The Secret…
I know a lot about the C-Suite. I also know a lot about the secret skill that gets most executives there, but that most are hiding – intuition.
I’ve seen intuition in action over-and-over again in the executives I’ve worked with over 30+ years, as well as in myself – it shows up as feeling, hearing and seeing, sometimes in the form of pre-cognition.
I can also confirm it’s the most taboo subject EVA (that’s Brooklyn for ever!). That’s why I was so intrigued (and also felt so validated) when recently I came upon the following data … yes I said DATA … on executives, decision-making and intuition.
- 75.9% of the time, executives who have strong intuition use it to make decisions (instead of logic and reason)¹, but more than 50% of these executives wouldn’t publicly admit to it. Can you say social stigma? The international Harvard study that includes this data is a treasure trove because it confirms what I have known all along – if you have strong intuition, more often than not it gets you to the C-Suite if that’s where you want to go AND it is a key differentiator for success. The data also shows there are not many statistical differences among gender or geographies.
- 4,000 executives surveyed back in the 1960s (or 80% of the participants) believed in and used pre-cognitive intuitive abilities to make business decisions, aka they “see” business opportunities / future states before they happen and act on what they see. This study, published by the reputable Prentice-Hall, delved into executive success with those who believed in extrasensory perception (ESP) and making business decisions.² ESP – wait – is that a real thing? Turns out it is and, statistically, it’s in the C-Suite …
- Executives who doubled or more than doubled company profits in five years used pre-cognitive intuitive abilities to do it.
A subgroup of the above study looked at 165 presidents and CEOs of American companies who had doubled or more than doubled their company profits in a five-year period. Using a test to assess learning classification as rational or intuitive³, they found that 80 percent of them had above-average predictive computer test scores; basically, they had pre-cognitive intuitive abilities and this is what they used to generate incredible business results.
I know this data is very provocative, especially if you are anything like me and have spent countless years being fully seeped in compliance, KPIs and evidence-based decision-making. I totally get the rationale behind all of the left-brain systems that are the foundation of entire businesses and cultures … and don’t discount it at all.
The Truth…
Yet, I promised myself when I transitioned from corporate I would be a truth-teller. So, here’s the truth. Intuition exists. And, it is driving decisions in the C-Suite and I’m sure throughout organizations. Just because we don’t talk about it, teach it, strengthen it and tame it, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening every day.
So, why is all of this data important?
- We are missing a major opportunity in training, development and succession planning for our people. Leaders, human resources, job descriptions and professional development programs don’t really talk about or include intuition. To be completely honest, I am an extremely intuitive person and I avoided the discussion at work at all costs because of the social stigma.Yet, I know intuition can be accessed, taught and strengthened and it leads to great decisions – I know this because I have seen it in action in CEOs and executives, and I also know it to be true for me. And, if this is true, why aren’t we helping our people explore this skill set and encouraging our leaders to admit to it and, I don’t know, teach us how it’s done?! 56.1% of those Harvard study participants agree with me and believe there is a possibility of enhancing intuition through training and practice and would be interested in experiential workshops (38.4%) and seminars and conferences (43.5%).
- Executives shouldn’t just use their intuition willy-nilly, in hiding and un-checked because there is a downside to strong intuition at work — and it’s called Ego. Leaders who have strong intuition are right most of the time. From a business perspective, this is incredible and is one of the essential skill sets that will likely get them to the top. At the same time, strong intuition sometimes makes even the best of us extremely Ego-driven and very, very difficult to work with (the “I don’t need anyone else because I know it all” tape is on constant replay).Bottom line is highly intuitive leaders need to get clear on the level of their intuitive intelligence, how it works and how it impacts their leadership. I’m just gonna say it straight out – one intuitive to another – if you are an intuitive leader in hiding, you likely need to get your Ego in check. Do it – we need you to be the best leader you can be and teach us the intuitive way!
- There will always be naysayers … and naysayers generally do not have access to their intuition. I can’t prove this statistically {yet}, but I can say pretty confidently (qualitatively) that if you have access to your intuition, you believe in it; if you don’t have access to your intuition, you don’t believe in it. It’s that simple. And, it’s also that exciting because if you don’t have access to your intuition – but want to – I know for sure that with insight, practice and trust you can get there!
- Enough with the social stigma already! I recently completed a research paper on Intuition for my Columbia University coach certification and turns out there’s 80+ years of academic research on this phenomenon of intuition. And, despite intuition’s great gifts and incredible successes, nearly all of my sources acknowledge the social stigma of and prejudice against intuition vs. the widely accepted reason and logic.
Let’s start talking about intuition. Let’s start training. Let’s start truth-telling. Join me, now more than ever the world needs the whole intuitive you.
PS If you are interested in accessing, validating, enhancing or responsibly leading with your intuition, I would love to work with you. Contact Me.
Coming Jan 10, 2019 — Clear, a 12-week program for coaches to get clear on your intuition, your energy and how to soar with your superpowers in life and work.
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¹Intuition: The New Frontier of Management, pg 64
²Cholle, Francis P. (2012). The Intuitive Compass: Why the best decisions balance reason with instinct. Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint: United States, pg. 31.
³Cholle, Francis P. (2012). The Intuitive Compass: Why the best decisions balance reason with instinct. Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint: United States, pg. 227.