Go With Your Gut for Career Success

By Colleen's Contributor: Career Strategies Investigator, Jerilyn Willin

A police detective once told me “When you feel something is wrong, it probably is. Turn around. Back away. Always go with your gut.”

This sage advice applies to far more than safety. We’ve all been there, on the precipice of a big decision and accosted by dueling banjos of thought.

“Do it,” says your heart. “You love a challenge.”

“But what if you screw up?” says your head. “The last time you did something like this it didn’t work.”

Which to follow?

Go with your gut. Your gut may not be in that conversation between heart and head because it has already spoken. Your gut was the voice that spoke immediately after the situation presented itself. It’s that first voice, the one that speaks in five words or less, the one that gives an opinion right away before emotions (your heart) or fear (your head) begin to duel.

According to some researchers, we are rarely confused. We just don’t like what our gut has said, so we begin to banter between heart and head. Once that starts we can talk ourselves into or out of almost anything.

Early in my career I came out of a second interview with my gut screaming “NO! NO!” When the job offer came, I was seduced by the title and the salary. You guessed it. I took the job and lasted a year before I left without another job. In a later, happier scenario I listened to my initial reaction and when the offer came, I called another possible employer who had interviewed me but had not made an offer yet and told them the situation. That afternoon I had an offer from the preferred company and stayed there happily for almost a decade.

Listening to your gut (or instinct, if you want a more refined word) isn’t just about the job search…your gut can talk to you in meetings, during conversations, when you are writing an email or in the middle of a project. What is the business equivalent of the detective’s advice to “turn around, back away?” If something doesn’t feel right, check it out.

When you become aware of “that feeling” (tight shoulders, nervous/clenched stomach), ask yourself, “Where’s this coming from?” Get away from distractions (even if it means taking refuge in the restroom) and listen. Is this feeling new? When did you first notice it? If it seemed to come from nowhere, even more reason to check it out. Sometimes our gut picks up a tone, non-verbal signals or an atmosphere that our busy mind is too distracted to notice.

If you can pinpoint when you believe it started, another type of “guts” may have to come into play. If it began after a conversation/email, check it out with the other person. “Ever since our conversation I have felt unsettled. How do you feel about …” or some such conversation starter.

Think about it. In your experience, has your gut ever misdirected you? Mine hasn’t and I can give you examples of many missteps before I learned to listen and trust. Remember…five words or less. “Speak up now”, “call that client”, “you can do it”, “don’t hit send”, “check out this tension”.

All you have to do is listen.