Listen to Your Gut Instincts

How many people have said to you “Listen to your gut!” when you ask them for advice about what you should do in a given situation? Several, I’m willing to bet.

Following your instincts is even more important when you’re an entrepreneur, but not everyone has the innate confidence in their gut feelings that some people just seem to be born with. So, here are a number of tools you can use to help you use your gut instincts.

Move out of your comfort zone

It is very easy to get stuck in a rut and ignore the fact that you are in a place that isn’t really helping you to move forward. When you’re an entrepreneur, you also don’t want to admit that your great idea isn’t working, especially if you’ve put a lot of effort into it. It’s also easy to lie to yourself and believe that it’s going just fine, when in fact it’s turning into a major flop. So, always try to remain objective about any of your projects because that way you’ll be able to ‘hear’ what your gut is telling you.

Build a suggestion box

Perhaps not literally build one, although that might have a purpose in some situations. I’m thinking more of asking people your respect and trust for opinions about your project. There are two ways other people can help you: having a person support your positive instinct about an idea can be the catalyst for your actually doing it; on the reverse side of this, a person who questions an idea may actually make you reappraise your project before you start and find you’ve ignored a flaw. Getting a second opinion from trusted advisers is a very important part of your toolbox.

Always follow your instincts

Having said all that about trusted advisers, I will also say that if you feel that their opinions just aren’t quite right because something inside is telling you that, then do not betray your own instincts and go with another person’s opinion. Weigh up advice, consider the other person’s expertise in relation to your own, but never take anybody else’s word as gospel. It is your vision in the end that matters.

Don’t lie to yourself

One of the ways in which new business founders avoid paying attention to what is really happening is by being ‘busy’. Business blocks out reality, because it feels good to be busy and being very active with meetings, phone calls and emails signals that what you’re doing is successful – right? Yes, I know we all think that, but it’s wrong. Plus, when you’re multitasking you’re actually being less productive.

What I do is create a set of large goals right at the start and every day I do three things that serve those goals. They don’t have to be big things, but they must be aligned with my ‘big picture’. While I’m focused on those tasks, I’m not distracted by the conversations that don’t serve what I want to achieve.

So, now you know when to trust your gut. It’s a vital part of business success.