‘If it doesn’t feel right, I don’t do it’

Mohamed el Achkar serves on the Board of Directors of Woonstad Rotterdam and holds several supervisory roles. But ask him about his compass as a leader, and he gives a surprisingly simple answer: his gut feeling.

‘Throw me into a working-class neighbourhood. That’s where I feel strongest. Face to face with the people who really matter.’ That says a great deal about how Mohamed experiences leadership. Connection is his starting point, and intuition is the instrument through which he makes that connection.

Energy as a compass

Mohamed describes intuition as ‘energy based on stored experience.’ For him it’s not a mystical phenomenon — it’s a practical and familiar tool. ‘The closer I stay to my intuition, the stronger the curve towards results.’

That energy also shapes how he builds his environment. When forming his management team, he looked for people with passion and drive. ‘I run on people who believe in something. That energy.’

Seeing talent others don’t see

Mohamed’s sharpest intuitive antenna is reserved for people. He tells the story of a woman he took on years ago for a work experience placement at the municipality of The Hague, a modest role, barely visible. ‘I encouraged her and just watched her grow. She has since taken several wonderful steps in her career.’

That kind of ability — spotting talent that gets overlooked — cannot be captured in an assessment, he says. Better to listen to your intuition.

The system blocks it

There is also a sharp observation. Mohamed sees how intuition is systematically organised away: ‘We are trapped in a collective system. Everything has to be discussed and agreed collectively. Intuition gets blocked in the process.’ His response is practical: he has stopped attending meetings and gatherings where he couldn’t make a difference anyway.

Intuition, for Mohamed, is no special gift. It’s simply how he works. Every day. But it doesn’t work on command. Mohamed has learned that it requires stillness. He cycles and walks regularly, even when things are busy. ‘Grounding things’ help him stay close to himself — and that’s what allows him to access his intuition.

> Mohamed is one of the 27 leaders interviewed for The Subtle Superpower. Order the book here.