You know that quiet inner voice that tells us when things are not quite right?

It says, “Hey something is off here.” Yes, that voice that people rarely listen to, that’s the one.

Intuition is one of the most underrated qualities in business. In my role as a business consultant, I often find myself reminding clients to listen to that quiet voice, especially as it pertains to hiring. This is often the most dynamic and challenging piece of business management.

I have often found myself across the desk from a potential hire who looks fantastic on paper, yet something doesn’t sit well with me. Every time I have ignored this sense I have regretted it. This quiet voice inside has never been wrong. Ever.

Yet I still find myself questioning it often. I try to rationalize all the reasons I should ignore that gut instinct. I will even find myself arguing about what the voice is saying in my head.

Through trial and error I have found that when I ignore or choose to dispute this quiet voice, I eventually find out why the voice is telling me to go another way.

I remember one hire I made at a restaurant I managed. My gut was telling me that something was terribly wrong. The applicant was saying everything I wanted him to say, and it was hard for my logical brain to not latch on to him. I chose to ignore this voice and I found within a few short days why my gut was reeling.

He soon proved to be a liar and thief. I caught him stealing tips from other servers after I hired him. When I confronted him about his actions he denied them. He continued to deny them when faced with video evidence. I learned the hard way from him, and other equally valuable lessons, to never ignore that gut feeling.

If you are ever faced with a choice in life or business always trust your gut reaction. It will never steer you in the wrong direction.

Trust that the still quiet voice it is only looking out for you.

 

Author: Eric Landin

Apprentice Editor: Kathy Baum / Editor: Renée Picard

Image: markusspiske at Flickr