Throughout my career, I’ve always thought of myself as quite an intuitive person. But as I developed as a manager and leader, it seemed more important to share my advice, demonstrate my expertise, and showcase (even show off!) my knowledge. After all, surely that would give me more credibility and authority as a senior member of staff, right? 👀
So I tried to silence my inner feelings—ignoring my intuition, failing to sense into situations, brushing aside that subtle discomfort when something felt wrong. Instead, I relied on thinking things through, analysing data, and using objective information to drive any important decision I had to make at work. 🤔
Then, about ten years ago, I was about to send a communication to a couple of thousand colleagues across the organisation. Something didn’t feel quite right, but logically, everything seemed in order. After all, so many people had reviewed and approved it. I hesitated, but there was no rational reason not to press ‘send’. So I did. 😬
Almost instantly, my brain made a new connection... I knew exactly what I had forgotten to include, something critical. Perhaps you recognise that feeling, the moment you realise you’ve forgotten the attachment just as you press ‘send’?
I decided there and then that if something at work didn’t feel quite right, I wouldn’t go ahead with it. Instead, I would momentarily pause, reflect, let my mind settle, and give myself the space to bring to the surface whatever crucial detail I had missed. 🧠
When a small voice inside you says, “Something isn’t quite right about this,” it’s worth listening.
In recent years, working with senior leaders and executives across the world, I have developed my intuition and ‘sensing’ more than ever before in my career. I listen to my clients with all of my heart, I am deeply focused on what they share, and I am completely in partnership with them as we consider their challenge. 💫
So what can we learn from this for how we lead others?
Leadership isn’t only about knowing - it’s also about sensing. It’s about understanding not just what is being said, but also what isn’t. It’s about not knowing the answer or the solution - and being okay with that. It’s about reading the energy in the room, partnering with others, tuning into your own instincts, and recognising when to pause before making a decision. And in a world that often values quick decisive action over deep reflection, sensing is a leadership skill worth cultivating. 💙
In my next post I will share with you what the neuroscience is behind intuition and transmitting our inner world either consciously or subconsciously as leaders.
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