Intuition vs Intellect: Trust Your Business Gut
- Victoria Hogg
- Jun 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 25
“Go with your gut!” People say this, don’t they? But do you ever think “If only I could trust my gut a bit more rather than my brain agreeing with Dave in Accounts’ apparently logical path. Yet again - my gut feels less certain than what my brain is telling me. Maybe Dave in Accounts is right.” Welcome to overthinking, my friend.
“That’s not overthinking!” I hear you cry across the ether, “That’s just… thinking!”. Well, perhaps so. But if you don’t trust your enteric nervous system, (aka the ENS or gut), you are likely ignoring what scientists call the ‘second brain’; a vast network that quickly assesses all your experiences and preferences to create a unique and important emotional response. Ignore it at your peril, business owners!
How does this ancient slash trending biological wonder affect us as entrepreneurs? Surely making logical, considered decisions such as finding a niche and articulating to an ideal client it is a matter of logic and data dumping, not finger-in-the-air optimism.
Perhaps. It’s certainly a balance. Finding your niche and discovering your ideal client isn’t necessarily about narrowing down—it’s about tuning in. Like a jazz musician, your job is to riff, not recite; to make agile connections that chime well, whatever the circumstance.
It’s like you’re driving fast’n’focused with your GPS on while your business is screaming from the passenger seat: “We’re supposed to take the scenic route!” So: are you (over)thinking it? Do you need a different approach - a more creative roadmap?
TRY IT OUT: In improv, we can be ready to hop on stage and although our body (a foot, a shoulder) might move towards the spotlight, the brain - and often a spot of fear - holds us back. It’s why we’re trained never to fold our arms on the side. Be ready!
Next time you notice ‘intellect vs intuition’: Taking a risk of some kind or making a creative leap is hard. Practice when the stakes are low and you can comfortably jump in with an instinctive suggestion, where you aren’t in ‘logistics’ mode.
Good luck! What happened? Tell us how it went!
“Intuition is a very powerful thing; more powerful than intellect” Steve Jobs, Apple founder
Something brainy…
When I (Vic) started my Masters at Goldsmiths, I was clueless about facilitation. Importantly, I’d never even felt the need to design and lead coaching sessions. In this academic institution, those first weeks were ‘intellect heavy’.
But, like a toddler reaching for a tablecloth, instinct ran riot inside me. Within a fortnight I’d fulfilled my sudden burning desire to run an applied improvisation workshop - all cooked up from intuition. I looked back on my old notes recently and in that first-ever session I designed and instigated an ‘Inner Critic’ section that became an effective staple of my training practice.
Trust yourself - because there’s something wise and alive in your practice and it’s trying to tell you something.
Something processed…
This week I (Paul) joined a brilliant one-day conference on the future of transport in a changing climate. The room was full of super-sharp minds, but the ideas? Familiar. We’ve been here before. Process still ruled. Playing safe, even as the world breaks its own rules. Politically, technologically, meteorologically.
Here’s the rub: when the world goes off-script, your business can’t keep reading from the manual. Intellect has its place, of course it does, but intuition is begging for a seat at the table. Gut feel doesn’t require approval if it can be served with passion and purpose.
Despite the talent in the room, it all felt… how can I say… a bit samey? Maybe what’s missing isn’t another framework. Maybe what’s missing is courage. Play. Improvisation. Something that doesn’t start with a flowchart. Because - mark my words - the future won’t be predictable or ‘on trend’.
“Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking” Malcolm Gladwell, author The Tipping Point, Outliers
Something pitched…
I (Paul) am talking tents, toddlers, and marshmallows by the fire. This weekend marks the Eighth Annual Kids Camp, where 300+ kids and parents descend on the school field for a night of sleeping under canvas and feeding the masses under pressure.
It’s set to be a scorcher and luckily, we’ve cooked up a solid plan. It’s not gourmet strategy. It’s more gut feel à la carte. We keep it simple: safe space, ambient live music by the camp fire, cold drinks, and food that fills little bellies and fuels big games of tag.
No need to over-egg the pudding. Parents want to unwind. Kids want to run feral. So we dish out joy with a dollop of ketchup and keep the whole thing light.
Turns out, feeding 300 people is a lot like running a business: keep the formula simple, trust your instincts and follow the joy.