What Highly Intuitive People Do Differently
We all know that one person who somehow just knows things before everyone else. The leader who makes the perfect call, the entrepreneur who bets on the right trend, the friend who warns you about that shady Airbnb before you even set foot inside.
Do they have some mystical ability? Are they secretly consulting a crystal ball? Getting divine downloads from the universe?
Nope. They’ve simply trained their intuition to work for them, not against them. Intuition isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build. And just like any skill, it can be developed, fine-tuned, and used as a competitive advantage in business and life.
So, what do highly intuitive people do differently?
1. They collect more data—without even realizing it.
Intuition isn’t about ignoring facts; it’s about processing them faster. The most intuitive leaders are like human Roombas, constantly gathering and processing tiny pieces of information: body language, tone shifts, patterns in past decisions. They notice what’s not being said just as much as what is.
Have you ever watched someone in a negotiation and somehow knew who had the upper hand? That’s not luck—it’s because you were subconsciously tracking pauses, subtle facial cues, and shifts in energy. Highly intuitive people don’t just listen to words; they pick up on everything else, too.
2. They use data, but they don’t let it rule them.
They know that data informs—but doesn’t dictate—great decisions. They don’t get paralyzed by overanalyzing every metric; instead, they trust their ability to read between the lines, spot trends, and know when it’s time to move.
A great hiring manager reviewing resumes doesn’t just look at credentials and experience. They pay attention to how a candidate carries themselves, the enthusiasm in their voice, and how they handle an unexpected question. Because they know success isn’t just about what’s on paper—it’s about who can actually thrive in the role.
3. They filter out irrelevant details.
Highly intuitive people don’t get lost in the weeds. They focus on the most critical factors in any decision, filtering out distractions.
A venture capitalist evaluating a startup doesn’t obsess over every detail in a pitch deck. Instead, they zero in on the founder’s vision, adaptability, and ability to pivot— because they know those traits will determine long-term success more than a spreadsheet ever could.
4. They make small, instinctive choices constantly.
Big, life-altering decisions aren’t made in a vacuum. The most intuitive people make a series of small bets every day—picking up on what works, what doesn’t, and improving their instincts over time. The more small decisions they make, the sharper their gut feel becomes.
A seasoned journalist knows exactly which story will grab attention—not because they’re guessing, but because they’ve spent years making micro-decisions on headlines, angles, and narratives. Every small choice strengthens their ability to predict what will resonate.
Highly intuitive people don’t have a secret superpower. They’ve just learned to trust the knowledge their brain has already accumulated. They don’t dismiss data, but they also don’t let it dictate every move. They recognize patterns, filter out the noise, and act faster than those who hesitate, waiting for absolute certainty.
Intuition isn’t about being reckless. It’s about knowing when you already have enough information to move forward. And in a world that moves at lightning speed, that ability is a massive advantage.
Edge Thought of the Week:
Here’s your challenge for this week: Think of a decision you’ve been overanalyzing. Instead of gathering more opinions or diving deeper into research, make a call based on what you already know. Notice how it feels to trust yourself, and then see what happens.
Next week, we’ll explore practical ways to strengthen and fine-tune your intuition, so you can rely on it with more confidence in everyday decisions. Stay tuned!
Until next time,
Laura