Where We Make Decisions

The mark of any good or great business leader is strong decision-making. How, and from where, we make those decisions can play large roles in our approach to decision-making and, as a result, the outcome.

Data, analysis of data, market trends, awareness of community and culture, feedback from those around us, and nearly countless other inputs can make for a dizzying array of data points. While these all may play roles, there are close-in guidance systems we can work with, too.

So, what about the wisdom of our intuition or gut that lives within us?

Do we listen — really listen — to the quiet voices that whisper wisdom within us?

How do we pay attention to the somatic wisdom of the body?

I’ve heard and read more times than I can count from business leaders that say “sure, I look a the data and all the inputs around me, but the big decisions I lean into my gut or my heart.” But how does this really happen?

These types of guidance can be gut, intuition, heart, feelings, or knowings that come from unseen forces. How do we leverage that wise internal guidance systems that see beyond the data?

You’ve likely heard the practice of the “whole body yes.” I initially learned the whole body yes from my colleague and friend, Gay Hendricks at the Hendricks Institute. And, then again, from my colleague Diana Chapman of the Conscious Leadership Group.

Diana explains that “People who learn to honor their Whole Body Yeses report that they experience more vitality, physical and emotional well-being, joy and creativity, and connection with others.”

(A side note both Diana Chapman and Gay Hendricks were kind enough to endorse my recent book, The Beautiful Business).

What is a whole body yes (WBY)?

A WBY is a discernment tool that allows us to listen closely and learn from the wisdom within. It happens when you are fully attuned and aligned with your whole body (head, heart, and gut) and there is a bodily sense of well-being as you consider a choice.

We each have our own unique way to experience a WBY. Depending on how accustomed you are to attuning to the alignment of your head, heart and gut may define how much practice you’ll need in applying the WBY.

Diana and her team at Conscious Leadership Group have pulled together a resource page that details the whole body yes process. The exercises within the links below are designed to help familiarize you with what a “Whole Body Yes versus a No feels like for you.” If you’re like most people, you’ll notice the difference in sensations between a Yes, a Big No, and a Little No.

With this, below I’m sharing one link and two resources that can help with experimenting and experiencing a whole body yes.

First, here’s a link to the Conscious Leadership Group’s page that shares more details of the WBY.

And, on the page, there are two guided tools by Diana.

A video of Diana walking through the WBY on Tim Ferriss’ podcast. It’s great to see and experience what Diana walks Tim through.

And, here’s a Soundcloud audio file that you can use to help guide you through the WBY process.

You can lean into these tools for any big or small decisions you’re facing. These can be big or small decisions.

• Do I say yes to the new client opportunity or speaking engagement in front of me?
• Do I merge my company with a partner I’m considering?
• Do I venture into a new market with my products or services?
• Do I accept that speaking engagement?

I’m not suggesting that the WBY process replaces the assessment of data, advice, feedback, or common sense. It shouldn’t. But it can act as a supplementary guidance system for the trickier more nuanced decisions we make day-in and day-out.