Feelings and sociocracy

Sociocracy Discussion
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Some people hold pride in making rational decisions. And while I wouldn’t say that we should make illogical decisions, I also think that limiting ourselves to only “rational” thinking is not wise.

Intuitive decisions are often based on a wealth of subconscious information and experiences - we don’t just factor in “facts” but also feelings, intuition, relationships, capacity. These often can’t be quantified.

Intuition can be a powerful tool, especially in situations where there’s limited time for detailed analysis and where a lot of complexity is involved. Our instincts can be good.

In fact, with a lot of complexity, there’s no way we can make a rational decision because we can’t know all the factors - there are simply too many. In the absence of exhaustive, certain data, why wouldn’t we tap into that wealth of knowledge? Most of our decisions are just a guess anyway.

I think every circle member should use all their ways of knowing to check whether a way forward is viable. That helps us detect possible pitfalls more quickly.

Now what would you do if someone objected “solely” based on intuition? Some members would likely get upset because it’s hard to “prove” the validity of such an objection. Quite often, however, it’s possible to integrate those just like any other objection - measure the concern and shorten the term. In other words, go with intuition but use all your senses to stay alert. Intuition is a great first step, but it doesn’t have to be the last one.

I’m thinking, intuition is a great first step, but it doesn’t have to be the last one.

What role does intuition play in your decisions?

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I wholeheartedly agree that intuition can be a critical component of decision-making, particularly when we’re dealing with uncertainty or complexity. Much of the time, we draw on subconscious knowledge—our prior experience, intuition, and gut feelings—that may assist us in making sense of things when there’s not sufficient data to support a purely rational choice. Intuition can lead us when we’re short of time or don’t have all the information, and sometimes can uncover insights that logic alone may not catch.

But, as you said, intuition must not be the last word. It’s a good tool, but it must be balanced with some rationality or evidence-based scrutiny. It’s like employing intuition as a point of departure or a “red flag” that requires closer examination. For instance, if my intuition warns me that something is not quite right about a choice, I’ll still seek rational explanations to confirm or deny that sense. The best decisions are made when we synthesize both—our intuitive sense and rational thinking—so we don’t disregard valuable emotional signals or miss significant rational considerations.

As for somebody objecting just on intuition, it’s necessary to note that feelings or emotions may sometimes encompass subtleties that data may not. While it’s impossible to “prove” intuition, we can at least investigate the rationale behind it. Intuition tends to possess good insight, but it’s best when not the sole input to the decision. What do you think—how do you weigh intuition against more formal thought in your own choices?