Intuitive Intelligence is the ability for one to consciously connect with and translate gut feel into practical and effective actions. Intuition is something that most of us have used at one point or another throughout our lives. It is often so subtle that we connect with it on an unconscious basis. It is a guiding and ruling emotional connection that can direct us away from danger when there is no conscious reasoning to be alarmed.
Having recently had a beautiful baby girl, Lucy now 2, I saw first hand the instinctive intuitive response that we are all born with. A child instinctively knows whom they feel comfortable approaching in a room full of strangers. This instinctive connection is the gateway to a deeper intuitive response that is constantly active in small children and in all of us. Some may say it is just a survival mechanism however, when nurtured and encouraged, becomes an essential life skill.
This instinctive response is often mystified throughout our early years to the point that as we grow older we believe that its access is reserved for the gifted few. This could not be further from the truth however, it does take some amount of retraining to reconnect and understand its truth.
So what has intuition got to do with business? In an article from Harvard Review that I read a few years ago a group of graduates went to find out how the US top CEO’s made decisions. What they found lead to a paper called ‘When to trust your gut’ published in 2001. This paper goes on to explain that although these top CEO’s, from the top fortune 500 companies, assessed all the analytical information at the end of the day there most difficult decisions where made using ‘gut feel’ or intuitive intelligence.
So how could accessing Intuitive Intelligence help you and your business, well I’m glad you asked. Let me share how I use it in my business and in my work…
I utilise Intuitive Intelligence in a number of way. Just this morning I utilised this soft skill to organise my day and allow me to stay calm relaxed and focussed. Running late for a meeting I sensed that my appointment was also running late so I let go and relaxed. One minute later my appointment rang to say he was running late.
In maximising my time in calls to potential clients I utilise this skill to make the most appropriate calls first.
In business decisions I utilise Intuitive intelligence to sense what the right course of action maybe. This comes at times when the analysis of a situation is not clear-cut. SQ helps me to know what the most appropriate course of action is.
In all my years of using SQ it has rarely let me down. As we continue to experience ever more competitive environments, finding an effective point of difference and a ‘market edge’ is imperative if we are to continue to grow and prosper. Having our leaders gifted in their ability to access state of the art soft skills will allow them to be able to guide employees and the business in the most appropriate way, is essential. It is often the fine edge that makes the difference between success and extraordinary success as the Harvard report documented.
‘The higher up the corporate ladder people climb, the more they need well-honed business instincts. In other words, intuition is one of the X factors separating the men from the boys’. Harvard Business Review ‘When To Trust Your Gut’ Feb 2001 p.3
These soft skills, of emotional and intuitive intelligence, should not be ignored as your competition might well be accessing their immense benefit right now. If you want to learn more about Intuitive Intelligence call me to discuss how of and your team can take advantage of SQ.
marcus@intrinsicsuccess.com
marcus@intrinsicsuccess.com