Leaders and Intuition

by Peter Comrie

Are you a leader in your organization?

Are you an instigator of change or a catalyst in your family circle, school, church or institution?

Does your work entail initiating change?

Do you want to make a difference?

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions, then you are a leader!

Being a leader is about being a decision-maker and problem-solver. When you are bombarded with decisions or choices, what are your first thoughts? What are the initial ideas that come into your mind? When problems arise or when opportunities come, what ideas first pop in your head? Can you rely on your intuition?

You may not know it but you have intuitive powers. All you have to do is to unleash these. Get acquainted with the power within. Here are some sources of intuition:

Emotions.
Has this ever happened to you? Sometimes a decision that you made in a matter of seconds is more reliable than a well-thought out decision!

What you see and feel in the first two seconds can be considered more meaningful. You might not believe in first impressions but these could be true! First impressions may be difficult to explain. Some people decide on certain matters depending upon what they feel and how things appear to them. These people learned to trust their instincts.

Past experiences.
The Sensation-Perception Theory or philosophy of empiricism underscore experiences as valuable sources of knowledge. When faced with recurring problems that demand immediate responses, you normally come up with solutions based on past experiences.

What worked in the past might work again in a current situation. Remember that you do not need complex mathematical models to decide on intricate problems. Just sit back and go over your previous strategies.

Cognition.
What do you do if you encounter a totally different problem? This new problem is something that you have not yet encountered in the past.

Well, the mind has limitless reasoning power and understanding. As you acquire knowledge, your level of understanding is elevated. When you face a new problem, it may require a solution that is altogether new. Your previous experiences won’t work this time so you devise a creative and novel strategy. According to Albert Einstein, “Imagination is more important than knowledge because knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.”

The qualitative approach, such as the use of intuition, is a powerful tool in solving difficult problems and in deciding whether to take advantage of opportunities. It is inherent and doesn’t require a sophisticated formula.

All you need is to learn to trust what you see and what you feel. Intuition is a guide and more like a compass; it would always point to the north. However, it needs to be readjusted every now and then, because it could be destroyed when wrongfully exposed and misused. So let your intuition be your guide in becoming an effective leader.

Peter is the co-founder and principal coach at Full Spectrum Leadership. Visit the website at: www.fullspectrumleadership.ca