Books and Publications
Explore the ideas, dialogue frameworks, and leadership stories that have shaped the Kgotla® approach over more than two decades.
COMING SOON
We are writing a new book “Solving problems in Harmony”
A field-tested method for resolving conflict without division. Drawing on decades of dialogue-based leadership work with organisations like Rabobank, KLM, and the Red Cross, this book pairs African Kgotla wisdom with evocative etchings by artist Jan Montyn to help leaders diagnose root problems, surface hidden barriers, and reach solutions their people genuinely embrace.
Full Library
About the authors
WILLEM DE LIEFDE
Willem H.J. de Liefde was born in 1941 in Coevorden. He began his career as a navigator in the Merchant Navy with the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd and concluded his nautical career as an officer in the Royal Navy.
Willem then studied economics and held various management and executive positions in Europe, the United States, and Africa for multinationals such as Ericsson, Xerox, Rockwool, and Draeger. His expertise lies in change management, employee inspiration, and team building.
MARTIJN DE LIEFDE
Martijn de Liefde founded The Kgotla® Company after discovering the transformative power of dialogue-led leadership in Botswana. His international career spans branding, corporate real estate and retail banking design before he turned to facilitating large-scale organisational dialogue.
He has traveled extensively around the world and accumulated a great understanding of cultures and diversity.
KLAUS ELLE
Artist and philosopher Klaus Elle was born in Leipzig, East Germany. He has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years. He plays a key role in our Kgotla® Process, helping to facilitate all kinds of dialogues thanks to his unconventional views and contagious imaginative skills. His input enables people to see how they may adopt a holistic approach.
Using art he helps participants of our Kgotla® sessions access the wisdom they hold inside themselves by helping them become aware of the role their conscious and unconscious, and rational and emotional, processes play in their approach to decision-making, change or their lives and work in general.
“This book is a meeting of souls from Africa and Europe in an attempt to find common ground. It is written for family, friends, colleagues known and unknown, for those who find themselves at the crossroads of their lives, or their careers, and for those who are searching and yearning for a source of change. It is for those who are willing to dig deeper, to look beyond the surface of things. It is an invitation to all to learn from a lekgotla a continuing journey into the future, one driven by caring and commitment to common ground.”
— Dr. Maki Mandela on Willem de Liefde's book 'Kgotla, leadership through dialogue'Ready to get started?
Let’s set up a call to discuss where you’d like to take your company and how we can help you get there.