When was the last time you made a decision that went against the data, but aligned with your gut?
As leaders, making sound decisions is a huge piece of our role. We analyze the metrics, seek expert input, and pressure test assumptions. This disciplined approach is important, but sometimes our internal signals capture what the data can’t interpret.
I ignored my leadership intuition for more than a year before making a call I knew would be a little controversial, and some would disagree with.
You see, this decision doesn’t align with current business “best practices.” In some ways it limits our reach, and it definitely ignores algorithms. On the human side, it also directly impacts a member of my team.
Curious?
Each year we update our strategic plans in the first week of December.
This past December, my content manager and I agreed to stay consistent on IG, LI, and YouTube. We updated the data to be analyzed and agreed to evaluate in 90-days. At the end of February adjustments would be made.
What Becca didn’t know was I was struggling with whether PERSPECTIVES would continue with social media at all.
Social media and I have never been a natural fit. With the increase in artificial everything and constant volume, my reluctance has strengthened – personally and professionally.
Authenticity, in its true sense, is important to me.
Our coaches, trainers, and facilitators are authentic. Experienced, credible, credentialed, and so much wisdom to share. I’m proud of that.
Even so, doing something because everyone else is – or society tells me I must – has never sat well with me.
For more than a year I wrestled with my gut on this.
At the end of February, I reviewed the stats. They were solid!
Followers, views, and engagement were all trending up, with every indication that growth would continue.
According to the stats, it made sense to continue the pace.
However, my gut kept bringing me back to three questions:
- What is the direct benefit social media is bringing to PERSPECTIVES?
- Would PERSPECTIVES be damaged if we stopped?
- In its current state, does social media align with PERSPECTIVES’ mission and values? (This one was tricky. There are arguments both ways.)
When a decision aligns with mission, values, strategic direction, and motives, it’s a fit.
Your Leadership Intuition Matters
Strong data doesn’t always equal the best decision for you, your team, or your organization.
Your intuition (gut response) is built from years of experience. It helps you recognize patterns and reach conclusions before you can fully articulate why.
Harvard Business Review, including work from Laura Huang, shows intuition can play a critical role in decision making. This is especially true in uncertain or high-stakes situations.
Your gut can inspire you to make a call, when data alone has not resolved the decision.
Information overload, uncertainty, and pressure to “get it right” tends to delay decisions. Trusting your gut allows you to call it and move forward.
We need our data, for sure, but it has limits. Data shows us what happened; it does not always show us what truly fits.
Tips for Acting on Your Leadership Intuition
Strong leaders integrate instinct with discipline.
- Start with objectivity
Gather the data. Test your assumptions. Understand what the numbers are telling you. Positive trends create momentum, but momentum in a misaligned direction wastes resources (time, money, energy). - Look for consistency
A single gut reaction may be a fleeting resurfaced memory. A repeated signal over time is information worth paying attention to. - Identify alignment
Name what feels off – or what feels on! Once you define it, you can determine what is needed to move forward. - Stand behind your decision
You analyzed the data, applied your experience, included your convictions, and made the call. There’s nothing left to do but start moving in that direction.
In the end, I went with my leadership intuition.
In this case, internal signals outweighed positive trends.
No more content calendar. No more videos. No more “small bite” content creation and posting.
We are going against the norm and stepping away from social media. Maybe not forever, but for now.
Shutting down a program with positive metrics isn’t easy, but the internal result of this decision was immediate: peace.
The Wrap
Time will tell whether my leadership intuition led me well on this, or not. I’m betting it did!
Saying “no” to things that don’t fully align has not let me down yet.
Likewise, when my gut has pointed me to a “yes” it’s worked out pretty well too.
What’s your gut trying to tell you? Remember, sometimes it has insights the data can’t provide.
Karen Pelot, MBA, MDR, PCC, is an award-winning executive and leadership development coach, helping leaders build and maintain high-trust, high-accountability, and high-performing teams.
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