Two job offers to choose from: Trust your intuition and check if fear is in your way .

  Everyone knows what it feels like to have a pit in your stomach as you weigh a decision. Scientists call the stomach the “second brain” for a reason. There’s a vast neural network of 100 million neurons lining your entire digestive tract which points to the gut’s incredible processing abilities.

When you approach a decision intuitively, your brain works in tandem with your gut to quickly assess all your memories, past learnings, personal needs, and preferences and then makes the wisest decision given the context. In this way, intuition is a form of emotional and experiential data that leaders need to value.

Some of my clients are more intuitive than others The good news is that intuition is like a muscle — it can be strengthened with intentional practice. Here are a few ways to begin leveraging your intuition as helpful decision-making when you have two job offers that you have to choose from start with asking yourself the following questions:

1.     “Which profile do I choose when I only have one minute to decide?”

2.    “ Does it match my core values: freedom, diversity, stability, family, or calmness.”

3.    “How do I feel when you think about this choice?”

4.    “What was my gut reaction?”

5.    “Where in my body do I notice a reaction?”

6.    “Do I feel tense, panicky, or desperate?  Then I know that fear or the opinions of others are in my way.”

Remember, while intuition is not perfect, it’s also a decision-making tool you’re likely underutilizing at the moment. Give yourself the answers and you’ll probably be surprised to find that your gut is a more powerful decision-making tool than you may have realized.