94: Should Operations Executives Trust Their Gut?

Find the full transcript for this episode at yourfuturerealized.com/94.

How often do you find yourself in a meeting, the conversation swirling, and suddenly everyone’s looking to you for the answer? You know that moment when you are expected to cut through the noise and make a call fast. And past all the data, there’s an inner voice nudging you.

What do you do? Do you go with the numbers, or do you trust that gut feeling you can’t quite put your finger on?

You don’t always need all the answers to make a good decision. Sometimes, you need to just hit pause, check in on what you know, and trust your own judgment.

Imagine feeling just a bit more confident, right when you need it most, in those high-pressure moments?

In this episode, you’ll get a practical way to bring intuition into your decision-making, without tossing out the data. 

Transcript

How often do you find yourself in a meeting, the conversation swirling, and suddenly everyone’s looking to you for the answer? You know that moment when you are expected to cut through the noise and make a call fast. And past all the data, there’s an inner voice nudging you.

What do you do? Do you go with the numbers, or do you trust that gut feeling you can’t quite put your finger on?

You don’t always need all the answers to make a good decision. Sometimes, you need to just hit pause, check in on what you know, and trust your own judgment.

Imagine feeling just a bit more confident, right when you need it most, in those high-pressure moments?

In this episode, you’ll get a practical way to bring intuition into your decision-making, without tossing out the data. Find the full transcript for this episode at yourfuturerealized.com/94.

Hey Ops Execs,

Why Trusting Your Gut Matters in Operations

Every day, you’re expected to deliver answers at the speed of business. There’s a reason you’re the backbone of your organization. You see the big stuff and the details. And you know better than anyone that the pressure to decide fast is always there.

With dashboards, data, and AI everywhere, it’s easy to feel like there’s no room for your own judgment.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of overthinking, or to freezing up when the stakes are high. But here’s the secret: more often than not, you may already have what you need to make a solid call. You just need a way to access it. That’s where the “Intuitive Call” comes in.

It doesn’t mean ignoring the facts or winging it. It means letting yourself pause, listening to your gut, and putting your considerable experience right next to the data.

Now, don’t get me wrong: Your gut is not a magic eight ball. Sometimes our instincts are off, especially when you’re tired, stressed, or working with old assumptions. That’s why it’s so important to check your intuition against the facts before you make the call. The real power comes from using both, your experience and the data, side by side.

How to Make Your Own Intuitive Call: Step-by-Step

Here’s how to make your own Intuitive Call:

1. When you’re faced with a decision, pause for a moment, even if it’s just for one breath.
2. Ask yourself, “What’s my first read on this?” Notice what comes to mind, no judgment.
3. Then, quickly scan the facts. Does the data support your instinct, or is there something you need to double-check?
4. Weigh the risk: “If I trust myself here, what’s the upside? If I ignore my gut, what might I miss?”
5. Make your call, knowing you’ve honored both your knowledge and your intuition.

You’re practical, resourceful, and you care about getting it right, for your team, your company, and yourself. But sometimes, your drive for accuracy might make you second-guess what you already know deep down.

The Intuitive Call doesn’t mean rushing. It just means trusting your judgment, especially when things are moving fast and there’s no clear answer. In the end, it’s about making the best call you can with what you have. And you’re in your position for a reason.

Build Confidence by Trusting Yourself

Try this today: Think back to a recent decision where your first instinct was spot-on. What did that feel like? What helped you recognize it?

Now, the next time you need to decide, big or small, pause for your Intuitive Call. Notice your gut reaction, check it against the facts, and then make the call. 

After, ask yourself: Did that pause help? Did you feel more sure, or less stressed?

Confidence comes from trusting yourself, not from knowing it all. You build it as you go.

I’ll leave you with this question: What happens if you give your instincts a seat at the table, just for today?

Ready to Take Action? Join the Five-Day Challenge

If you want to build even more confidence in your decisions, check out my free five-day challenge, Decisive Through Disruption. Head over to yourfuturerealized.com/challenge to learn more. I’d love to see you there!

You can’t stop the chaos, but you can change the game.