Leadership Presence Series – Post 9 of 16: Quality #5 – Intuition
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Intuition is one of the seven qualities of presence. It’s not instinct. It’s not the ability to read another person’s body language. Nor is it another word for “mental shortcuts” (sometimes called heuristics). So what is it?
Introduction
If presence is a key to leading successfully – and it is – we need to understand it. So what is it? What’s so great about it? How does it show itself? What’s the source of presence? How do you develop it? That’s what we’re covering in this 16-part series.
Welcome to part 9: Quality #5 – Intuition.
What It Isn’t
- It’s not instinct. That’s a pre-programmed reaction to external stimuli we share with animals. It often shows as body sensations, like “gut instinct”’ prompting us to act. It shares intuition’s suddenness but lacks its creative or forward-looking quality.
- It’s not mental shortcuts, e.g.“rules of thumb”. They solve problems fast but risk cognitive bias, e.g. ignoring inconvenient facts. Prejudice, a preformed opinion shaped by past experiences, also delivers fast judgments. Both match intuition’s speed but can’t deliver its creative leaps.
- It’s not reading body language. That’s a social skill.
What Is Intuition?
It’s the ability to connect to truth, grasp a creative insight, cut through confusing problems or envisage a new future without conscious step-by-step intellectual reasoning or relying on experience.
It’s the capacity to see what was always possible but hidden by old prejudices and fixed mindsets.
Take the example of Albert Einstein. He didn’t invent relativity, he discovered it – he tapped into a truth that was already there.
Why Intuition Matters for Leaders
In today’s complex unpredictable world, leaders often face situations where data alone isn’t enough to make decisions. So intuition helps by showing as:
- Foresight, e.g. sensing a market opportunity before data confirms it.
- Vision.
- The ability to choose wisely between alternative directions
How To Grow Your Intuition
First, build your power to concentrate, e.g. by practising mindfulness meditation. This quietens the mind, allowing you to notice intuitive insights.
Second, learn to discern the difference between intuition and old prejudices, mental shortcuts, instinct and body language skills.
Third – but you can only do this after practising the first two suggestions – learn to trust your intuition.
Questions for Reflection
- Do I have a clear vision of what my department or company could become and why?
- Do I confuse my old prejudice-based feelings with intuition?
- How often do I make wise choices in complex situations?
- To what extent do I believe I am creative?
Next post in the series: Quality #6: In The Now
[This post uses content from my 2016 book, The Three Levels of Leadership.]
Are you a visual or audio-orientated person? If so, you might prefer to see and hear me talking about leadership presence in my eleven-episode video series on YouTube at my YT channel, The Leadership Mastery Suite. When you arrive at the channel page, scroll down until you come to Created Playlists and there you’ll find the series, “On Leadership Presence”.
