You're navigating the world of business networking. How can intuition guide your effective decision-making?

There have been a handful of times in my career when I ignored my gut instinct and all of those times wound up being a big mistake. For many of us, intuition doesn't lie. Our heads get in the way and start overcomplicating things. Takes a lot for me to go against my gut now.

Firstly, proper decision making should be made based on available data and risk assessment. Nevertheless, gut feeling must always be consistently developed through every experience and most importantly through your organizations core values as business networking becomes straightforward looking through the lenses of your core values, networking with businesses that share similar core values.

Acting as the voice of the customer and leveraging intuition revolutionizes customer experience by transforming it from transactional to deeply personal. When you intuitively understand and anticipate customers' needs and emotions, you don’t just address their current issues—you proactively shape their entire journey. This foresight allows you to craft solutions that resonate on a personal level, creating a seamless and empathetic experience. Customers feel genuinely valued and understood, which not only resolves their issues more effectively but also fosters lasting loyalty. This intuitive approach turns routine interactions into meaningful connections, elevating the overall experience to a remarkable standard.

Trusting your gut is critical and often times not always adhered to during the decision making process. What vibe is this decision projecting? Are all parties trustworthy? Is there something really there, there? Yes, look at the numbers but if there aren’t numbers - look to potential business persons contacts - are they credible? Trust but validate!

Gut is everything - as we get older, all the more so, as we have a bigger bank of memories of what worked and what didn’t. So important

En mi experiencia tanto profesional como personal las personas que hacen pausas, se dan tiempo para el autoconocimiento, para observar, para sentir son las que desarrollan y confían más en su intuición y por lo general no se equivocan.

In my business networking, I have found that following my instincts has been of great help to me; this is a skill I have gained through long years of experience and emotional intelligence. It’s the feeling that alerts me whenever there’s a chance for misalignment in partnerships that may appear lucrative but do not conform with our central values. It allows me to get into relationships founded on trust and having deep meanings in terms of our business thinking. Combining this instinct with critical analysis enables me to effectively navigate intricate environments by selecting partners who genuinely promote our objectives at all times. This tactic has matter, therefore, in forming sustainable successful partnerships.

A intuição também é uma ferramenta importante na escolha de parceiros para negócios. Pode não ser a mais precisa, mas certamente é poderosa em inúmeras vezes. Ela não vem acompanhada apenas de um pensamento subjetivo, muitas vezes vem atrelada de muitas reflexões e testes dentro de jma conversa. Pode ser anexada a pesquisas realizadas e a partir de tudo isso a validação tão esperada.

I would add that while you are learning to trust your intuition, which honestly can take a while to hear clearly and learn to trust, depending on your already established trusted relationships can help. When I’m introduced to a new business connection through a trusted source, I immediately extend a deeper level of trust - a level more closely associated with the person introducing us. The introduction from a trusted source is an invaluable tool in your networking strategy. Intuition comes in to play here in discerning when to ask for, and when to make these introductions.

From my experience, the capability to understand people is essential in business networking. My sixth sense has been trained to decrypt gestures, tone as well as non-verbal indications that may communicate more in comparison with words themselves. With this ability, I can evaluate genuineness, passion and shared interests of people before engaging them in important dealings such as forming partnerships or deals with clients. Thus, when I pick up these subtle cues I can decide who is worth paying close attention to and who should be avoided like a plague. This method reduces the time taken while focusing on relationships that are compatible with my values and business goals thereby leading to fruitful collaborations.

Ler o comportamento das pessoas é essencial quando se tem um norte e um negócio que precisa de identidade. Quantos projetos morreram por parcerias feitas abruptamente, sem estudo e com pessoas desconexas ao propósito? Hoje em uma conversa, é possível estudar e até mesmo identificar o perfil das pessoas através de PNL e outras ferramentas da psicologia. Para os mais práticos, existem palavras e gestos que economizam anos e anos de problemas. Sugestiona-se não ter pressa, avaliar os pontos primordiais, tirar as dúvidas que mais preocupam.

Reading people is too much I think, maybe better phrase would be, Be Mindful of verbal and not verbal clues (while adjusting for culture) and use other means to prove or disprove what you think it means. Its by no means an exact science so don't take it literally.

One thing I’ve found useful is trusting my intuition when reading people. Intuition is often an amalgamation of past experiences and subconscious cues. When meeting someone new, I focus on my initial gut feeling and pay attention to subtle non-verbal signals such as body language, tone of voice, and eye contact. These can reveal more than words alone. However, balance intuition with objective information to avoid biases. Practicing active listening and empathy sharpens intuitive skills, leading to more effective and insightful decision-making.

El lenguaje corporal es muy importante al momento de tomar decisiones y para eso es necesario observar y hacerle caso a tu intuición. Cuando ves que con quien estás interactuando no está cómodo al estar contigo es momento de hablar claro y definir que es lo que está pasando. Es mejor terminar esa relación de trabajo o personal a tiempo para no dañar la relación a largo plazo.

The only thing we can’t negotiate is TIME! No one is promised tomorrow so do the things that matter TODAY! Procrastination robs some many of their dreams and purpose.

O tempo é um fator chave em relação à oportunidade de negócios, network e projetos. Acredito que a experiência de interações passadas ajuda na calibração quando o executivo deve agir ou ter paciência. Nas vendas o tempo é uma das variáveis, que só ocorre se houver alinhamento, entre momento de decidir, tamanho da dor e crença da solução. Eu procuro sempre agir visando esta sinergia, já que todos stakeholders precisam estar alinhados, senão a oportunidade é perdida. Um executivo de alta performance deve ter este faro ou intuição apurado, já que seu resultado depende da arte de gerenciá-lo, também respeitar o tempo natural das coisas.

Timing is everything in business networking. My sixth sense kicks in, guiding me to go for it or hold back on uncertain grounds. You cannot teach this type of timing; rather it can be enhanced through experience and past reflection. I have been able to integrate my intuition into a strategic asset by trusting my gut when to jump and when to wait. This skill of mine helps me maneuver complex networking situations well so as to optimize chances matching my objectives.

En mi parecer es sumamente útil probar rápido una idea, intentar validar si satisface al potencial cliente y si hay disposición a pagar. Finalmente el probar, te permitirá validar tu idea rápidamente y al menor costo posible.

I call it, waiting for the wave on a surfboard, relaxed presence and full awareness of the situation, and when you realise the wave is coming, paddle as fast as you can. Good timing means that when you have enough experience, you will be able to leap effortlessly and during calm waters relax and concentrate on relationships and be present in a moment. Being present is how you get to see the big picture in the first place.

From my own experience, assessing risk is a vital part of business networking. As I go through the process of assessing risks, my sixth sense acts like an internal barometer which alerts me to hidden opportunities or potential red flags. This ability to see what’s not said, in proposals or conversations gives me an edge in negotiations and collaborations. By combining this instinct with thinking analytically, I use the whole approach to taking risks. This strategy not only shields; it also opens up new possibilities for more creative and successful results. My intuitive understanding alongside thorough analysis helps me make decisions that are well-rounded so that they fit within my goals as well as value system.

Active or intuitive listening ensures clear understanding, preventing miscommunications and errors. It shows clients their concerns are valued, fostering trust and building strong relationships. This attentive approach highlights professionalism, enhancing service quality and client satisfaction, ultimately creating lasting value in professional interactions.

In practice, intuitive listening can be a powerful tool for leaders and decision-makers. It allows for a more nuanced understanding of situations, which can lead to better decision-making and stronger relationships. However, it also requires a high degree of emotional intelligence and experience to accurately read these subtle cues without overanalyzing or misinterpreting them. In essence, it’s about balancing logic with empathy, making decisions that are informed by both the spoken word and the unspoken sentiment.

I find active listening absolutely necessary for my networking success, but intuitive listening takes me to greater heights. This requires being sensitive to what’s not said, picking up on the emotions and hidden motives which may shape business decisions. It allows me to understand the thinking behind a pitch or idea better than can be conveyed in words alone. By engaging such understatements, I am able to respond in a way that is consistent with my business goals while maintaining positive human relations. Intuitive listening enables me to engage more deeply ensuring that my engagements are strategic and empathetic, thus promoting stronger ties that are more authentic.

Escutar e melhor do que falar em muitas vezes. Um bom ouvinte consegue fazer captações importantes de comportamento, de profissionalismo, aspectos pessoais, entre outros. Mas o que acaba acontecendo em algumas negociações é a disputa de experiências... A necessidade de enfatizar sua autoafirmação e realizações, acabam por não permitir essa tão fantástica capacidade de escutar e avaliar.

One thing I’ve found useful is trusting my intuition to guide effective decision-making. Intuitive listening involves paying attention to the subtle cues and feelings that arise during conversations. By being present and open, you can better understand underlying messages and emotions. This practice helps in making decisions that align with both logical reasoning and gut feelings. Over time, honing this skill leads to quicker, more accurate judgments, and enhances your ability to connect with others on a deeper level. Trust your instincts—they are often grounded in a wealth of subconscious knowledge and experience.

Everyday is a school day; ability to learn, self reflect admit to yourself when you are wrong and most importantly ability to change is very powerful. Many leader development programs start with ability to look past bias, we all have them and it's a great practice to keep yourself in check.

One thing I’ve found useful is trusting my intuition to guide effective decision-making. When faced with complex choices, it’s often that gut feeling, shaped by our experiences, that points us in the right direction. Reflective practice plays a crucial role here. By regularly taking the time to reflect on past decisions and their outcomes, you build a stronger connection to your intuitive sense. This practice not only sharpens your instincts but also fosters a deeper understanding of your decision-making process. So, lean into that inner voice, reflect often, and let your intuition guide you to more thoughtful and confident choices.

To see myself, I must look back at some of the decisions that I have made and their outcomes. This reflection helps me to see how my intuition has guided me in the past in order to improve my decision-making skills for future networking opportunities. In addition, this self-awareness provides a basis for me to trust my hunches as an important tool. It goes well with traditional business analysis as well as strategic planning so that both are comprehensive enough to be effective towards realizing what I aim for.

Reflexão sobre intuição Viver os fatos, saber quando precisamos de dados, estar aberta ao que nos desconforta, ter a capacidade de associar, ter clareza, faz da intuição a nossa aliada. Melhor ainda se o entorno fica também melhor com tudo isso.