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Mindset Shift: Trust your Instinct · Sandra Elizabeth - The Leadership Collective

• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Leadership is shaped by the way we think, the decisions we make, and the courage we show when it matters most.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Sandra Elizabeth, and this is the Leadership Collective, a space where we challenge old thinking, develop stronger leadership, and become more intentional about who we are becoming.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Today, as part of our Mindset Shift series, we are exploring what it means to lead with instinct.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_00: As you face your week ahead, do not ignore what you notice.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to your instincts, examine the facts, and have the courage to take the next right step.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: Good leaders listen to their instincts.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_00: Wise leaders investigate what their instincts are telling them.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Shift your thinking, strengthen your leadership, and prepare for the next level.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: Leadership is not only about what you know, it is about what you notice.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: It is the ability to walk into a room and sense that the atmosphere has changed.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: It is noticing when a team member says, hey, everything is fine, but their energy tells you something different.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: It is recognizing that an opportunity looks impressive on paper, yet something about it requires a closer look.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: If you're a strong leader, you won't only listen to words.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: You will notice patterns, you will notice timing, you will notice behavior and morale.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: That is leadership instinct.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: But leading with instinct does not mean, you know, making careless decisions based on your feelings.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: It does not mean ignoring facts or just assuming that every concern is correct.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_00: Leading with instinct means paying attention to the inner signal and then having the wisdom to go out there and investigate what it is telling you.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: The mindset shift is pretty simple.
• 2:14
  SPEAKER_00: Stop dismissing what you notice.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: Start examining it.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: By now you're probably asking, what is instinct?
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: Instinct is an immediate inner response that happens just before you have consciously worked through every detail.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes people describe it as a gut feeling.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: Others describe it as an intuition or an inner knowing or even a check in their spirit.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: Some describe it as a sense that something deserves attention.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_00: See, your instinct may appear as caution, slow down, something is not right.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: It may also appear as a direction.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: There is potential here.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: Look more closely.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: Instinct is not some kind of magic that you have.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: It often comes from your experience, your observation, and the knowledge that you have stored beneath your conscious thinking.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: Your mind will recognize a pattern before you can clearly explain it.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: How many times have you experienced this?
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: Think about it.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: Think of an instinct as an internal alert system, an internal warning system, a red flag.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes red flags come dressed as orange flags.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Let's take a look at it this way.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: An alarm goes off.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: It never tells you what exactly happened, it tells you to go and investigate.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: And in the same way, instinct is not always the final decision.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: It is often the first signal.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: Oprah Winfrey calls it the internal moral and emotional GPS.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: She described the importance of developing that internal moral and emotional GPS as something within you that helps you identify the next right move.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: Her career did not begin with a complete picture of the influence she would eventually have.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_00: She started working in television while she was still young.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: As her career developed, she started to discover that her purpose was not simply to appear on television.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: She wanted to use the platform to inform, to connect, and to uplift people.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_00: That clarity did not all arrive at once.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: In her 2013 Harvard Commencement Address, she spoke about an experience that helped focus her internal GPS.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: In 1994, she interviewed a nine-year-old girl who had collected spare change to help people in need.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: Oprah then began to consider what she could already accomplish by inviting her viewers to do the same.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: That idea helped lead to the angel network and connected her daily work to a much, much more greater purpose.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: So, what is the leadership lesson in that?
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: Oprah did not wait until she could see the entire journey.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: She paid attention to what moved her, what aligned her with her values, and what felt like the next right thing to do.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Instinct does not always reveal the full plan.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes it only reveals your next move.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_00: A leader does not always ask, can I see the entire outcome?
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: The better question would be: what is the next right move?
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_00: It may be to ask another question, it may be to delay a decision, it may be a time to pause, it may be a time to explore an opportunity, to check on a team member, or even address an issue.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Let's take a look at John Maxwell.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: He is a leadership expert and he calls intuition a law of leadership.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: His teaching is that leaders evaluate what they see through a leadership lens.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_00: Experienced leaders learn to read more than just numbers.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_00: They read people, they read morale, they read timing, they read energy, and they recognize when a team is losing confidence, when an opportunity is mistimed, or even when an apparently small concern could become a much larger problem.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_00: Good leaders will listen to their instincts.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_00: Wise leaders will always investigate what their instincts are telling them.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: Look at your work situation, look at your personal situation, look at your personal relationships.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_00: Be a good leader and look at what your instincts are telling you.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: Number one, shift from your self-doubt to leadership awareness.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_00: Many leaders sense when something is wrong, but immediately talk themselves out of it.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: Have you experienced that?
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, you may be saying, Maybe I am overthinking, maybe I'm too sensitive, maybe I'm creating unnecessary tension, or what if I'm wrong?
• 7:09
  SPEAKER_00: So you ignore the change in morale, you overlook repeated behavior, you delay a necessary conversation because nobody else appears concerned.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: But paying attention is not the same as making an accusation.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_00: Your instinct may not be giving you a conclusion, it may be inviting you to become more aware.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_00: A self-aware leader can say, I noticed that something has changed, I will not ignore it, and I will not react impulsively, I will examine it, I will do my research, I will do my homework.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_00: That is the first mindset shift, moving from automatically dismissing yourself to becoming curious about what you are noticing.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: Number two, shift from reaction to discernment.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: Not every strong feeling is an instinct.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_00: Fear is often loud and urgent.
• 8:07
  SPEAKER_00: It says decide now, react now, protect yourself now.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: But instinct is often quieter.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: It may say wait, pause, look again, ask another question.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: Discernment helps us as leaders to distinguish between the two.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_00: So ask yourself, what exactly am I noticing?
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_00: Is there a fact or repeated pattern behind this feeling?
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: Do I need to act now or do I need more information?
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_00: The immature leader reacts and then searches for evidence to justify the reaction.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: The discerning leader notices, investigates, and then responds.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_00: Number three, shift from words to patterns.
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_00: A leader must learn to listen to what people say while also observing what they repeatedly do.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: You see, words create an impression, but patterns reveal character and culture.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: Does a partner speak about integrity but avoid transparency?
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: Does a team member promise to meet deadlines but repeatedly misses them?
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: Does someone agree with every decision in the meeting but continually undermines it afterwards?
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: One incident may be a misunderstanding, but repeated behavior becomes a pattern.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: Don't rush to a conclusion.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_00: Take a good look at evidence.
• 9:37
  SPEAKER_00: Then do not make excuses for a pattern that is damaging.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_00: four, shift from popularity to responsibility.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_00: Leaders sometimes ignore their instincts because they do not want to disappoint people.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: They sense that a boundary is needed but fear appearing unkind.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_00: They know a difficult conversation is necessary but do not want conflict.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: They approve a decision because everyone else supports it, even though serious questions remain unanswered.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_00: Leadership is not a popularity contest, it is a responsibility.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_00: Boundaries are not punishment, they protect people, they protect values, and they protect vision.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: No amount of money can bar your way in.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: There's consequences for that.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Number five, shift from urgency to the power of the pause.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_00: You see, when your instincts are triggered, you do not always need to act immediately.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes your wisest leadership move is to pause.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: Wait a whole year if you have to wait.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: Urgency can create pressure, and pressure can distort judgment.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: Write down what you notice, separate facts from assumptions, speak to someone mature and objective.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_00: The pause does not weaken instinct.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_00: It gives instinct an opportunity to meet evidence.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_00: Number six, shift from individual instinct to collective wisdom.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_00: Strong leaders trust themselves, but they do not assume they are always right.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: Your leadership instinct is valuable, but it is still influenced by your experiences, by your preferences, and your blind spots.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: That is why wise leaders build teams where people can speak honestly.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: Ask your team, what are you seeing that I may be missing?
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_00: What concerns have we not discussed?
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: What assumptions are we making?
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_00: If this decision fails, what will probably have caused it?
• 11:37
  SPEAKER_00: So do not surround yourself with only people who confirm your feelings.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: Invite people who will respectfully test your thinking.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: Don't create a penguin club, a group of people who say yes for everything just to make you happy.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: Number seven, shift from regret to stronger leadership instinct.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: You are probably thinking I sensed the warning but I ignored it.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_00: Do not waste the lesson by using it only to condemn yourself.
• 12:07
  SPEAKER_00: Review what happened.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: What did you notice?
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_00: Why did you dismiss it?
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: Were you afraid of conflict?
• 12:13
  SPEAKER_00: Were you under pressure?
• 12:15
  SPEAKER_00: Your leadership instinct develops when your experience is examined.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_00: A painful lesson can become leadership wisdom, but only when you reflect on it and change your future behavior.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: Rebuilding self-trust begins with small actions.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: Ask the question you avoided the last time.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: Set the boundary earlier.
• 12:37
  SPEAKER_00: Verify the information.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_00: Address the pattern before it becomes a crisis.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: You are not the same leader you were before the lesson.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_00: You now have greater experience, you have better questions, and another pattern stored within you.
• 12:52
  SPEAKER_00: As I come to the close of this podcast, I want to leave you with a practical leadership test.
• 12:58
  SPEAKER_00: Listen, look, learn and lead.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: When your instinct speaks, use these four steps.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_00: Listen.
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  SPEAKER_00: Do not immediately dismiss the feeling.
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  SPEAKER_00: Name what you are sensing.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_00: Look, search for facts, search for patterns, search for changes in behavior and for missing information.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: And then learn.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: Seek honest perspectives.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: Examine your own fear, your bias, and your past experience.
• 13:29
  SPEAKER_00: And lastly, lead.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: Make the wisest decision available.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_00: Communicate it clearly and accept responsibility for the outcome.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: Instinct without investigation can become impulsiveness.
• 13:43
  SPEAKER_00: Investigation without instinct can become endless analysis.
• 13:48
  SPEAKER_00: So leadership brings the two together.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: I want you to think about one situation that does not feel quite right, or one opportunity that continues to hold your attention.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_00: Ask yourself, what am I noticing?
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_00: What pattern may my experience be recognizing?
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: What facts support or challenge my feeling?
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_00: Is it fear or is it past hurt that's influencing me?
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: Who can give me an honest perspective?
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_00: And what is my next right move?
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_00: You may not need to make the entire decision today.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: Your next move may simply be to ask a better question.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_00: Leading with instinct is about becoming the kind of leader who notices what others overlook and has the discipline to investigate it.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: It is about shifting from self-doubt to awareness, from reaction to discernment, from words to patterns, from popularity to responsibility, from urgency to the power of the pause, and from individual instinct to collective wisdom.
• 15:01
  SPEAKER_00: Your instinct may sound the alarm, but your wisdom will decide the response.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_00: Listen to what you sense, test it against the facts, invite wise perspectives, and then have the courage to take the next right step.
• 15:18
  SPEAKER_00: You see, good leaders listen to their instincts.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: Wise leaders investigate what their instincts are telling them.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for joining me and listening to this podcast.
• 15:29
  SPEAKER_00: Please share it so that someone else can be encouraged.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_00: Keep growing, keep leading, and keep becoming the person you were created to be.