In this latest leadership blog, Sofia Kuhn, Director of Public Insights and Engagement at EIT Food, discusses the fact we’ve been taught to seek outside validation for every decision—be it from data, experts, or even the opinions of others. While these inputs are valuable, they shouldn’t completely overshadow the inner voice even when it’s not “proven” by a chart or metric. Find out more about “Why It’s Time to Rethink the ‘Clean Your Plate’ Mentality.”

When I completed 9th grade in the Swedish school system, equivalent to the UK’s GCSEs, I received top grades in Physical Education. “It’s not for your athletic prowess”, the teacher said, “but for your instinctive leadership skills”. At the time, I didn’t think much of it apart from feeling I hadn’t done much to deserve the grade. Looking back now, this is how I think it all connects.

In a world where data drives decisions and perfectionism is glorified, many of us have lost touch with a fundamental aspect of ourselves: our instincts. As leaders – particularly those of us closely tied to the academic world like me – we’ve been conditioned to prioritise rational, evidence-based decision-making, often sidelining the quiet voice within that guides us. Yet, our gut instinct evolved as a powerful tool for survival, one that I believe we can still rely on today to become better leaders and to build stronger, more cohesive teams.

The Evolution of Gut Instinct

My interest in science led me to study Biological Sciences at university, where Evolution quickly became one of my favourite subjects. I often find myself drawing on evolutionary principles when discussing human behaviour in society—particularly during dinner conversations with my husband, who studied politics and social sciences. Over time, I’ve realised that combining these disciplines provides a deeper, more nuanced understanding of our world. This blend of biology and social science enriches my perspective, helping me navigate and make sense of society and the complex relationships within it and most importantly, it’s taught me that trusting my inner voice is only natural and in fact, beneficial.

Gut instinct, often described as a “sixth sense” or “inner voice,” is more than just a fleeting feeling; it’s an evolved survival mechanism that has guided human behaviour for millennia. From the earliest days of humanity, our ancestors relied on gut instincts to make quick decisions in life-or-death situations—whether it was evading predators, finding food, or navigating social dynamics within groups. This instinctive decision-making process is deeply rooted in the brain-gut connection, also known as the gut-brain axis, which consists of complex neural pathways and biochemical signals between the gut and the brain (Mayer, 2011).

The gut contains about 100 million neurons, sometimes called the “second brain,” which influence our emotions, stress responses, and decision-making processes (Furness, 2012). This evolutionary trait allowed early humans to respond quickly and effectively to their environment, making gut instinct a key factor in survival and social interactions.

Unlearning to Listen: The Modern Disconnect

Despite its evolutionary importance, modern society has conditioned us to override our gut feelings in favour of rational analysis, data, and external validation. The rise of technology, information overload, and the emphasis on logical decision-making in professional settings have led many to ignore their instincts. Added to that, societal norms often discourage emotional expression and intuitive decision-making, labelling them as unreliable or unprofessional.

One simple example of how we’ve lost touch with our gut instinct is rooted in something as simple as eating. Many of us grew up being told to “clean your plate,” regardless of whether we were still hungry. This practice conditions us to ignore our body’s natural signals telling us we’re full. Over time, we stop trusting those signals and instead rely on external factors (like portion size or the clock) to tell us when to stop eating.

The same pattern applies in leadership. We’ve been taught to seek outside validation for every decision—be it from data, experts, or even the opinions of others. While these inputs are valuable, they shouldn’t completely overshadow the inner voice even when it’s not “proven” by a chart or metric.

This disconnect from our gut instincts can result in indecision, increased stress, and missed opportunities. A study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior found that leaders who rely solely on data-driven decision-making often overlook valuable insights that come from intuition, resulting in less effective leadership outcomes (Sadler-Smith, 2016).

Re-Learning to Listen

To become better leaders, I believe we must reconnect with our instincts and learn to balance intuition with rational thinking. Here are some steps to re-learn and harness gut instincts:

  1. Quiet the Noise: In our busy lives, it’s easy for the voice of intuition to get drowned out. To hear it more clearly, we need to create space for reflection. For me, my work with horses helps. Training horses requires me to be (mentally) quiet to understand their non-verbal cues. I must react quickly and trust that my brain has calculated what to do in response to the horses’ cues. It’s the most amazing feeling which allows my instinct to rise above the noise of external pressures.
  2. Balance Data with Intuition: We must recognise that both intuition and evidence are valuable, and the best decisions often come when the two work in harmony.
  3. Reflect on Past Successes and Failures: Look back at decisions where you trusted your gut versus those where you ignored it. What were the outcomes? This reflection can help rebuild your trust in your instincts.
  4. Empower Your Team’s Intuition: Encourage your team to listen to their instincts as well. Create a culture where “gut feelings” are valued alongside data. This goes hand in hand with creating an environment where making a mistake is simply a way to learn.
  5. Embrace Imperfection: Perfection is unattainable and added to that, ambiguous, and striving for it can hold you back from making important decisions. Understand that no choice is ever guaranteed to be flawless, and trusting your gut can sometimes be the bold move that gets you closer to success.

Are you ready to give up on always ‘cleaning your plate’?

Our gut instinct is a powerful tool that has evolved over thousands of years to guide us in making quick, effective decisions. By reconnecting with our intuitive sense, leaders can make more holistic decisions that align with their values and lead to greater success. It’s time to re-learn to listen and trust the knowledge and guidance that lies within ourselves and harness our gut instinct for better leadership.

References

  • Furness, J. B. (2012). The Enteric Nervous System and Gastrointestinal Innervation. Neurogastroenterology & Motility, 24(9), 807-825.
  • Mayer, E. A. (2011). Gut Feelings: The Emerging Biology of Gut–Brain Communication. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 12(6), 453-466.
  • Sadler-Smith, E. (2016). The Role of Intuition in Organizational Decision Making. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 37(1), 99-111.

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