I recently ran a poll asking, “When faced with a big decision, what do you lean on most?” Here’s how the responses broke down:
🔸14% Gut instinct
🔸43% Logic and analysis
🔸36% Past experience
🔸7% Speed and urgency
At first glance, these answers seem perfectly logical. After all, intuition, data, experience, and urgency are all important factors in decision-making. But what if I told you that these responses, while common, might be quietly working against you?
Let’s dig deeper, because the truth isn’t as simple as it seems.
Gut instinct (14%)
Intuition is often seen as a trusted advisor. But what if your gut instinct isn’t as trustworthy as you think? Your intuition could be a response to old fears or patterns that you’ve never questioned.
Think about it: Is that gut feeling based on wisdom or a response to something familiar? Are you truly trusting your intuition, or are you simply repeating a pattern that feels comfortable, even if it’s no longer serving you?
Real-Life Example: One of the most iconic tech companies of our time invented digital photography before it ever went mainstream. But their leaders made a gut call to stay loyal to film, the same medium that had built their empire.
Their instinct to “stay the course” felt safe and familiar…
But the world was changing, and they weren’t.
The result? A collapse that became a cautionary tale.
The lesson? Gut instinct isn’t the problem.
But unquestioned gut instinct? That’s dangerous.
Gut feelings are only valuable when they’re tested. Ask yourself:
- Is this instinct… Or is this habit?
- Am I being guided… or am I defaulting?
Logic and analysis (43%)
We love to rely on data. Spreadsheets, risk analyses, and pros/cons lists make us feel secure. But here’s the kicker: data isn’t neutral. It’s shaped by what’s included, what’s omitted, and how it’s framed. And worse, it can often confirm a decision we’ve already emotionally made. The real question is, is the data complete or just convenient?
Example from 2025: A well-known tech startup in Australia had the market share, the funding, and the buzz. They built their strategy around glowing historical data and customer trends that had worked for them just 18 months prior. But the industry shifted fast: new tech, new user expectations, and new competitors. Their data was solid… but outdated. Instead of challenging their assumptions, they doubled down on the spreadsheet. And just like that, their “data-driven” decision turned into a slow-motion failure.
The lesson? Logic alone doesn’t future-proof your thinking.
You need fresh perspective, agility, and the guts to question even the cleanest numbers. So before you trust your analysis, ask yourself:
- Is this clarity… or comfort?
- Am I exploring… or just explaining?
Past experience (36%)
Experience is often touted as the best teacher. But here’s the catch: Have you actually learned from the past, or are you just repeating what worked once upon a time? We all have habits formed by previous successes, but those old strategies might no longer be relevant in today’s fast-changing world. The real question is: Are you reflecting, adapting, and evolving your approach, or are you simply defaulting to the familiar?
A Lesson from Australia: In 2024, a major Australian retail chain made headlines for missing the mark during a major industry shift toward sustainable, tech-integrated shopping. Why? Leadership stuck with a tried-and-true model that had worked brilliantly a decade ago: brick-and-mortar first, minimal digital investment, and slow rollout of innovation. They believed their experience gave them the edge.
But that experience was rooted in a very different landscape.
By the time they realised the shift wasn’t temporary, they were too far behind. Their mistake wasn’t a lack of experience.
It was trusting old wins more than new signals. So ask yourself:
- Am I applying wisdom… or just repeating what once worked?
- Is my experience informing me… or limiting me?
Because sometimes, the path that used to be safe…is now the very thing keeping you stuck.
Speed and urgency (7%)
Only a few chose speed and urgency, but let’s not dismiss this one too quickly. Quick decisions might seem like they’re bold, but are they intentional or just an escape from the discomfort of uncertainty? Are you making decisions to move forward, or are you simply moving fast because it feels better than sitting in discomfort?
Fast Decision-Making in Crisis: During a public health crisis in Australia, multiple agencies rushed to respond with new protocols, policy shifts, and rapid messaging rollouts. The intention? To stay ahead of the curve. The result? Mixed messages, operational confusion, and unintended public backlash. In the pressure to move fast, they bypassed pause points for clarity, cross-checking, and consultation. Momentum became the priority, but direction was lost.
The lesson? Speed can be a strength… but only when paired with intention. So before you charge ahead:
- Are you acting with clarity or reacting out of discomfort?
- Is this urgency driven by values… or fear?
- Would a moment of stillness help sharpen your next move?
Sometimes the wisest thing you can do…
is stop, breathe, and choose slowly.
The Truth: None of These Should Stand Alone
Each of these four drivers: intuition, logic, experience, and speed, carries value.
And they’re certainly not about moving quickly for the sake of motion.
They demand a deliberate process, one that blends insight with intention.
The landscape in 2025 is complex.
Disruption is the norm.
What worked yesterday might already be irrelevant tomorrow.
Incomplete data. Outdated models. Emotional overdrive.
It’s easier than ever to mistake motion for progress.
That’s why now more than ever –
Your decisions need space.
Space to pause.
To reflect.
To challenge your assumptions before they quietly run the show.
Because the real power of decision-making?
It’s not in the gut or the graph.
It’s in the quality of the thinking that holds them both.
Pressure-Test Your Choices: Questions Worth Asking
Before you decide, stop and ask:
- Easy or Right?
Are you choosing what’s most comfortable… or what actually aligns with your long-term goals?
Ease often disguises avoidance. - Logic vs Emotion:
Are you leaning on data to silence your gut… or ignoring logic because the truth is uncomfortable?
True clarity comes when both have a seat at the table. - Habit or Impulse?
Are you stuck on autopilot, doing what you’ve always done?
Or are you reacting without thinking, chasing the quick fix?
Either way, you’re not really choosing; you’re defaulting. - Familiar or Fresh?
Is your decision based on thoughtful analysis… or simply what feels safe and known?
Familiarity isn’t always wisdom; sometimes it’s just fear in disguise. - Fast or Wise?
Are you moving forward… or just moving fast to escape the discomfort of waiting?
Not all urgency is strategic.
Great decision-makers don’t just answer questions. They ask better ones.
The Real Benefit: A More Intentional Way to Make Big Decisions
In today’s world, the cost of unexamined decisions is high in business, leadership, and life. We’re surrounded by noise: Outdated patterns. Convenient data. Gut feelings dressed up as certainty.
But here’s the opportunity:
You can reshape your decision-making into something far more powerful, something intentional.
This isn’t about overthinking.
It’s about being clear on why you’re choosing what you’re choosing.
When you pause to blend insight with intention, you don’t just make better decisions.
You reclaim control.
✅ You avoid costly missteps.
✅ You outgrow old strategies.
✅ You lead from clarity, not chaos.
In a world that rewards speed, your edge is deliberate thinking.
How Do You Pressure-Test Your Decisions?
Don’t fall back on what’s familiar: your gut, your logic, your past experiences, or the rush to act fast.
Instead, challenge yourself to think differently.
Ask better questions. Create a decision-making process that brings clarity, intention, and insight into focus.
How could this approach reshape your work, your leadership, or your life?
Let’s keep this conversation going. Share your thoughts below:
How do you ensure your decisions are thoughtful, intentional, and well-rounded?
R.E.S.E.T. Your Thinking: A Practical Guide to Transformative Change
The decisions we make today shape the future we create, and as we’ve explored, the way we make decisions matters just as much as the choices themselves. If you’ve found yourself leaning on gut instincts, old patterns, or outdated data, it’s time for a shift.
R.E.S.E.T. Your Thinking empowers you to break free from automatic decision-making and take control of your choices. This guide helps you:
- Refine Your Decision-Making Process: Move beyond comfort and clarity to intentionally align your decisions with your long-term goals and values.
- Harness Emotional Intelligence: Find the right balance between logic and emotion to make well-rounded, thoughtful choices.
- Make Purposeful, Intentional Decisions: Break free from habit and impulse by choosing with purpose and understanding why you’re choosing what you are.
The process of making decisions isn’t just about checking boxes; it’s about creating space for insight, reflection, and deliberate thinking. Whether it’s a career move, personal relationship, or business strategy, R.E.S.E.T. Your Thinking offers the tools to shift from reactive to intentional decision-making.
Click here to get your copy today!
I trust this brings value and insights that lead to real action and change.
