Intuitive decision-making
- Philip Brophy
- Mar 26
- 3 min read
Acting on a hunch • 3 min read
Research from Boston College referenced conversations with firefighters who left burning houses roughly a minute before the floors collapsed. Asking them how they knew to leave, they tended to say that their gut told them to leave.
The research concluded that to discern between life and death situations, firefighting requires split-second decisions using a mix of non-conscious sensory perceptions, past experiences and expertise, where the firefighters’ brains pay attention to sounds, smells, smoke drift, and other sensory information.
Introduction
So far, we’ve looked at how by drawing on a combination of intuitive and analytical thinking, we can make the most informed decisions while staying true to ourselves.
Today, we’ll look at some further ways to make listening to our gut an instinctive process for better decision-making in the workplace.
Intuitive decision-making in practice
Take time for introspection
Ever experienced sleepless nights, dodgy stomach sensations and/or loss of appetite where you just can’t figure out what’s wrong?
This may very well be your intuition trying to tell you that something’s just not quite right, perhaps creating an alert before your rational mind can even explain it.
When we ignore the messages being sent from our gut — our body’s feedback loop — we can repress essential information.
By watching out for patterns and seeing how they coincide with real life incidents, e.g., a conflict with a colleague, we’ll know exactly how we feel and react when it happens again. These intuitive feelings will essentially come forward to show us what to do.
Seek solitude
Through solitude, we can separate ourselves from the pressures of other people’s opinions. You could do this by finding a quiet space for mini-meditations, e.g., taking deep breaths while focusing on a dot envisioned in the middle of your mind.
This space can help us listen to our inner voices in silence and stillness, while being more aware of the physical signals being sent to us.
Discern your types of intuition
When we fear something, we can feel a panicky pushing energy, accompanied by a constricting sensation in the body. It feels as if we’re being forced into choosing an option for fear of rejection or punishment, with self-critical thoughts urging us to conform or compromise our wishes.
When we draw on positive intuition, we feel an excited, but relaxed, pulling sensation — as if the decision will propel us along to something that’s in our best interest. Physically, our body will feel relaxed, with a more grounded inner voice.
Key takeaways
The science of the gut cannot be underestimated with substantial data crunching happening in the pit of our stomachs. This means that listening to our gut can help us stay in tune with ourselves for better decision-making.
When we set aside time for some introspection, we give breathing room to our intuition, allowing us to recognise exactly how we feel when something happens, and then going with that feeling.
Discern the good from the bad. Our body will show us the signs. Fear tends to be accompanied by a pushing, panicky tension, while positive intuition is accompanied by a pulling energy of lightness and ease.
Think big. act small
Try harnessing self-awareness by checking in with regular body scans — looking out for the gut-churning warning signs.
Ask yourself, “How am I feeling right now?” “What am I feeling?” and “Where do I feel it in the body?”
Content sources
Forbes, 2021, Sarah Jeanne Browne, '4 Ways Trusting Your Intuition Is A Superpower'
Forbes, 2018, Chip Wilson, 'Trusting Your Gut Is The Best Business Tool You've Got -- If You Can Listen'
Forbes, 2020, Carlos Melendez, 'Lead With Your Gut And Follow The Data: A Decision-Maker's Guide To Success'
Harvard Business Review, 2022, Melody Wilding, 'How to Stop Overthinking and Start Trusting Your Gut'
The Nuance, 2021, Markham Heid, 'The Science Behind Gut Feelings'
Psychology Today, 2015, Lybi Ma, '3 Reasons Why You Have to Trust Your Gut When and how to use your intuition'
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