Sometimes you know when something isn’t right. This isn’t a post about the results of the US election, but about intuition – that inner sense or “gut feeling” that arises without us even thinking about it.
Intuition has been described as knowing without being able to explain how we know. It operates outside of conscious reasoning, often appearing as a hunch, a feeling, or an inner voice that nudges us in a particular direction.
Our brains are constantly gathering data from our experiences, and sometimes, intuition is just that – an outcome of past learning and experience that manifests as a “gut feeling.” This type of processing happens quickly, without conscious awareness, allowing us to react to complex situations even when we can’t fully articulate why.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs once said, “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”
It is reported that Jobs trusted his intuition when it came to product design, marketing, and user experience, as well as the decision to drop out of college and attend a calligraphy course, which later influenced Apple’s distinctive typography.
Albert Einstein
Einstein often spoke about the role of intuition in his work, saying, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant.”
While developing the theory of relativity, Einstein relied on what he called “thought experiments” and intuitive reasoning to explore concepts beyond the reach of conventional science at the time.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah has frequently credited intuition for guiding her major life and career decisions. She has said, “I’ve trusted the still, small voice of intuition my entire life.”
Her decision to start her own production company, Harpo Studios, was largely guided by her intuition, even when it seemed risky at the time. This move gave her creative control and turned her into one of the most influential media figures in the world.
Richard Branson
Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, often attributes his business success to intuition. He says he doesn’t rely heavily on data or analysis when making decisions, instead listening to his gut.
One example is when he decided to start Virgin Atlantic Airways, despite having no prior experience in the airline industry. His gut told him that travellers would appreciate better service.
Henry Ford
Henry Ford’s decision to implement the moving assembly line in automobile manufacturing was highly intuitive.
There was no precedent for this system, and many thought it wouldn’t work on a large scale. However, his gut told him it would revolutionize production, and it did—reducing the time to build a car from 12 hours to 90 minutes.
Marie Curie
Marie Curie’s groundbreaking research on radioactivity was guided in part by her intuition about the potential of uranium.
Despite limited resources and initial scepticism from the scientific community, she trusted her instincts and continued her experiments, leading to the discovery of radium and polonium and earning her two Nobel Prizes.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi’s intuition guided him in adopting nonviolent resistance as a strategy for India’s independence movement.
Despite immense pressure to resort to violence in response to British oppression, Gandhi trusted his inner conviction that nonviolence was a more powerful and enduring approach. His intuition proved transformative, inspiring global movements for civil rights and freedom.
In these cases, intuition was often paired with courage, experience, and a willingness to take risks.
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
In Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell explores the concept of intuition, particularly how our minds can make rapid decisions based on limited information. He refers to this process as “thin-slicing.”
He argues that these instantaneous judgments, often made without conscious deliberation, can be as accurate as, or even superior to, decisions made through extensive analysis.
Gladwell presents various examples to illustrate the effectiveness of intuition:
Art Authentication
Experts were able to identify a forged statue within moments, relying on their immediate, intuitive reactions rather than detailed examination.
Emergency Situations
Firefighters and military personnel often make split-second decisions that save lives, guided by their intuitive understanding of complex situations.
Can we trust our intuition?
Personally, I’ve never been quite sure when to trust my intuition. There might be a nagging feeling, before starting a new job, that it isn’t going to work, but without any evidence it seems difficult to know if I’m unconsciously picking up on some cues, or it’s just new job nerves.
As well as demonstrating the power of intuition, Gladwell acknowledges that it has limitations. Biases, stereotypes, and prejudices can distort our snap judgments, leading to errors. Emotional baggage, and stress can also distort intuition. Daniel Kahneman drew a similar conclusion.
For example, when interviewing for a new position, a manager might feel an intuitive connection with a candidate who shares similar hobbies, educational background, or cultural experiences, which could overshadow the objective assessment of qualifications. This is know as affinity Bias.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
In Thinking, Fast and Slow, Kahneman explores the concept of intuition through the lens of two cognitive systems:
System 1: This operates automatically and quickly, with little or no effort and no sense of voluntary control. It’s the source of our intuitive judgments.
System 2: This allocates attention to the effortful mental activities that demand it, including complex computations. It’s associated with deliberate and analytical thinking.
Kahneman explains that while System 1 enables us to make quick decisions based on intuition, it is also prone to biases and errors.
These intuitive judgments can be influenced by factors such as emotions, stereotypes, and cognitive shortcuts, leading to systematic deviations from rationality.
That said, there are times when listening to our intuition can be especially useful:
Personal Safety
Our intuition is finely tuned to detect danger. If something feels “off” about a situation or person, it may be because your brain has picked up on subtle environmental cues that indicate a risk. In these situations, listening to our intuition can protect us from harm.
Relationships
Sometimes, we can sense when someone is being dishonest, inauthentic, or unreliable, even if we can’t explain exactly why. Intuition helps us perceive underlying emotions or inconsistencies in others’ behaviour. This is especially useful in close relationships and social interactions.
Career and Creative Decisions
Intuition plays a powerful role in creativity and innovation, allowing people to make leaps that aren’t immediately logical but that lead to breakthroughs. When facing career or creative choices where no option stands out as purely logical, intuition can point toward opportunities aligned with your personal values or goals.
Stressful or Complex Decisions
When we’re overwhelmed by facts or analysis, intuition can help you focus on the essence of what’s important. In cases where it’s hard to make a purely rational decision, our gut feeling might provide clarity and a sense of direction.
Health and Well-Being
Some people experience intuitive signals about their own health, such as feeling a need to rest, change their diet, or see a doctor before symptoms worsen. Listening to these bodily cues can lead to better health outcomes.
Balance intuition with logical thinking
While intuition can be valuable, especially in familiar situations where quick judgments are necessary, it’s important to be aware of its limitations and the potential for error.
The advice is to balance intuition with logical thinking, especially in situations involving complex data, financial decisions, or significant risks.
And verify intuitive insights with evidence and reasoning, but if we’re feeling a strong, consistent nudge in one direction, it’s often worth exploring why.
As for my job, my intuition was right. It didn’t work out. I should have listened to it.
