Trusting Your Gut: A Key Ingredient of Authentic Leadership

Have you ever been faced with a decision, where the data in front of you suggested an outcome that felt morally unsound? I’m not saying that data merely surprised you. I’m thinking about those times when the data’s implications challenged you at your core. In our data-driven world, we often overlook one of our most valuable decision-making tools: intuition. 

Photo credit: Pavel Muravev on iStock

One of my clients, Jennifer*, recently faced a career-defining dilemma when her manager, a C-level executive, wanted to nominate her for a high-visibility assignment. Although forecasted to drive double-digit profit increases this year, the controversial project risked harming the company's public image. Despite her intense ambition, Jennifer questioned the ultimate impact of tying her reputation to a dicey near-term win.

The decision consumed her, causing sleepless nights for weeks. The opportunity's allure was undeniable: a larger leadership scope and increased visibility among company leadership and industry partners. Yet something felt fundamentally wrong. During our coaching sessions, we explored various scenarios and pulled relevant insights from the JEWEL leadership research.

While I always advocate for data-driven decision-making, I also emphasize this truth: when a decision feels ethically, morally, or strategically misaligned, your intuition deserves serious consideration. In other words, learn to trust your gut. 

Stop to notice the somatic signals

Kristin*, a startup founder, has learned to recognize her body's warning system: when she experiences a persistent queasiness for several consecutive days, she knows it's time to step back and diagnose the situation before implementing targeted changes. Earlier in her career as an investment banker, Kristin ignored a similar discomfort for months before finally acknowledging it was time to pivot to a different industry.

During a critical growth phase years later, her CTO directly confronted her: "You've been rocking and rolling, full of confidence, moving forward... but you're not now." Though difficult to hear initially, the feedback helped Kristin recognize that a problematic thought partner was undermining her confidence. By acknowledging these physical signals, she was able to design appropriate next steps to return to peak performance. When she ultimately founded her own venture, her self-awareness became invaluable in recognizing and addressing challenges before they derailed company progress.

Block out the outside noise and listen to your inner voice

A talented attorney on her firm’s partnership track, Malika* faced blatant criticism when she became pregnant at 29. The opportunity that was once virtually guaranteed vanished overnight. Devastated by how colleagues without families could pass such judgment, she eventually turned inward and determined, "You have to decide whether you want to make a business decision about your life or a personal decision about your life. Whatever decision you make, you have to be authentic to yourself." She left the firm when her baby was less than a year old. 

Jessica* is a higher education leader who began her career in management consulting. Despite rapid advancement on a lucrative track, something felt missing. While traveling to a client, she found herself sharing a meal with members of an orchestra. Their work-related passion and engagement made Jessica question her underlying motivations, catalyzing a career change that more closely aligned with her values.

Make surprising moves when you truly believe

Authentic leadership can lead to decisions that surprise us— provided we maintain clarity about our values and understand the principles we're weighing. Choice inherently involves trade-offs. The key is maintaining an acceptable level of comfort with that which you are giving up at any decision point.

Consider Ruth*, an entrepreneur who secured her largest client contract when her second child was just nine weeks old. Despite intense family and peer pressure to delay her return to work, she recognized this as a transformative opportunity for her new business. After much delibration, Ruth’s infant became the youngest child ever enrolled at their daycare. "I had faith," she reflected, "that I would get to the point where the sacrifice would be worth it." Her intuition about the business opportunity—despite its personal costs—proved correct.

Use small experiments to get used to listening to yourself

Building an intuitive decision-making muscle requires practice. Jeannine*, a physician executive, learned from an early mentor who encouraged her to trust herself, even when he disagreed with her approach (note: this was limited to procedures that wouldn't impact patient outcomes). When she ordered additional bloodwork early in her career, he’d often respond: "I wouldn't, but you should because that's how you're going to learn. Go with your gut instinct."

Another of Jeannine’s influential mentors distinguishes herself by listening carefully, offering a couple observations, and characteristically concluding with: "Only you know what to do." Her empowering stance has consistently reinforced Jeannine’s intuition and judgment for nearly two decades.

Hidden gems for trusting yourself leadership & decision-making

Trusting yourself to act according to your intuition and values– or listening to yourself before acting solely based on data– lies at the heart of authentic leadership. This doesn't mean always taking the safe or expected path, but rather:

• Recognize somatic warning signs that warrant deeper examination

• Filter out noise to align with your core values and the professional legacy to which you aspire: ask how you want to be known in 10 years and whether this decision supports that vision

• Have courage to make unexpected choices, while clearly understanding and accepting the trade-offs involved

• Build intuitive strength through smaller decisions before facing career-defining dilemmas

When did you learn to trust your gut? What principles guided you? Share your experiences in the comments so others may benefit from your hard-won wisdom.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals