Intuition in Business - A Key for Decision Makers

Do you ever hire or put work teams together?a quarterback, or point guard, or sales executive,
Are you ever developing relationships with clients,intuitively knows what his teammate/client will do,
advisors, supervisors, or your staff? Do you everand in a split second delivers the "ball" to the
have to make career choice decisions? Are youperfect position for it to be received, "in stride,"
ever in position to decide about a new productto complete the drive for a score! This "state of
and what quantities to produce, distribute, orbeing" is a rare pleasure to experience under any
acquire? Do you have to stay ahead or at leastcircumstance. When you feel this on the field or in
up with the trends? If you answered yes, thenbusiness, it adds to the satisfaction of the
you may want to read on and explore how youexperience. In its way it has addicting qualities that
can tap your deepest and strongest levels ofbrings you back time and time again. This can
wisdom...An executive buyer for a national retailmotivate an executive, letting him/her feel that
chain of full service department stores played athey are at the very "top."Too often we wait for
"hunch" and created huge profits and nationalthese situations to manifest. We are not proactive
recognition for her stores. She had learned herin creating the proper emotional, mental, and
job over several years and understood herphysical environment to perform at this level and
customers but when it came to predicting thewith this satisfaction. Some experienced veterans
fashion trends she was still more guessing thancan pull these qualities out in key situations and
using statistical analysis. Her intuition told her thatuse them with great aplomb. Some younger,
an overlooked style would be a "hit" andcreative executives seem to have these abilities
proceeded to order the dress in certain fabricsand can "hit a homerun" early-on. But this is an
and in large quantities. The manufacturer, being anexperience that is an emotional skill that can not
honorable business associate, tried to dissuade herhappen upon command, consistently, without
knowing that every other major buyer hadproper training and nurturing of this skill.Every
overlooked or discounted this particular style. Thecompetitive company and executive leader wants
buyer being strong willed and very strong on thisevery advantage that they can develop.
"gut feeling" maintained her large order. A largeConsultants and trainers showcase the latest
promotional campaign was launched and tobusiness techniques. Most business management
everyone's surprise, except the buyer, the dresstechniques can be taught through normal teaching
sold out rapidly causing every other major storemethods in classes or through verbal instructions.
chain to demand this product. Thousands of thisThe "Gut Feelings" of a clear intuitional decision is
dress style were sold and the buyer's reputationderived in an entirely different way. It comes
was elevated by this business decision. Though itthrough a special "connection" or "feeling" that can
seemed to go against logic and current reasoning,not be taught in normal teaching methods. The
this bold act sent this retail market spinning in aexperience must be provided, guided, enhanced,
new and profitable direction. This buyer developedsupported, and nurtured for its full development in
many unexplainable projects in her successfula consistent trustworthy "feel-set" (skill-set with
career and she still considers her intuitionfeeling.)Major disruptions to intuition and focus
responsible for much of the recognition thatoccur in the presence of stress and fear!
brought her to the very top of herControlling fears, insecurities, and your stress
profession.Recently an increasing number ofresponse is the first step to preparing for the
reports are pouring in, unexplainable situations ofconnection with your intuitive insights. In other
great decision making that appear to be "luckywords, you must control the background noise
guesses." Executives who did not play the "odds"and distraction that we most often feel when we
and chose instead untested teams of people orare not "in the present moment" and not "in our
products that overnight created huge growth andbodies" in a healthy way. Much has been written
huge profits for the developers and investors.about stress management for business and
Some new technologies are so "cutting-edge" thatoptimum performance can be achieved for
no one can accurately predict the direction andathletes or business people through the focus of
outcomes of these activities. This includesrelaxation and then the special visualizations of
investing in high-tech, foreign markets, trends ofsuccess and "peak performance"
the national market, world political trends, and theprogramming.The next steps involve immersion
needs for NEW products and services. Who couldthrough ritual and developed exercises that
have predicted that that within the past ten yearsreconnect you with certain quiet parts of yourself.
products and services like: cellular phones, pagers,Physical and emotional blocks need to be
E-mail, faxing, the internet, bio-technology, evencircumvented through awareness, acceptance,
Dilbert, would be the necessities of businessand then re-channeling of consciousness. A
executives competing for world business. Trendssensitivity to these feelings must be established
are evolving but being ahead of the trends takes,and then honed to gain the "clarity" that will make
guts, fortitude, and a deep insight that accuratelythis more consistent, trustworthy, and predictable.
can feel the "right" directions for the future.TheThis phase is not the easiest. It requires diligence
story about the buyer has been repeated inand practice. The skill of being able to "let go"
every industry. The "gut feeling" decisions thatphysically and emotionally takes some time. It
have lead to success seem to be increasing withtakes mastery of fear to trust that the
the advent of new technologies and theunconscious forces can give special protection and
"uncharted" arenas that must be negotiated. Withthen guidance. Then the levels of self-awareness
no "track record" many business decisions mustand acceptance lead to self-confidence in the
be made quickly and without historical support.special way that successful, creative producers
Executives with good instincts are driving thehave achieved (for consistent success.)The phase
explosion of instant millionaires that manyof balance and grace is a rewarding and beneficial
industries, particularly "high tech" businesses, in theachievement. No matter what the activity you
past decade.Have you ever experienced ultimateparticipate within, these levels of focus and of
satisfaction in a business activity or decision? Havebeing centered, create the proper internal
you ever "played a hunch" and had it come outenvironment for success. These attributes are
better than your expectations? Have you evernot just for business but for all life activities and
experienced being totally "connected" or "in synch"pursuits. Most people never take the time to
with your client or team and had profoundachieve these states and never find the deeper
results? Were you ever "in the groove" with yoursatisfaction with their lives. Relationships, families,
sales and marketing activities? Most importantly,health and business can suffer from the lack of
did you ever have a "Gut Feeling" about a decisionbalance and grace. At a universal level, the world
that was so powerful it could even overridewould have more peace, less crime, and fewer
prevailing thought or certain statistical facts, andenvironmentally stupid occurrences if balance and
achieve great results? Did you ever "know in yourgrace were honored and cultivated.© L. John
Gut" that you had chosen the "right" people forMason, 19967 Steps to Intuitive Power1.
the project even though they were relativelyAwareness
new, inexperienced, or had never workedBe exposed and learn the "Process" of the
together before, they just developed the "RightIntuitive Warrior. Know of historical, cultural,
chemistry" to make "it" happen?Sometimes, for ainherited responses.2. Self-control (Self-care)
not fully explained reason, an executive will makeLearn and install lifestyle adjustments for health,
great decisions that far exceed expectations. Forwellness, and Clarity Development. Demonstrate
some managers this happens only rarely, and theirthe benefits of centering/connecting.3.
track record may show that they are careful andSelf-Confidence (not false confidence)
do not take risks. This has been a successfulLearn and Know yourself to the core. Develop
strategy for some managers. But increasingly,the control to center yourself: mind, body, and
business is moving into new areas, perhapsspirit4. Self-Esteem
uncharted territory, and the smaller companiesElevate your feeling/knowing of your self.
who play the "hunches" may wind up winning,Develop the sense of self-connection and
creating large payoffs in these new arenas. Someself-love.5. Trust in the Universe
executives have the reputation for "big wins" andDevelop the awareness and the skills to trust the
develop a track record that make their hardhighest levels of connection and conscious.
work and great "guesses" produce big leads overPrepare for "Letting Go"6. Letting Go (Easier Said
their competition. These "guesses", "hunches," andThan Done)
"gut feelings" separate the innovators from theBe able to "Let go" physically, mentally,
managers that follow the leaders. "You can makeemotionally to be open for intuition and Insight7.
dust or eat it!"Customer service also can rely onAcceptance
special qualities where salespeople, managers, orIntuitive Insight & Power (Also called
executives can "connect" in a special way withEnlightenment) Release the fear of failure, Death,
their customers and create a relationship of trustand conscious loss of control. Find your power and
and rapport that develops special loyalty and longdeeply connected safety nets of empowerment.L.
term success. People who are "good" with peopleJohn Mason, Ph.D. is the author of the best selling
as managers or in providing customer service"Guide to Stress Reduction." Since 1977, he has
produce good returns on the company'soffered Executive Coaching and Training.Please
bottomline.Many executives when in training, invisit the Stress Education Center's website at for
teaching, or in business activities use metaphorsarticles, free ezine signup, and learn about the
from sports. They play aggressively. They "havenew telecourses that are available. If you would
their head in the game." They are "in the groove,"like information or a targeted proposal for training
"hitting on all cylinders," and sometimes totally inor coaching, please contact us at (707)
the "zone." Athletes describe "being in the zone"795-2228.If you are looking to promote your
where their perceptions are so sharp that timetraining or coaching career, please investigate the
seems to slow down. Their decisions are so clearProfessional Stress Management Training and
and precise that they can surgically pick apart theCertification Program for a secondary source of
other team's defense and score in the almostincome or as career path.
impossible ways. Examples of this abound, where