INTUITION A. How to take advantage of intuition and make better decisions? B. Rational versus Intuitive: C. Why is intuition useful? D. Why are we not listening to intuition? E. How to develop one's intuition?

INTUITION

Have you ever had a gut feeling about something and couldn't explain why you had to do what you did, but, in the end, you found yourself happy because you listened to your inner voice?

It's your intuition, it's a powerful tool that we all have, but unfortunately, we don't use to its full potential.

Ordinarily, we tend to follow guidelines that evidence drives decisions, and that's partly true.

However, combining your rational mind with your intuitive mind can bring innovation that will support you in your quest for success while promoting success in your workplace, social, and home environment.

When we take the time to listen to our intuition, we are rewarded. The messages that are given and the force of attraction in one way or another, help guide us on the path to success.

There are many reasons why you should trust your instincts.

From a work, personal or social perspective, here are some of the many reasons why you, your family, your friends, your work team, and the entire organization can benefit from listening to your internal navigation system:

1. Listen to your intuition: intuition at work and in private life helps you identify your goals and missions as your priorities.

When you tap into your intuition, you open yourself up to new ideas that your rational mind may have closed off.

2. Build links: your instincts can help you connect with others on a much deeper level.

Being in harmony with yourself, your family, your friends, your colleagues, your employees, and your clients can help you build stronger relationships.

Noticing that someone may be saying one thing but feeling another allows you to change your approach and determine what is best for both parties.

Intuition in the workplace lets you know when something is wrong. An essential component of business is understanding risk. The ability to follow your gut when it tells you to stay away from something is priceless.

Your success depends on the use of your faculty of intuition combined with rational thought.

By using intuition, you open yourself up to all the possibilities we are endowed with. Our inner voice is powerful and helps steer every decision on the path to great success.

A. How to take advantage of intuition and make better decisions?

Decision-making is part of life. We move from moment to moment depending on how we react when choices are presented.

The process is evolutionary, sure, but it stays largely the same no matter how heavy the decision is, because we tend to go through the same series of steps when making a choice.

We will explore the decision-making further below. However, here is the model that is generally followed for decision-making:

1. Identify the decision to be made. 2. Gather relevant information. 3. Identify alternative solutions. 4. Evaluate the options. 5. Choose an action plan. 6. Implement the decision. 7. Review the result.

This is a rational approach, but intuition ignores the fact that decisionmaking is not necessarily a sequential process. If we want to include all available data, we need to look at things from both a rational and intuitive perspective.

B. Rational versus Intuitive: our brain is made up of two parts: the conscious and the subconscious. When we approach a problem through a rational decision-making process, we access our conscious mind and work sequentially, following a logical progression that relies on analysis of the facts to make a carefully reasoned decision.

Intuitive decision-making comes into play when we experience what is called a « gut feeling, » a feeling that often goes against what logic might suggest.

Instead of recognizing and integrating these intuitive flashes into the decision-making process, unfortunately, we often tend to dismiss them as an « emotional response » and deem them immaterial. In doing so, we limit the scope of relevant information we use when making choices.

C. Why is intuition useful?

Throughout our lives, our brain is constantly processing information, storing it in the subconscious for future applications. This creates learning patterns called schemas that allow us to approach problems with a convenient frame of reference.

When called into action, the brain uses schemas by engaging its predictive processing framework, comparing current information and experiences with previously obtained knowledge and memories.

So, when you make a « gut decision » it is not based solely on feelings or emotions, but on logic created from experience.

You don't identify it as such because you are using applied knowledge rather than immediate data.

D. Why are we not listening to intuition?

There is a cultural bias towards intuition, which mocks the idea that humans have some kind of « special sense » that can help guide their decisions. People are uncomfortable following their instincts and fear being called out for considering alternatives that don't follow the data.

But let's call intuition what it really is, a pattern recognition mechanism. Once refined and developed, it is a key component of effective decisionmaking.

E. How to develop one's intuition?

Intuition exists for all of us, but some people are better than others at accessing the information it provides.

Here are some tips to help you recognize the signs that intuition gives you:

1. Pay attention to physical cues: we often have a physical reaction to decision-making, so when considering your options, it's a matter of being mindful of such a reaction.

The saying « listen to your gut » has scientific validity because there are neurotransmitters in your gut that help maintain homeostasis in your body.

• Is that feeling in your stomach nausea or nervous excitement? • How does each of the alternatives affect your energy levels? • Does the potential workload produce feelings of exhaustion or euphoria?

2. Document your information flashes: intuition can come to mind in little

“AHA” moments as we weigh alternatives.

These flashes of insight can suggest resources that aren't immediately obvious but will support a less likely alternative and increase its chances of success. Be sure to write down these ideas and weigh them as part of your data set.

3. Take time to listen to yourself: is intuition always good?

No, but it's a legitimate tool in your decision-making toolbox. Suppress the urge to ignore a feeling you have about the decision you are making and assess the basis of your impression.