Sixth Sense: Does Instinct Play a Vital Role in Business?

| September 23, 2015

Sixth Sense: Does Instinct Play a Vital Role in Business?

It is hard to believe that instincts have any role to play when it comes to running a business. Yes, many people do credit it for their success.

But really, does instinct play any role at all, when it comes to making important choices in business? Should you follow your gut when it says it’s time to expand and explore new avenues?

Understanding instinct

You know when you get the “feeling” that something is right or wrong without being in possession of full facts? Sometimes you meet a person you just can’t seem to trust. Sometimes you encounter a business opportunity that you’re certain would be good for you, despite there being no proof. These instincts compel you to pursue certain actions but most people force themselves to ignore them on grounds of rationality.

But should you? What most people don’t realise is that these impressions aren’t random signals that your brain is sending you. Your instincts are a combination of insights, perception and a subconscious awareness. These things have helped and guided us for thousands of years. Instinct isn’t something you’re meant to ignore. It is something you’re meant to pay very keen attention too.

Brain Power

Think of it this way, your subconscious is running millions of different calculations, current situation, risk assessments, growth and profit potential and all these calculations coalesce into a single thought. A thought that suggests you need to work on expanding your business. Now, you don’t see the hard work that went into developing that thought, your brain did it for you.

Following your instinct is not blindly following your intuition, but you should give it serious consideration when making decisions.

If you really feel that it is time for you to expand your business, it pays to know that, that feeling didn’t come out of thin air. Some part of your mind recognized that all the elements are in place for you to move forward.

Explore the instinct

However, you need to know the difference between instinct and reckless disregard for caution. Instead of just jumping in and throwing your lot, do your research; back your instincts with solid data. Your instinct is relying on not only what you know about your business and the current market scenario, but also all of your life’s experiences and wisdom.

Have actual evidence that would help you move forward. Gather all the information you might require. If you feel that your small business has more potential and needs to expand, explore that feeling. Go through your finances, look onto the areas where there’s room for growth. You need to expand on that idea, make a skeleton plan just to see if it would work. More often than not, people are surprised by just how accurate their gut was.

Don’t ignore that voice in your head that whispers of success. Try to achieve it. Many successful businesses were built on the sixth sense of people with keen instincts, after all.