Leadership, Teamwork & Ceramic Printing – More Connected Than You Think!
Last week, I finally received the ceramic pieces I printed—just like my colleagues. Our table was filled with creativity—mugs, plates, and some old crockery, all transformed in our unique designs.
Looking at these handcrafted pieces, a thought struck me: How do you know you’re in the right workplace? The answer is simple—when you genuinely feel valued and inspired. For me, the answer was right there, in those handcrafted pieces. We often cherish meaningful experiences but rarely pause to appreciate their lasting impact. We enjoy them, we move forward—but do we ever take a moment to acknowledge them?
This blog is my way of saying thank you—to the incredible colleagues who inspire me every day and give me a reason to collaborate with passion and heart.
A Perfectly Planned Surprise
How informal settings strengthen professional relationships
Back in December, our manager surprised us with a ceramic workshop led by Esther (Ontwerper) Derkx, followed by a visit to COSUN—a seamless blend of creativity, collaboration, and learning. When the invite popped up with all the details a day before, I thought: “This is going to be fun!” But as the day unfolded, I realized—it was much more than that.
Ceramic printing & Leadership more similar than we could think
As we carved, and printed, we weren’t just creating ceramic designs; we were experiencing leadership in real time:
We were collaborating sharing tools, space, and ideas—just like we do at work.
As we exchanged ideas, explained techniques, and supported one another, we naturally strengthened our interpersonal skills.
With patience and adaptability, we navigated unexpected challenges—especially those stubborn stickers on the mugs!
We were thinking outside the box—to design something exclusive, exactly what leaders need to do.
We were building our confidence by Learning a new skill, refining it, and trusting the process.
Reflection
What stood out to me was that as unique individuals in our Assessment and Leadership Development team, we still shared common leadership themes—our mottos, our values, and our ability to bring out the best in each other.
We left our ceramic pieces to be baked to imprint the designs on them and moved on to the other half of the day which took us from hands-on creativity to the world of business insights.
The Seamless Transition
The transition from the ceramic workshop to our COSUN visit was seamless. it reflected how great leadership balances personal growth with organizational learning. One moment, we were artists; the next, we were busy providing insights on succession planning. We brainstormed together, stepped out of our comfort zones, and embraced this shared learning experience, driving results.
This team day wasn’t just about creating ceramic designs; or working on succession planning. It rather reinforced the idea that development can happen in diverse ways. We left that day feeling more connected, valued, and inspired. Looking back it’s clear, a successful engagement isn’t just about what you work on. It’s about how you collaborate—and that makes all the difference.
Jagdeep Kaur
I am an HR professional and a blogger with more than 15 years of experience working in the areas of Leadership Development, General HR, Recruitment, and building start-ups. I live in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and love to write about my experiences and those of other expats in this beautiful country. My blogs, interviews, and poetry are a pure reflection of my personal interactions, thoughts, and experiences.