The Power of Intuition: Lessons from Sports and Leadership

"The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes." – Marcel Proust

In every sphere of life, from the sports arena to the boardroom, we face moments when logic and analysis are insufficient. These are situations where uncertainty reigns, and there are no clear rules or data at hand to help make an immediate decision. What drives success in such moments? Often, it’s intuition—the ability to sense the right course of action without conscious reasoning.

For top athletes, intuition can mean the difference between winning and losing. In high-pressure moments, they rely on split-second decisions that feel instinctive but are actually rooted in years of practice and pattern recognition. For example, a tennis player anticipating an opponent’s next move or a quarterback identifying an opening in the defence isn’t guessing—they’re drawing on a mental library of past experiences, internalised through thousands of hours of deliberate practice.

Similarly, in the workplace, leaders and professionals often rely on their “gut feeling” to navigate ambiguity, seize opportunities, and make impactful decisions. But what is intuition? and can it be understood or even cultivated?

What Is Intuition?

The word intuition comes from the Latin intueri, meaning “to look inside.” It’s often described as the ability to process complex, uncertain, or incomplete information to arrive at insights or decisions. Unlike assumptions—which are often impulsive and emotionally driven—intuition emerges from deep engagement, focused learning, and subconscious synthesis.

Pioneering leaders and elite performers across fields often credit their success to their ability to trust their intuition. This capability allows them to identify patterns, predict outcomes, and make decisions that others may overlook.

Intuition in Sports and Leadership

Henri Poincaré once said, “It is through science that we prove, but through intuition that we discover.”

In both sports and leadership, intuition acts as a discovery tool, revealing opportunities and solutions that are not immediately obvious.

• In Sports: A basketball player who takes a game-winning shot does so based on a feel for the game, honed through countless hours of practice. Their intuition helps them process the position of teammates, opponents, and the clock, all in an instant.
• In Leadership: A CEO navigating a complex business challenge often has to make decisions without complete information. Intuition allows them to anticipate trends, detect subtle dynamics, and act decisively in rapidly changing environments.

Research shows that professionals like accountants and engineers, who begin their careers with a highly analytical approach, often develop greater reliance on intuition as they transition into leadership roles. This shift occurs because intuition is essential for addressing ambiguity and complexity, areas where logic alone may fall short.

Cognadev’s Role in Unlocking Intuition

Cognadev has dedicated decades to understanding and measuring the cognitive and intuitive processes that underpin effective decision-making. Through tools like the Cognitive Process Profile (CPP) and Learning Orientation Index (LOI), Cognadev enables individuals and organisations to:

• Assess how people process information and navigate complex situations.
• Identify the cognitive preferences that influence intuitive insights.
• Build confidence in decision-making by helping individuals understand and trust their intuition.

The CPP, for example, is a simulation-based assessment that measures how individuals approach unfamiliar tasks. It tracks thousands of data points to reveal how they handle ambiguity and complexity. This insight empowers professionals to make better decisions, faster.

Additionally, Cognadev’s Value Orientations (VO) tool helps assess a person’s worldview and decision-making framework, offering deeper insights into their intuitive capabilities and cultural alignment within organisations.

Developing Intuition in the Workplace

Just as athletes refine their intuition through practice, professionals can cultivate their intuitive abilities by:

1. Engaging in Diverse Experiences: Exposure to varied challenges enhances pattern recognition.
2. Reflecting on Past Decisions: Reviewing successes and failures helps build a repository of knowledge.
3. Leveraging Assessment Tools: Tools like Cognadev’s CPP and VO provide actionable insights into cognitive and intuitive strengths.

Conclusion: Trusting the Gut with Confidence

Intuition isn’t magic—it’s the result of deeply ingrained expertise and subconscious processing. By understanding how intuition works and using tools to measure and develop it, organisations can unlock greater potential in their leaders and teams.

Cognadev’s assessments provide the science behind the “gut feeling,” equipping individuals with the confidence to trust their instincts in high-stakes situations. Whether on the playing field or in the boardroom, intuition remains a powerful ally in achieving excellence.