In the left-brain world of business — a world dominated by facts and figures — a right-brain revolution is taking place. Executives are turning more and more to their "inner consultant," more commonly known as "intuition." And the trend is being reflected in a number of surveys and studies.

One such study, the sixth annual PRWeek/Burson Marsteller CEO Survey, (2006) revealed that an amazing 62% of CEOS indicate they're more likely to rely on intuition rather than financial issues, competitive analysis, or other metrics when making business decisions.

While almost everyone has had a "gut feeling" about one thing or another, some might consider it risky to give so much weight to instinct when it comes to making million-dollar decisions. So how do you begin to not only trust your instincts, but also hone the skill to use it effectively for everyday decisions? Be Open to New Possibilities Japanese Zen priest, Shunryu Suzuki once noted, "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few."

Sometimes all it takes to be open to intuitive insight is to have a beginner's mind — curious, interested, willing and inquisitive. Listen to music that is outside your comfort zone. Choose a different route to the office. Drive a little slower. Take a train or bus if you usually drive the car. Try a different kind of ethnic food. If you're usually an extrovert, try being quiet and listening. If you consider yourself shy, practice being confident and extroverted. Try writing the answers to some of the exercises on this page with your opposite hand. Do something creative. Learn to knit. Take a foreign language class. Try a new recipe with a food you've never eaten. Find a new hobby. Read a book on an unfamiliar topic. If you're used to reading dense business tomes, try a murder mystery or a romance novel. Have fun! The purpose of all of this is to give your intuitive mind the message, "I am open to new possibilities." It will reward you with rich insight.

Question Your Assumptions-- You may be feeling stuck because you're making incorrect assumptions about a person, idea or situation. Challenge those notions. Ask yourself questions such as "Is there another way of looking at this?" Or, "What might cause someone to act this way?" The obvious can disguise information that may be critical to understanding your situation. Search for ways to look at the situation differently by changing your perspective. How might you view it from the other person's perspective? If you were an outside observer how would you describe this situation? Be willing to look at your challenge from a number of different ways. When you find yourself thinking, "Obviously..." question whatever words complete that sentence.

Ask Upside-down Questions-- "The silly question is the first intimation of some totally new development," states British mathematician Alfred North Whitehead. He would probably agree that if you think about your problem from an entirely different or "upside down" perspective it may provide some innovative solutions. To use this method, jot down a business challenge you're facing. For example, "We want to increase our sale of widgets in Asia." Now come up with rapid-fire answers to the question, "How can we ensure our widgets won't sell in Asia?" Have fun with this! You're looking for outrageous, creative, harebrained, off-the-wall ideas here. When you're done, choose a few of the more intriguing ones and reverse them, i.e., write the opposite and evaluate your solutions.

Let the intuitive muses provide answers-- Do you ever notice that brilliant, creative answers don't seem to come when you're really focused, intense, and serious? It happens to all of us. You may as well take advantage of this fact and let the muses help you by expanding your options. "Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one you have" says philosopher, Emile Chartier. To begin, choose a topic about which you'd like some fresh insight. Write a line or two about it in your notebook. Now take a fifteen-minute break and do something routine. If you're home — take a shower, wash the dishes or pet the cat. If you're at the office — take a walk outside, grab a latte or simply take the elevator down to the lobby. When the fifteen minutes are up, grab your notebook again and jot down all the new ideas you have at the moment. The great thing is that the intuitive muses enjoy helping you. You just have to give them a work assignment!

Whenever you're trying to come up with new ideas, it helps to keep in mind the wonderful dialog from Alice in Wonderland. Alice laughs and says to the Queen, "There's no use trying. One can't believe impossible things." The Queen replies, "I daresay you haven't had much practice. When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." May you believe impossible things and create wonderful possibilities!

Copyright © 2008 Lynn Robinson