Using Intuition In Business
The current economic climate is challenging every business, we all need to think smarter, be more creative, look for new opportunities and take action to maximise our short and long term business performance. However, how do you gain inspiration, decide what you want to achieve, generate new ideas, make decisions and decide the best way forward for your business? One way to approach all of these areas is to use your intuition or 'gut feel'.
What is intuition?
Intuition describes the way that you gain access to and use the brain's power without the constraints of logical thinking. Intuition uses information from a wide range of sources including emotional, physical and instinctive and it enables you to quickly make sense of a complex situation at a subconscious level. It is often called the sixth sense. Where you cannot rationally explain why you chose a particular course of action, it is probably down to your intuition. A combination of reason, experience, information and intuition can be very powerful in business.
How to develop your intuitive skills?
Many people are afraid to use their intuition, preferring to take a rational logical approach and we are also encouraged from an early age to think and act rationally, which can result in our intuition being suppressed. To help you to develop your intuitive skills you may want to try the following:
-Follow your intuition, don't be afraid of it.
-Train yourself to be aware of your intuition.
-Allow yourself to follow your intuition in every day situations and see where it leads you.
-Monitor the results of when you use your intuition to develop your confidence to use it.
-Tune in and listen to your intuition rather than letting your rational mind override it.
-Look at situations that you have over analysed and where you arrived at the same course of action as your intuition was telling you.
-Be on top of your business and the business environment you are working in, including listening to your staff and understanding the customer and market trends.
-Try sleeping on a problem, it is surprising how often you wake up knowing the right course of action to take.
-Take time out from your work and life to reflect and contemplate and build relaxation and exercise time into your schedule.
-Do something different to what you would normally do to open your mind to new experiences.
-Don't listen to your inner voices telling you not to use your intuition.
As you heighten your intuition you will be inspired, find more creative solutions and unlock situations that you are in. You will also help your business to ride out the current recession and move forward in a stronger position.
This article first appeared in the February 2009 edition of the Makin It Happen - Coaching, Mentoring and Stress Management newsletter.
To find out more information or to use any of our business mentoring, business coaching or stress management services, please call Liz Makin on 01780 765270 or email her at Liz@makinithappen.co.uk.
