When data meets instinct

The thing about judgment and “gut feeling” is that it’s probably one of the most underrated factors in decision-making. Even when we’re swimming in data and have gathered every possible opinion, it usually comes down to a leap of judgment at some point.

Think about it. It starts with gut feeling right from the beginning: deciding which data we should even bother collecting, which customers we should talk to, and what questions are worth asking. Then later, when we’re stuck choosing between two solutions or strategies that both look equally good on paper, it’s often that same gut feeling, backed by experience, that helps us make the final call.

That’s why senior leaders are so valuable. They’ve been through countless situations and have honed their instincts. Is it perfect? No way. But it’s often the best tool we have for navigating those tricky gaps between the data, the opinions, and all the things we just don’t know.

Decisions that really drive results need both data and opinions along with wisdom. Sometimes you simply need to trust your judgment. It’s that straightforward.