The secret is out. In business, intuition is beginning to be recognized as an important strategic-planning tool for the 21st century. Intuition is no longer seen as a special gift bestowed upon a chosen few. It enables the executive to grasp an intuitive solution during a slow period, a bleak time, or in the face of a changing economy. Intuition is the power that fuels, feeds, and ignites your vision. Intuition is a spark that leads to success.

The hunch, gut feeling, judgment call, sudden insight, or flash out of the blue are all evidence of intuition, a sixth sense that can generate correct decisions even before all the facts are in. In this information age, we need to hone our intuitive skills just to process the voluminous data.

Hundreds of top-level executives integrate intuition with logic in decision-making to catapult their companies to the leading edge of their respective industries. You may not hear anyone say out loud that "my intuition told me" to build a new facility, hire a particular candidate, adopt a radical marketing campaign, start a company, or even risk a merger. Listen closely, though, and you may hear mention of a hunch, gut feeling, or making a judgment call before taking such a risk. None disregarded the logic or facts and figures, but each used intuitive input when needed to buttress the facts and figures of a complex situation. They confidently listened to the intuitive voice in order to remain open to new possibilities, even though they may not have attached the intuitive label to the process.

Intuition has successfully bridged the gap between cultures where different interpretation or words are used to communicate the ideas. When John Brockman, an executive in international sales, receives a telex from Taiwan, he knows it is not going to be expressed in the same English that is used in the United States. He has to tap his intuition to make assumptions and go beyond the apparent facts to determine what the message really means. If a sales manager in Taiwan tells Brockman he is facing a crisis, the situation may not be articulated clearly. Brockman needs to "read between the lines," relying upon intuition about what the manager really needs to do.

Whatever words you use to characterize the mind's imaginative leap, many rely on intuition when they take unprecedented risks. Intuition can come as a flash or as a flow of ideas, each one sparkling the next until you have an explosion of innovative thoughts and actions. I doubt if Paul Fireman realized he was putting on his intuitive hat when he decided to purchase the rights to an unknown British trademark called Reebok and began manufacturing "aerobic" shoes under that name. At that time, the "aerobic exercise" boom was nonexistent, and the small pockets of activity could hardly foretell what was to come. In addition, the "aerobic" shoe was being manufactured with garment leather, which was much softer that the traditional leather used in tennis shoes. It was questionable whether this leather was strong enough to keep the toes from popping through during intense exercise. A finely tuned intuitive sense helped Fireman pick up on the whispered beginnings of a major trend. The risky decision he made is one of the remarkable success stories of recent times. Basically, it all began as a hunch.

Intuition has been a powerful tool in helping the executive to innovate, create, and sail into proverbial uncharted waters. Many such breakthroughs could not have occured without input from the intuitive mind.

Frequently, an intuitive flash will reveal a new approach or solution to a problem. Anyone with a sweet tooth will enjoy the example of Mrs. Fields Cookies. When customers failed to appear the day Debbie Fields opened her first store, a flash of intuition prompted her to grab a cookie sheet filled with cookie, walk down the street, and offer free samples to anyone she met. Almost instantly her store was filled with patrons. Now, 17 years later, the success of that first store has multiplied to 600 stores scattered throughout the United States and five other countries.

Jim Adamson, now the CEO of Burger King, talks about his experience in the clothing business, where intuition is used to predict customer behavior. "Early in my career, when I was with GAP, I was on a buying trip in the Far East. I picked out GAP's first imported jeans, and I bought far more than the numbers said. To make a long story short, when they arrived, they sold out in less than 30 days. I thought I had bought a four-month supply. I had made a good decision on style and overbought based on my intuition. I just didn't know how good my intuition was."

Dan Henslee, President of Hekman Furniture in Grand Rapids, Michigan, knows firsthand how effective a hunch can be. When he came upon the latest census figures showing that the projected number of people working from their homes in the 1980's and '90s would increase, his intuitive mind sparked a vision of an office in every home. Introducing the concept of manufacturing residential desks to his board of directors was risky for Henslee since residential desks were not doing well at that time, but his hunch turned out to be so successful and profitable for the company that it placed an awesome burden on their manufacturing capabilities. Hekman introduced 11 desk models and sold almost five times what his projections were.

How can you keep the intuitive battery charged and consistently reliable? Any of the following techniques will help. And don't worry that they might seem a little airy. Intuition may not be quantifiable, but nearly everyone agrees there is something to it. At least give it a try.

• Keep a journal as a track record of your hunches and intuitive flashes.
  This will sensitize you to the many times, ways, and places where your intuitive mind speaks to you. Some of your entries might be rather trivial, while others will be more weighty and evidential. All share the common function of showing you that your intuitive signals are definitely working. Leave room under each entry to note when and how (and if) the "hunch" is validated. As you collect your intuitive flashes and hunches, note how they come: on the job, relating to others, with family, scoping the current events, and so on.
• Use internal brainstorming to retrieve new possibilities you never would have entertained from your logical mind.
  Close your eyes to minimize distraction, take a few deep breaths, and imagine you are looking at a chalkboard: Under the word "Pro," mentally list all the positive ways to solve your particular problem. As you visualize these ideas, does one solution stand out as if the highlighted with a glowing neon light? These ideas will stay with you as you now imagine the word "Con" at the top of the chalkboard. Mentally list all the factors that interfere with the possible solutions. do any negative influences stand out? How does looking at these advantages and disadvantages help you answer your question or arrive at a solution? As your intuitive mind to reveal the best idea(s) by having them shine brightly, as in a Las Vegas marquee.
• Invent games to strengthen your intuitive muscle.
  Playing such games is not frivolous. Ask your co-workers to guess who will arrive first at the weekly staff meeting, or who will say the first words. If you will be meeting someone new, visualize what this person looks like before the actual meeting takes place. Imagine his or her physical features, what he or she is wearing, and anything such as a briefcase is being carried.
• Use the metaphor technique to activate intuition and provide insight into another person's character.
  Are you trying to understand the puzzling actions of a colleague? As you think of this person, ask, "If this person were an animal, what type of animal would he or she be?" Be receptive to any images that emerge spontaneously. The intuitive mind will help you interpret these images. If the animal that comes to mind is a bear, words like "ferocious," "huge," "scavenging," and "furry" come to mind, and then you remember that a bear can also be cuddly and huggable. Although this person appears to be gruff or menacing, he or she may also be approachable. You can use other descriptive metaphors as you compare the person to a character from a book, a well-known personality, or perhaps a song or book title.
• Dreams should be taken seriously since they are one way the inner intuitive mind communicates with the more outwardly aware mind.
  For many people, the intuitive gateway is opened through their dreams. When faced with a problem, have you ever said, "I have to sleep on it"? For example, if you have to choose between two compelling candidates for a managerial position, the dream advisor might show you shaking the hand of the "right candidate."

  Credit the wisdom in your dreams by keeping a notepad by your bed to write them down. With practice, you can recall your dreams ad then use your intuition to help interpret their often puzzling symbolism. decoding symbols is the detective part of dream work, a task made easier if you keep a record.

• Practice guided imagery.
  The intuitive mind speaks by sending a picture, symbol, or image. If you think you can never see or picture anything, you're mistaken. You just don't know how. Your challenge is to strengthen the pictures and images you receive so you can consistently gain access to the solutions your intuitive mind presents. There are constant opportunities to activate your imagination and strengthen the intuitive mind. Practice helps you become more attuned to receiving its images. Before attending a meeting, close your eyes and picture the room. How many people are attending? What is the mix of males and females? What is the mood in the room? If you have trouble creating imagery, first elicit the memory of a recent meeting, and then you can "switch the screen" to future mode. Using your mind to visualize, "see" where your company is now and "see" or "sense" where it will be in five years. Try to picture any dilemma in your company and use your intuition to play out the possibilities for a resolution. Don't ignore daydreams and fleeting reveries -- these pictures, symbols, and images sent by the intuitive mind contain priceless nuggets of wisdom.

The value of intuition is becoming more and more apparent, gaining respect as the silent but vital partner in any decision-making process. It is no longer a well-kept secret as successful business people attest that intuition is increasly acknowledged as a strategic business tool for the 21st century.

Marcia Emery, Ph.D., is a psychologist, author, and lecturer who has been teaching people how to cultivate their intuition for decades.

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