When you make decisions, do you rely on intuition? Or do you thoroughly reason through your options? What approach is better?
We have two decision making modes, intuition and deliberation. Different thinkers have called these modes different names, but the general idea is the same.
We can make decisions impulsively based on a gut feeling, known as intuition. Or we can be slow and analytical, weighing the pros and cons- deliberation.
We are often told that it’s best to be rational and deliberative during decision making. There is a good reason for that. Going with your gut can lead to decisions that are based on stereotypes, and are often flawed.
For example, hiring decisions are based heavily on the “feeling” that employers get about potential employees. Employers also compare potential hires to a prototype of what a “good” employee should look like.
Is there any room for intuition? Or should we slow down and make pros-and-cons lists for every important decision? That doesn’t seem right, either. In some cases, we feel that we should use intuition. But what are those cases? When is intuition actually judged to be the more appropriate strategy?
When selecting a person to date, a kitten to adopt, or a playlist for a party, it’s better to go with your gut. But when choosing a laptop, making a medical decision, or deciding on an investment, most people agree that you ought to take a deliberative approach—hiring decisions also fell into this category.
It’s ironic that we are bombarded with messaging that pushes us to be true to ourselves, while at the same time, we are often encouraged not to make rash, intuitive judgments. It’s no wonder that even simple decisions can provoke anxiety when we are trying to fulfill so many goals at once.
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