“The mind operates most efficiently by relegating a good deal of high-level, sophisticated thinking, just as a modern jetliner is able to fly on automatic pilot, with little or no input from the human, “conscious” pilot.”
– Timothy D. Wilson, American psychologist, as quoted in “Blink,” by Malcolm Gladwell
Instincts.
Gladwell’s new book, “David and Goliath” is a great read. In fact, next week’s DD will feature a series of discussions from its pages.
As I approach the halfway point of that book, though, I found myself wondering — how early do we know when the game changes? When we turn from underdog to favorite? Or favorite to underdog? And, in addition to how early, how do we know at all, before the empirical evidence shows itself?
The answer, of course, is instinct.
So many people in business think that there has to be a process for everything, and the higher the level, the more sophisticated the job — the more process they think is called for.
Like Gladwell, and Wilson, for that matter, I’m not so sure.
If our mind operates most efficiently by trusting to instinct the rapid-fire, important, sophisticated decisions, shouldn’t our businesses follow suit? Shouldn’t we honor our instincts as a means of making faster, better, more compelling decisions?
Will that make a difference?
Jeff Hickenbottom says
Steve, I wanted to add to your DD. My son has an ability to recall dates and events. He can remember any meaningful day to him. His recall of these events are almost immediately after being asked. He was recently asked a few questions by a world-renowned doctor of neurology, Dr McGaugh of UC Irvine. The doctor asked him “How do you remember these events?”. He replied, “I just see it, in my brain”.
My son hardly has to think about it, it is just there.