Being a design-driven company or creating design-driven products is always a challenging hard-to-achieve task. It requires consistently asking to-the-point questions, gathering and preparing relevant data, analyzing and sharing it to inform every decision based on the data. However, amidst this data-driven approach, there are cases where you might have a gut feeling about a particular decision (specifically for new or chaotic situations). You sense that there might be a better way to accomplish something, but you cannot confidently be sure or prove it. It’s important not to reject your feeling. It is obvious that relying solely on gut feelings for decision-making is risky and can negatively affect your business and product. No one has all the knowledge about a product, and gut-feeling decisions may overlook crucial information or neglect to consider all aspects of the product. Every decision must be substantiated; it is not a matter of choice, but rather a necessity. So, if you want to engage your gut feeling, what steps can you take?

• Explore the origins of your gut feeling!

In some way, your intuition is shaped by your expertise and your business knowledge or arises from discussions with stakeholders. It emerges as a culmination of your numerous evaluations and diverse cognitive processes. It is crucial to identify the source of your gut feeling and ensure its validity. Relying solely on it is not sufficient; cross-reference with the other sources to ascertain its accuracy.

• Confirm your gut feeling through factual evidence!

Once you have identified the origin of your intuition, it is essential to validate it with real data. Begin by determining which type of data is suitable for substantiating your gut feeling. In some cases, quantitative data is necessary, while in others, qualitative insights can be beneficial. For example, if you believe that a particular feature needs some improvement, quantitative data such as product usage rate can provide validation.

• Share your gut feeling with others!

Always seek input from others specifically regarding your intuition. If you possess a gut feeling and intend to make a decision based on it, it is advisable to share it with others. You will have this chance to find additional insights and perspectives.

Rejecting your gut feeling is not always beneficial. A gut feeling can be data-driven enough if you act wisely. It is crucial to listen to it attentively. Sometimes, intuition signifies something out of the box as an extract of your knowledge and experience. What matters most is making smart and valid decisions, and if we can substantiate our gut feeling, it should be part of our decision-making process.