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Have I lost you yet?
If you’re a business leader, you probably are. Entrepreneurs and business leaders are known to be tough as nails, highly rational and skeptical of fairy concepts. On the surface, intuition may sound like the latter.
But what if I told you that intuitive business requires less effort and better results? Your ears would probably cheer.
Along with creativity, risk-taking and resilience, intuition is the key trait in which all business leaders should be supported. It is generally accepted that intuition is the information we receive instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning or facts.
Also known as “sixth sense,” “gut feeling,” and “inner knowledge,” intuition refers to our ability to receive information unconsciously. It is important to keep in mind that intuition is not pure instinct, nor is it chaos. Intuition is the subtle voice that resides within us all and tells us the right path to follow.
If you’re still not convinced that you need a little more intuition in your life, here are four reasons why it’s one of the most underrated (and vital) business skills.
Related: Let’s go with your instinct: how to use your intuition to succeed in business
1. Intuition keeps you aligned
Deep down, we all know when something is “off.”
But it’s easy to ignore that gut feeling when our mind tells us something is the “best” option. Rationality can tell us that a business deal, an opportunity, or a relationship is good for us. When in the background, we know it is not.
When we follow our intuition, we avoid the pain of embarking on a path that is not aligned with our higher mission. If your intuition tells you something is off, it’s off. To run.
2. You can speed up the response time
In a world where everyone is poor in time, speeding up decisions can be a superpower. Studies have shown that intuitive driving speeds up response time.
This alone is not so impressive, so it is good news that the same study found that “unconscious emotional information can increase accuracy and confidence.” You heard it right. Leading with intuition makes you faster and more accurate.
As an entrepreneur or business leader, this can be an invaluable skill. But it is important to note that data, processes, and facts also have their place. The best results usually come when intuition complements compelling evidence.
Related: Don’t (always) trust your gut – how the acceptance process leads to growth
3. Intuition brings you closer to your ideal customer
Data, history, and analysis can tell us a lot about our ideal customer.
But no matter how much research we do, we can never know the mind of our ideal customer. Unless, of course, we connect at a deeper level.
Intuition brings us closer to natural intelligence and the flow of the universe. In this way, we can access the information that seems to appear out of nowhere. It’s just a deep sense of knowing.
This knowledge can also be extended to information about our ideal customer. Leveraging our intuition we can serve our customers on a deeper level.
Listen to your instincts when they tell you what people want. He knows more than you think.
4. You will become a better leader
When you go with your instincts, the decision-making process becomes much clearer. You can stop guessing your choices and give your team a better lead.
With more clarity in your mind, you will be able to stay true to your vision. Less confusion, more clarity makes him a better business leader.
Related: Is there room for business intuition? (Spoiler alert, yes).
Intuition along with data is the perfect combination
I use intuition a lot in my business. SEO (search engine optimization) is partly intuition, partly data.
When we develop SEO content, we use the data to show us where and how people are looking. But the innate knowledge of how our ideal customer thinks and wants to receive content is largely intuitive.
When I have the feeling that something will resonate, or that the words in that order will work, I run with it. And when you practice this skill over and over again, your intuitive muscle becomes stronger.
Don’t just take it from me. Studies have found that although “the ability of intuitive pattern recognition is not automatically available to everyone … It is not a special power either: it comes with experience, practice, learning and constructive feedback.”
Intuition is a powerful tool that is available to all of us. Why not step out of your comfort zone and use it to become a better leader?