171. Trusting Your Gut More - On Intuition - with Dr Vish Ramakonar and Prina Shah
In this episode of Ways to Change The Workplace, Prina Shah is joined by Dr Vish Ramakonar for a fascinating and thought-provoking conversation on something many leaders feel - but rarely trust enough:
Your gut instinct.
This episode steps outside traditional workplace conversations and dives into the intersection of intuition, neuroscience, leadership, and decision-making.
If you’ve ever thought “I knew that was the right call… why didn’t I trust myself?” — this one is for you.
Connect with Dr Vish and Resources Mentioned
What This Episode Explores
Prina and Vish unpack the science and practicality behind intuition, including:
- Why so many high-performing leaders regret not trusting their gut
- The neuroscience behind intuition and decision-making
- The role of the heart (yes, the heart) in influencing brain function
- What “coherence” and “homeostasis” actually mean—and why they matter
- How stress, fear, and overwhelm distort your thinking
- The difference between intuition and fear-based reactions
- Why workplaces often discourage intuitive decision-making
- How to balance gut instinct with data and evidence
- Practical tools to access clearer thinking and better decisions
Key Insight
“The brain thinks, but the heart knows.” Research from the HeartMath Institute shows that:
- The heart sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends to the heart
- When you’re calm, grateful, and centred → your brain performs better
- When you’re stressed or reactive → your thinking becomes impaired
Your body may know before your mind catches up.
Types of Intuition
Vish breaks intuition into three types:
- Implicit Intuition
Learned patterns from past experience (e.g. a nurse sensing something is wrong) - Energetic Intuition
Sensitivity to environmental signals (e.g. animals before natural disasters) - Non-Local Intuition
Deep, unexplainable knowing (e.g. sensing something is wrong with a loved one)
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Prina (Helping you find GREAT ways to change your workplace) Shah
