten vallen, tenzij iemand ze benoemt. Het stuk raakte een zenuw: veel bestuurders herkenden zich in de patronen van vermijding, schijnconsensus en onuitgesproken spanning.<\/p>

    Sindsdien deelde Jeffrey op LinkedIn regelmatig korte reflecties op hetzelfde thema, ge\u00efnspireerd door The Elephant in the Boardroom<\/em> van Edgar Papke. Die posts zijn nu gebundeld in een nieuw e-book: acht compacte lessen over leiderschap, spanning en de waarheid die vaak te lang op tafel blijft liggen.<\/p>

    Waarom dit boek<\/h2>

    Het probleem in organisaties is meestal niet conflict. Het probleem is wat we vermijden. Dat is de kern van het boek. Conflict hoort niet bij zwak leiderschap, maar bij echt leiderschap. Vermijding voelt op korte termijn verstandig, maar maakt de rekening later duurder.<\/p>

    Acht lessen die aan bod komen:<\/p>

    1. Conflict hoort niet bij zwak leiderschap, maar bij echt leiderschap<\/li>
    2. Niet conflict, maar vermijding maakt de rekening later duurder<\/li>
    3. Zelfkennis gaat v\u00f3\u00f3r interventie<\/li>
    4. De leider zet de norm, niet de PowerPoint<\/li>
    5. Intentie bepaalt of een gesprek een aanval of een uitnodiging wordt<\/li>
    6. Luisteren is geen zachte vaardigheid, maar een machtsinstrument<\/li>
    7. Begrip gaat v\u00f3\u00f3r commitment<\/li>
    8. Commitment is meer dan compliance<\/li><\/ol>

      Geen managementtheorie, maar een spiegel: voor iedere bestuurder, directeur of managementteam dat herkent dat spanning weggemasseerd wordt in plaats van besproken.<\/p>

      \u2192 Download hier gratis het e-book: De olifant in de boardroom<\/strong><\/p>

      Herken je dit in jouw boardroom?<\/h2>

      Onze partners bij CFO Netwerk begeleiden leiders en managementteams die deze patronen willen doorbreken. Als interim CFO of boardroom adviseur brengen we rust, richting en scherpte, en helpen we het gesprek voeren dat al te lang is blijven liggen. We combineren financi\u00eble realiteit met menselijke dynamiek, en zeggen wat gezegd moet worden. Niet vanuit hardheid, maar vanuit verantwoordelijkheid.<\/p>

      Welk dilemma speelt er bij jullie? Wat wordt er vermeden, terwijl iedereen het voelt?<\/p>

      Een goed gesprek begint vaak simpel. Neem gerust contact met ons op voor een vrijblijvende en vertrouwelijke kennismaking, aan tafel of via Teams. Geen verplichtingen, geen ingewikkelde trajecten. Gewoon een goed gesprek, direct en zonder franje.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[264,178],"tags":[307,306,263,265,266,305],"class_list":["post-263311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-jeffrey-janssen","category-uncategorized","tag-download","tag-e-book","tag-jeffrey-janssen","tag-leadership","tag-organisation-change","tag-the-elephant-in-the-boardroom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263311","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=263311"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":263477,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/263311\/revisions\/263477"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/263025"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=263311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=263311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfonetwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=263311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}