"Young lady, are you sure you're in the right place?"

Those were the first words spoken to me when, at the tender age of 25, I attended my first trade show in Europe. I was sent to represent my family’s interests after the passing of my father, a great and prolific businessman who was adored by many. When I think back to that moment, all that keeps playing in my mind is: “What in the world was I thinking?”

Confidence of youth, or so I thought — when you have nothing standing before you but the blissful ignorance of not fully understanding what you are engaging in, and charge ahead anyway. Your thought process goes something like, “I’ll figure it out somehow.” Whether or not I really figured it out doesn’t matter; the point is that I showed up anyway. Taking that first step into a world unknown to me gave me the motivation to get involved, contribute to the family business and grow into a role that had been waiting for me. I didn’t realize until later that a much greater gift was set in motion that day, which not only helped me attend, but more importantly, stay at the trade show. It was my intuition: this subtle ability to know what has not explicitly been said or shown.

Lesson 1: Show up no matter what, and focus on what you have to gain; knowledge will come later.

"Why was I sent here?" I thought. But more importantly, why did I accept? Why should I engage in the business world? Simply put, that moment — faced with the fear of failure and the possibility of disappointment — made me realize that I  could circumvent my perceived shackles and contribute; that my mark, my place, was going to be defined by me and me alone. That I could answer that bell when called upon, have my character tested and be transformed within seconds. Now it was about honing my skills, and with time, perfecting them, so that I could depend on myself as part of my business acumen.

Lesson 2: Stand still in the storm of doubt, and then walk right through to the other side.

That is my story — a familiar one for many women in business — which puts experience over luck and wisdom over smarts, involves never second guessing, being aware as opposed to inattentive and staying completely connected to the people and things that matter on your trajectory to becoming an effective intuitive leader.

 

Lesson 3: Make a conscious choice to apply attitudes that give you strength to face anything.

Where does one go to find that strength? For me, it was in the belief that I was called to participate in something bigger than my limitations, that I would be tested and scrutinized by the most discerning eye, waiting and watching for me to trip and fall. This is where I understood to not let myself sway in the direction of the course that seemed best to take. That I needed to focus from within, use my inner vision, and not depend on what was in front of me. What you are looking at, or listening to, is sometimes very one-dimensional and can be misleading. Search inward and you will find that place no one else can "see" but you.

 

Lesson 4: Call upon your inner vision. Like anything else, it takes practice; the more you search for it, and listen to it when found, the easier it gets to access.

What is intuition? It starts as a hum, then a whisper. And then when ignored, it becomes a thunder. It is the guiding force and light behind every great decision ever taken. It requires you to stand very still in front of what you are facing. Clear all other noise that is around you. Focus: Look at the problem, issue, project, person, whatever the object of your decision-making pertains to. Then without a doubt, you will clearly get a "gut feel" that will guide you through right and wrong. If you set it aside, and it persists, it needs to be listened to. It serves as a reminder to hold steadfastly in any undertaking, and that no one else has the power to penetrate that life force and disturb its mission, which is to deliver the right course of action for you.

 

Lesson 5: Align your intuition with data and analytical information, and your decision making will be the better for it.

Intuitive leaders have an innate wisdom about them, as opposed to leaders who simply have the right pedigree. They have a strong sense about people, can anticipate trends and move with great confidence through any situation they are faced with, and take action without waiting for facts and figures. Albert Einstein once said, "The only real valuable thing is intuition." In a world of conflicting data and too many options, intuition is the one constant skill set that is there for the asking. The good news is, we all have it.