The Netherlands, Season 08, Male, English, Business Leader, Frits Bussemaker, Technology / Automation / Web 3.0 / Metaverse

Joris Merks, Author & Leadership Trainer, Founder of Managing Without Power B.V.

Posted on by inknuts
06
Oct

Joris Merks, Author & Leadership Trainer, Founder of Managing Without Power B.V.

  • Most books focus on AI strategy and governance rather than using AI to become a better manager.
  • Joris Merks’ book offers a practical framework and more than 100 AI prompts for everyday leadership.

Podcast

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Overview

In this engaging episode of TBCY, host Frits Bussemaker reconnects with leadership trainer and author Joris Merks to discuss his latest book, Leading with AI, and the evolving landscape of management in the age of artificial intelligence. The conversation explores practical applications of AI in leadership, addresses common concerns, and offers forward-looking perspectives on the future of teams and technology.

02:09 | What Makes Joris Merks’ AI and Leadership Book Different?

  • Most books focus on AI strategy and governance rather than using AI to become a better manager.
  • Joris Merks’ book offers a practical framework and more than 100 AI prompts for everyday leadership.
  • While there is a similar book, it lacks hands-on managerial experience.

05:50 | Why Should Senior Leaders Actively Use AI?

  • Senior leaders often talk about AI but rarely use it daily, unlike junior employees.
  • Young employees may use AI secretly because they are concerned about how their managers perceive it.
  • Joris Merks encourages managers to actively use AI, set an example, and experience its benefits and challenges firsthand.

10:00 | Who Can Benefit Most From AI in Leadership?

  • The core audience is experienced leaders who did not grow up with AI.
  • AI makes practical leadership skills, such as feedback and role-playing, more accessible to junior managers.
  • AI tools and prompts can help leaders prepare for real conversations and support ongoing personal development.

12:19 | How Can AI Support People-Centric and Performance-Centric Leadership?

  • The framework balances people-centric and performance-centric leadership.
  • AI prompts can support coaching, career conversations, objective setting, strategy cascading, and administrative tasks.
  • This approach can save time while improving leadership and team performance.

18:48 | What Are the Risks of Using AI in Leadership?

  • Key concerns include bias, hallucinations, loss of the human touch, and dependence on US-based platforms.
  • Lazy AI use, such as simply asking AI to “do this for me,” differs from using AI collaboratively as a context-rich sparring partner.
  • Effective prompts encourage dialogue, context, critical thinking, and deeper analysis.

32:30 | How Can AI Broaden Your Leadership Style?

  • AI can broaden and enrich a leader’s style rather than force them into a particular approach.
  • Leaders can use AI to explore and apply alternative management frameworks quickly, helping close the gap between theory and practice.

37:03 | What Surprises Leaders Most About AI?

  • Many leaders are surprised by how well AI can understand human situations, coach them, and challenge their thinking.
  • People who do not use AI often view prompt writing as programming, while regular users see it as a form of dialogue.
  • Leaders increasingly recognize AI as an advanced assistant rather than simply a machine.

40:34 | How Will AI Transform Leadership and Teams?

  • AI already performs strongly in areas such as coaching, strategy development, and role-playing.
  • Physical-world interaction and human leadership skills remain essential.
  • In the future, teams could include both humans and AI agents, making human leadership—particularly emotional intelligence—even more important.

RESOURCES

Learn more about Joris Merks: LinkedIn

ENJOYED THIS PODCAST?

Did you know that there are an estimated 50,000–100,000 books on AI already? So, why write another one?

Joris Merks’ answer is clear: most books focus on AI strategy and governance. His new book, Leading with AI, focuses on using AI to become a better leader and manager—a practical approach that is still relatively rare.

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Profile

  • Joris Merks is a leadership trainer and author focused on helping leaders navigate the evolving workplace and management landscape.
  • He is the author of Leading with AI, exploring the practical impact of artificial intelligence on leadership and management.
  • His work examines how leaders can use AI to enhance decision-making, team performance, and organizational effectiveness.
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