For many years now, we have been talking about the fact that volatility, uncertainty and complexity are no longer exceptions: they are normal.
In such a context, companies no longer have the luxury of collecting all the data or having all the scenarios covered to make decisions.
The importance of using intuition in business
Managers must be able to quickly integrate incomplete information, anticipate subtle changes and maintain the balance of teams in the face of the unknown.
This ability involves the effective use of intuition, the sophisticated neuro-psychic process in which experience, fine observation and unconscious evaluation combine to guide decisions and actions.
Not every decision made "based on feeling" is truly intuitive. Why? Because intuition has clear characteristics, validated by research in psychology and neuroscience.
Only the following eight signs show that you have a manager who truly uses his intuitive mind for the good of the team.
Thus, a manager's ability to use his intuitive mind, that fast, integrative process that accesses accumulated experience and the sense of complex situations, becomes an important differentiator.
1. Makes quick, but well-calibrated decisions
A manager who uses intuition does not postpone decisions for fear of making mistakes, but neither does he act impulsively. Instead, he quickly combines the available information with his own experience, assessing the main risks before acting.
Even when the data is incomplete, his decisions make sense, are well-argued later, and rarely generate unpleasant surprises for the team.
The manager with a trained intuitive mind makes decisions quickly, but does not seem to be drawing lots. Why? Because in our minds, according to Daniel Kahneman's research, two systems operate:
• System one: fast, intuitive, and
• System two: slow, analytical.
Good managers know when to use system one without putting system two on extended leave, and the team feels like they have a leader they can rely on, which reduces anxiety and increases cohesion.
2. Anticipate trends and prepare the team for them
In volatile times, quick reaction is no longer enough, anticipation is needed. An intuitive manager notices those subtle signals of change in the market and begins to prepare the team before they become obvious.
The result is that people no longer experience changes as shocks, but as natural transitions, which supports adaptability and collective morale.
How is it possible for a manager to anticipate changes? Well, Gerd Gigerenzer of the Max Planck Institute says that intuition is the result of unconscious recognition of patterns from past experience.
In other words, the brain has an internal database that runs non-stop without bothering with details.
3. Understands collective emotions and adjusts the tone
Intuition helps the manager quickly sense the mood of the team and adapt his behavior accordingly. For example, he knows when it is time for a mobilizing message versus a moment of recognition and support.
An intuitive manager detects whether people are at their wits' end without asking them to complete a 60-item questionnaire about their “level of well-being”.
For this ability, we have to thank mirror neurons. They are responsible for spontaneous empathy and for people’s ability to sense the states of others without long explanations.
With such a manager, the team feels listened to and understood on a human level, which strengthens loyalty and commitment.
4. Combines reason with instinct in decision-making
An intuitive manager does not despise analysis or data. On the contrary, he uses them to the fullest. However, he is able to make important decisions even when the information is partial or contradictory. So he knows how to "feel" what cannot yet be demonstrated logically.
It is important to remember that intuition comes from the unconscious connection of cortical areas: frontal, parietal and limbic. In other words, it is a data processing at a subjective level, but based on real experience. The strategies thus generated are dynamic and personalized, protecting the team from excessive volatility.
5. Creates space for creative thinking and exploration
A manager who uses his intuition does not only look for rational confirmations, but encourages the team to think laterally, propose innovative solutions and explore new ideas.
Instead of punishing honest mistakes, he sees them as necessary steps in the learning process. The team becomes more innovative and more involved in finding solutions, which increases organizational agility.
This approach stimulates collaboration, accelerates decision-making and helps the organization better respond to unforeseen challenges, turning change into an opportunity, not a threat.
6. Ask essential questions at key moments
Managers who use their intuition do not always give answers, but ask questions that open up new perspectives. They do not want to control every detail, but stimulate reflection and critical thinking in the team.
According to the theory of neuro-plasticity, the human brain evolves when exposed to new ideas. So if we want adaptability, as managers we must encourage creative thinking, no matter how bizarre it may initially seem.
In this way, people on the team become autonomous, responsible and connected to the company's purpose and mission.
7. Knows when a decision based on logic alone is not enough
Especially in times of crisis, intuitive managers realize that while analytical models provide a framework, they cannot capture all the nuances of reality. When appropriate, they make decisions based on values, experience, and practical wisdom, not just numbers.
Intuitive managers know that good questions are like hacks for the prefrontal cortex: they force critical thinking and the development of synapses.
They do not just say: “do this”, they ask: “what do you see that I don’t?” or “what seems strange to you here?” In addition, the team learns to balance cold analysis with human evaluation, developing more mature and balanced thinking.
8. Maintains inner balance in the face of uncertainty
Perhaps the clearest sign that a manager is using the intuitive mind correctly is the ability to remain calm even in chaos. This emotional stability comes from trusting one’s own judgment and accepting that not all variables can be controlled.
Studies on emotional regulation show that it does not involve ignoring emotions, but managing them internally, without the manager throwing them at the team. The brain activates the executive control network and inhibits fight-or-flight responses.
This means that, in crises, the manager does not have hysterics, does not shout, does not send emails written in CAPS LOCK. By his own example, the manager inspires trust and calm in the team, reducing the fear of the unknown and supporting performance even in difficult conditions.
Why this type of management is vital now
The intuitive mind is becoming an essential asset for managers, but the intuition that teams need is not arbitrary or impulsive. It is the result of a conscious practice of integrating experience, data, emotions and fine observation.
Managers who use this form of intelligence correctly are more effective. They are also the ones who create resilient, agile and human companies. Under their leadership, teams perform better and maintain their energy, creativity and confidence, even when the winds of change blow strongly.
If you are lucky enough to work with such a manager, observe their way of acting, learn from them and, in turn, cultivate your own intuitive mind. It is one of the most valuable investments in your career.
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About Valoria
Valoria is a consulting, training, and executive coaching company. Through our services, we help entrepreneurs to grow their business and make success concrete and predictable. Companies turn to us for marketing, human resources and sales consulting. We often respond to requests for training or coaching of management teams. Competence, trust, innovation and passion are the values we uphold in everything we do. We build long-term partnerships and collaborations, because we offer guaranteed results and the best quality, at the right price. Find out more at: www.valoria.ro.