Are You Paying Attention to Your Business Intuition?

Business intuition is a lot like clinical intuition. You learned as a clinical nurse that some nurses have intuition about a patient. They might say, “Something is not right with this person. I need to get help.” There may be subtle signs of a change. Something is off. The concerned nurse mobilizes the healthcare team to get the patient the attention he needs.

Business intuition

Adrianna Huffington, the cofounder, president and editor in chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, discussed the role of intuition in her book, Thrive. She makes the point that we are surrounded by noise. We need to shut off the noise by practicing mediation, yoga and mindfulness so we can listen to our intuition.

In a business setting, you make decisions about prospects and clients and may not even be aware of the nonverbal signs that influence you.

Listen to your business intuition

Here is an example: An attorney calls you to tell you about a case. He gives a hurried explanation about the facts, but lingers over the questions regarding your rate and turnaround time. You get the impression he is shopping around, trying to find someone who will charge him the lowest rate. Your instincts/business intuition tell you that he will be a troublesome client. It is his tone, the pace of his speech that triggers your intuition.

Business intuition helps you to pick up on subtle signs that may not seem obvious. “Your gut” tells you that you should not work with this client.

A second attorney calls you to discuss her case. She is warm, interested in what you have to say, and enthusiastic about what you have to offer. She is respectful, does not interrupt, and has a good grasp of the facts of her case. You look forward to working with her.

Where’s your intuition?

Adrianna Huffington points out it is incredibly easy to get disconnected from your intuition. The pressures of bringing in work, of needing to be busy, of saying “yes” when you should say “no” can cause you to disregard your intuition. And then you will let a trouble maker into your business that will cost you money.

Every successful legal nurse consultant runs this risk, and almost all wish they had listened to their business intuition’s warning signs.

Pat Iyer MSN RN LNCC is president of The Pat Iyer Group.

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