Get All Access for $5/mo

Leading With Your Gut Your gut is an important decision-making tool- so don't dismiss it so quickly when it comes to call and let it lead the way.

By Medy Navani

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

The common saying "go with your gut" can be considered one of the most accurate ways to make decisions. Our bodies are well-oiled machines, the brain picking up on cues we might not necessarily be actively aware of but subconsciously taking in from our environment. When it comes to people and our initial thoughts, we are quick to listen to our gut, so why should we not use this same tactic when it comes to business?

Our gut is what has allowed us to survive since we were mere cavemen and was vital as a protection mechanism. We are continually analyzing information in our immediate surroundings, learning and gaining experiences that ultimately lead us to grow and to trust our own intuition. When we feel something in our gut, the reality is our past and current knowledge taking effect through a physical reaction.

Going with your initial thoughts allows for quick decision-making which is, more often than not, accurate in hindsight. Although it is also important to rely on facts and figures at times, for those in-the-moment decisions, go with instinct. In a survey by Queen's University, it stated that 41% of leaders that took part listened to their own intuition more than data or analytics and over 65% when it came to decisions that involved their team.

Your brain is constantly reprogramming itself to take in new information and process it. This is to ensure you are always ready to react to unknown situations that may occur. For example, have you ever been driving home from work, preoccupied from the day's happenings to then find yourself parked outside your house with little memory as to how you got there? Although it may seem dangerous, your brain has been trained to take that trip day in and day out, and therefore is intuitively able to "drive" without complete cognitive awareness.

Of course, certain situations require a little more than intuition as this is very much an instinctual process and perfect for making quick decisions, rather than those that need to be more thought out. Also, be aware that your gut may hold bias and sometimes a little more weight is needed to back a decision. However, your gut is an important decision-making tool- so don't dismiss it so quickly when it comes to call and let it lead the way.

Related: Maintaining A Healthy Mind And Body Is Key To Finding Balance As An Entrepreneur

Medy Navani

CEO, Design Haus Medy

Medy Navani is the CEO of Design Haus Medy. Established in 2006, Design Haus Medy is an award-winning architecture and interior design practice based in Dubai. With over 233 projects completed, Design Haus Medy uses a bespoke approach for each client, rich in intellectual rigor and creativity, to develop inspiring places with a powerful visual impact.
Entrepreneurs

Mind Rockets Wants To Give A Voice To MENA's Deaf Community

MENA startup Mind Rockets have tasked themselves with the mission of developing assistive tech solutions to make the world accessible to the deaf community.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Leadership

The 10 Communication Skills Every Entrepreneur Must Master

Today's field of communication is much wider than the fields available to generations past. Are you maximizing your message?

Entrepreneurs

Urban Flair: Sole DXB Partners Rajat Malhotra, Joshua Cox, And Hussain Moloobhoy

Rajat Malhotra, Joshua Cox, and Hussain Moloobhoy, share what it takes to launch (and grow) Sole DXB, a regional festival for fashion, culture, art and design.

Business News

'Not a Cost Play': Amazon CEO Clarifies Why Employees Have to Come Back to the Office

The return-to-office mandate was not a "backdoor layoff," according to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.

Entrepreneurs

The Success And Multiplier Effects That Careem's Acquisition By Uber Will Have On The Middle East's Startup Ecosystem

This injection of capital, inspiration, and experience into the ecosystem will have a long reaching effect on the region.