We live in a world of figures, targets and control. In that kind of environment, intuition quickly gets pushed into the background. The Subtle Superpower invites leaders and anyone interested to listen to that quiet inner voice that can tell you so much more about what is really going on. About the dynamics between people, about strategic questions, about how to act in the moment.
The first part of the book offers insights into leadership. Benita Plesch shows how soft strengths such as humility, connection and intuition actually make leaders more effective. The second part explores intuition in depth. You will find practical tools for bringing intuition into the conversation and developing it further. And you will discover that intuition is not some vague, woolly concept, nor is it the opposite of rational thought. Quite the contrary: intuition and reasoning belong together and bring out the best in each other.
Benita draws on her own experience and on research, both in the field of leadership and in the areas of intuition, creativity, inspiration and everything connected to them. She and co-authors Piet Roodenburg and Ellen Kleinlangevelsloo also interviewed 27 leaders from business, healthcare, government, defence, the arts and education. Above all, this is an accessible and practical guide. Whether you want to strengthen your leadership or simply understand how intuition works, you will find real examples and genuinely inspiring ideas throughout.
The Subtle Superpower is a book that will not only help you lead with greater awareness and confidence, but also show you how to make a real difference in a complex world, with kindness, connection and intuition.
Benita (Manchester,1948) began her career as a medical biologist before making a move into organisational consultancy within the Dutch civil service. She held several senior positions at the Ministry of the Interior, including as the first Director-General of the General Civil Service. In 2001 she moved into the private sector as a consultant, coach and leadership developer.
Throughout her working life, Benita pursued many courses and programmes in which intuition played a central role, continually deepening her understanding and application of it. In her training and coaching work, she always encouraged people to learn through direct experience. Even now, in semi-retirement, she speaks about intuitive leadership with the same passion as ever.
How does leadership really work, and what part does intuition play in it? These are the two questions that have fascinated Benita Plesch throughout her life and ultimately led to this book: The Subtle Superpower.
What others say about The Subtle Superpower:
writing coach, Trendwatcher of the Year 2015-2016, co-author of Durf het verschil te maken and The Smell of the Place
systemic leadership coach and author of Het verborgen leiderschap van oudste dochters
executive, supervisory board member, leadership coach and author of Verborgen leiderschap van oudste Dochters (Hidden Leadership of Eldest daughter)s.
organisational consultant and co-author of Onderweg, Onmacht and Wederopbouw
The Subtle Superpower is the result of a successful collaboration between Benita Plesch, Ellen Kleinlangevelsloo and Piet Roodenburg.
Ellen works as a freelance writer and content strategist for a wide range of clients. The idea of writing a book about leadership had been with Benita for years, but over time she had more or less let it go. Until Ellen came along and met her for an interview as part of the Staat van de Uitvoering project. That conversation led to a striking article titled ‘Het moet je kunnen schelen’ (‘You have to care’), which to Benita’s surprise generated a great deal of response and confirmed that there was interest in the subject.
It led to the question of whether Ellen would like to write the book about intuition and leadership. Benita: ‘I was struck by how well Ellen understood me and how beautifully and simply she could put complex ideas into words. She was a true partner and sounding board throughout the whole process.’ From conversations with Benita and Piet, and from interviews with other leaders, Ellen found the main themes and shaped them all into a clear, thoroughly enjoyable book.
In 2002, Benita and Piet Roodenburg carried out a research project for the De Baak leadership institute, looking at how leaders learn. At the time, they were both board members of a consultancy firm in the public sector. That research, and the leadership model it produced, form an important part of the book.
Piet has been closely involved as a friend and adviser throughout the whole process. Over the years he and Benita have worked together many times, and have always found it a genuinely enriching experience: their personalities, expertise and backgrounds complement each other in a natural way. Piet has worked across government and education as a consultant, project manager, interim manager, trainer and coach. When Benita began thinking seriously about writing a book on leadership, it seemed obvious to do it together with Piet, not only because of his deep knowledge and experience in leadership and intuition, but because their collaboration consistently leads to new insight and greater depth.
In this book, Benita Plesch shares insights, stories and practical tips about leadership and intuition. About how, as a leader, you can learn to trust your instincts, draw on your softer strengths and make better decisions. Let yourself be inspired to give intuition a real place in your work, your leadership and your personal development.
Do you have a story about following your intuition? An encounter that felt too meaningful to be mere coincidence? An important decision you made against all rational logic?
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master2026-05-15 12:55:392026-05-14 15:14:33What were the surprises during your research for the book??
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master2026-05-10 12:55:072026-05-15 12:11:55Can your intuition be wrong? And how do you prevent that?
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master2026-05-05 00:46:372026-05-17 09:00:57How do you write a book together? You just do it…This post is also available in:
