Intuitive leadership and Human Design for Business
Have you ever had one of those moments where you just knew something, without knowing how or why? It may have come to you as an instinctive knowing, or something you felt strongly about – and can sometimes even be accompanied by physical sensations or feelings. Even though you aren't able to back it up with a logical reason, that hunch you had turned out to be the right decision or course of action. This knowing – a knowing that doesn't come from logical decision-making – is called intuition. Read about the apprehensions that are clouding your intuitive thinking from our earlier blog here
Going with your intuition - is it Logical ?
The dictionary definition of intuition is knowledge gained from an ability to understand or know something immediately based on your feelings rather than facts. When we experience intuition, it comes to us naturally, from somewhere inside us – and not from the brain, but rather, the gut. It is something that's instinctively felt, rather than something that's constructed from thought – and it's how the phrase 'going with your gut instinct' was originally coined. But why the intuition , sometimes people call this gut? Here we are only referring to that inner intuition.
In Human Design System - BG5 Business Career Personality tool assessment analysis, we look into the analysis of the intuition function (also called Splenic awareness).
Anyone with open ( undefined ) Intuitive function may experience fears or apprehensive of taking actions - unable to let go of a job or relationships that may not be good for you. The same fears once dealt with wisdom, helps us build strategy to overcome fears to confront those moments in a healthy way. By tuning into the intuitive awareness in a healthy way, the spontaneous decisions may be replaced by taking time and differentiating the own fears from those created by the environment around us. Discernment is the key here, before taking any major decision in life.
Human Design System provides insights into multiple gates of Fear in the Splenic Center . To experiment with this system, we need to know which of these gates influence us the most. To dive into this and experiment , get your Free Human Design Chart
“I’ve trusted the still, small voice of intuition my entire life. And, the only times I’ve made mistakes is when I didn’t listen”
~ Oprah Winfrey
The difficulty is, we live in a world that can make it hard for us to listen to our inner guidance system. With so much information available to us through the internet, our phones, social media and television screens, we have developed a culture of information exchange and analysis that subconsciously informs our day-to-day decision-making. In today's day and age, it can be hard to decipher whether decisions are coming from your intuition, or from the feedback you receive constantly from the world around you.
As per an article way back in 2019, Forbes published why Intuitive Leaders are more successful.
In a business setting, the conditions for trusting your intuition can be even more challenging. Businesses tend to operate conservatively, seeking to minimize their risk exposure wherever possible. They hire teams of data analysts to interpret data, trends and statistics to ensure that only the very best decisions are made, based on the facts in front of them. They'll often look at historical data to ensure that something has been successful in the past, before adopting a process. This can make it very difficult for an intuitive leader to act on a hunch – as there is often no data to back it up. However, for those who are lucky enough to work within a corporate culture that trusts and supports its leadership with intuitive decision-making, it can create wildly successful results for an organization.
The core values of an intuitive leader
When we look at those in leadership who are incorporating their intuitive abilities into their business strategy and execution, a pattern of core principles emerges that allows them to operate from their instinctive core. These simple values are:
They have an unrestrained vision of something purposeful
They can share that vision passionately with others
They are curious and always asking for opinions and answers to questions
They are constantly learning and developing their knowledge and potential
They limit negative self-talk and focus on the positive
“The best leaders are leaders of people. They have the intuitive ability to understand others by discerning how they feel and recognizing what they sense”
~ John C. Maxwell
Some of the world's most successful people are intuitive leaders, each with advice on how to trust your intuition:
Oprah Winfrey, a self-made celebrity and multi-millionaire, attributes her success to following her inner intuition.
"Learn to let your intuition-gut instinct tell you when the food, the relationship, the job isn't good for you – and conversely when what you're doing is just right."
Steve Jobs, the celebrated entrepreneur, reminds us how important it is to listen to the little voice inside you:
“Don’t let the noise of others drown your inner voice.”
Nikola Tesla, inventor and engineer, shared profound wisdom on the power of instinct as a force for good:
“Instinct is something which transcends knowledge. We have, undoubtedly, certain finer fibers that enable us to perceive truths when logical deduction, or any other willful effort of the brain, is futile.”
Cultivating your intuition - your inner guidance system
All of us have intuitive abilities. Whether it's a little voice deep within, a gut feeling, a hunch or a sixth sense – it's there somewhere inside of us and if we create enough space to listen to it, we can act upon its guidance. However, as Steve Jobs said, the hardest part of this process is silencing the noise around us long enough to be able to receive and hear that precious inner voice.
There are several ways we can strengthen our intuition. Try some of the suggestions below to help develop the connection to your authentic, intuitive self:
Quiet your mind with meditation
Try to find some time each day, preferably at the very start of your day, to sit quietly and empty your mind of all the thoughts that come racing through your mind. Even if you can only practice for a short period, this allows you the space to relax – and in this quiet time, you are connected to your inner guidance.Be present in the moment
Practice mindfulness – the art of acceptance of the present moment. This will help you to stay connected to what's going on around you, which is where those gut instincts hang out. If you're spending too much time thinking about the future or looking back at the past, you'll end up missing those a-ha moments.Remove the guardrails
When considering a task or a problem for the first time, don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Start the process by imagining a solution without any limiting factors, such as budget, personnel or resources. Removing those constraints will allow your intuitive instinct to flourish and consider new ideas.Go slow
When making decisions, don't rush or force anything. Take your time to consider and sit with the options. This will allow your inner compass to guide you towards the best outcome.Be yourself
It is far easier to connect with your inner wisdom when you are true to yourself and your authenticity. Don't be afraid to feel and acknowledge emotions that come up in your day-to-day decision-making. Emotions after all are the early-warning system that tells us when we are doing something that feels good and right, and when we are not.
“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in the leader, a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
If you are interested in developing your intuition, as well as learning more about where it comes from and how to harness it, then a BG5® Career Design Overview may be what you need. It is the perfect way to learn more about your innate personality business traits and may provide guidance in the career fields to assist in discerning where to invest your time, effort and energy for a more fulfilling life.
Loveleen Paintal, Founder of Shining Compass® provides consulting for individuals and businesses for personal exploration, business team dynamics and leadership.
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Book a free 15-minute discovery call with Shining Compass. We offer global online coaching, so location is no problem – just find a time that works for you!
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