GUT CHECK - Research Reveals Importance of Intuition in Workplace: How Are Your Powers of Perception?

TORONTO, July 10, 2012 /CNW/ - Does intuition play a role in today's workplace? According to a new OfficeTeam study, it can. In fact, 88 per cent of administrative professionals surveyed recently said they often make decisions based on gut instinct. OfficeTeam has developed a research guide, Business Sense: Putting Your Intuition to Work, and quiz to help workers identify their intuition style. Both are available at www.officeteam.com/intuition.

The research guide contains data from a study developed by OfficeTeam and the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) that includes responses from more than 3,500 administrative professionals and 1,300 senior managers in the United States and Canada.

Key Findings

    <<
    -  Eighty-eight per cent of administrative professionals said they often
       make decisions based on gut instinct.
    -  Nearly all (97 per cent) of support staff believe anticipating their
       manager's needs is important to their career growth, and 94 per cent
       of executives agree.
    -  When asked about the most effective way to anticipate the needs of
       someone at work without directly asking him or her, 32 per cent of
       administrative professionals said they use deductive reasoning (e.g.,
       moving conflicting appointments when a supervisor's meeting is
       rescheduled). One in four (25 per cent) of those polled look for
       behavioural patterns when making decisions (e.g., printing out a
       flight boarding pass in advance for the boss because he is typically
       running late).
    >>

"By drawing on their powers of perception, professionals can often identify potential workplace dilemmas and address them before they become serious issues," said OfficeTeam executive director Robert Hosking. "Any manager will tell you that having an assistant who anticipates his or her needs and offers solutions without being asked is virtually indispensable."

OfficeTeam identifies five intuition styles and offers tips for maximising each one at work:

    <<
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             Intuition type               Advice for this intuition style
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Analysts make decisions based on   Don't discount your gut feelings.
    careful research and past          Combining your critical-thinking
    experience.                        abilities with what your instincts
                                       tell you can be beneficial.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Observers depend most heavily on   Gather additional clues by going
    visual cues to guess what others   beyond what meets the eye. Talk to
    may want without being told.       coworkers to get more information.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Questioners rely mainly on posing  Tune into nonverbal signals such as
    direct inquiries to determine      body language and facial expressions
    their next move.                   for additional insight.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Empathisers are able to identify   Be careful not to rely completely on
    with colleagues' problems and      emotions when making decisions. Back
    help them find solutions.          up your assumptions with research and
                                       analysis.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Adapters employ multiple           Don't expect coworkers to read your
    intuition strategies, sometimes    mind just because you're good at
    using their powers of observation  anticipating the needs of others.
    while other times asking direct    Communicate with colleagues openly and
    questions.                         often.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    >>

To learn more about these intuition styles and put your abilities to the test, visit www.officeteam.com/intuition.

About OfficeTeam

OfficeTeam is a leading staffing service specialising in the temporary placement of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. The company has more than 315 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com.

About the International Association of Administrative Professionals

The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) is the world's largest association for administrative support staff, with more than 550 chapters and approximately 22,000 members and affiliates worldwide. For more information, visit www.iaap-hq.org.

Nadia Santoli [phone] [email protected]