If you have ever been around someone with great intuitive skills, it can look almost like magic the way they seem to just know things. Perhaps your mother had great intuition, always knowing just when you needed a hug and just when you needed a push. In the world of business, too, there are people whose intuition is sharp and accurate, usually helping them toward business success. Leaders recognize the importance of intuitive skills and continually develop and refine this skill as part of their leadership development.

Natural intuition
What exactly is intuition? Some people describe it as a gut feeling, a little voice in your head, or even a tingling sensation that gets your attention. The truth is that every person has natural intuition that expresses itself in different ways, but not every person is aware of or pays attention to their intuition.

It is said by some that women tend to have greater natural intuition than men do, but that is not necessarily the case. Anyone who has ever been a regular caregiver for a child knows that it is possible to develop a sense of what that child is thinking and feeling, especially when the child is very young. And in close social groups, such as fraternities, clubs, and service organizations, friends of both genders often develop close bonds that are strengthened by their natural intuition.

Strengthen your intuitive skills
Natural intuition is really just a person's ability to observe the world around him or her and interpret the information. Regardless of whether you think you have much natural intuition, there are ways for you to strengthen your intuitive skills.

Body language - You can learn much by watching the body language of people around you. Experts say that 60% to 80% of all communication is non-verbal, and body language is the primary component. Much of what we call intuition is really just paying attention to body language and understanding what it means.

For example, if you are in a staff meeting and observe an employee leaning forward and listening closely, that person is showing interest and engagement in the discussion. If, however, an employee is leaning back, arms crossed, looking down or doodling on a notepad, that person is showing disinterest and disengagement in the discussion.

Tone of voice - When a person speaks, their message is much more than the words used. Tone of voice is a powerful part of verbal communication, and gives greater depth of meaning to the message. When you pay attention to tone of voice, you build your intuitive skills.

For example, the next time you participate in a discussion at work listen to how other participants use their tone of voice. Monotone, quiet, or lack of inflection may indicate disinterest or disapproval. A lot of inflection and louder tones may indicate strong feelings about the topic at hand. Or, ending sentences with an inflection up, similar to a question, may indicate someone is unsure of themselves or lacks confidence.

Intuition vs. Assumption
It is important to understand the difference between intuitive skills and simply making assumptions about other people. Paying attention to your intuition is never an excuse for making unwarranted assumptions, being judgemental, gossiping, or engaging in rumor and innuendo.

Intuitive skills are not a substitute for open communication, strong interpersonal skills, and building good work relationships. Rather, they are a way for you to enhance your ability to work productively with others and improve your business performance.