A Case of Intuition

Author: Sandhya Basu

On January 15, 2009, Captain Chesley Sully Sullenberger’s emergency landing of the US Airways Flight on the Hudson River demonstrated one of the most remarkable examples of professional intuition. This incident is famously known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” 

As also portrayed in the movie ‘Sully,’ shortly after the takeoff, the airplane struck a flock of geese, leading to the failure of its two engines. The airplane lost its thrust while flying over the populated New York City. This entire situation left Captain Sullenberger and his co-pilot, Jeffrey Skiles, with just seconds to decide their course of action.

Traditional protocols and logical reasoning dictated a return to LaGuardia Airport or diverting to nearby Teterboro Airport. But Captain Sullenberger’s extensive experience as a pilot and his in-depth familiarity with the aircraft’s capabilities led to a powerful, intuitive response. Given the rapid altitude loss and the limited time available, he did not go ahead with either option. Instead, he decided to land the plane on the Hudson River.

This intuitive decision was rooted in years of accumulated knowledge and practice. Sullenberger’s brain rapidly processed countless variables—altitude, airspeed, engine performance, and potential landing sites' proximity—without conscious effort. His intuition resulted from his extensive flight training, simulations, and emergency drills, enabling him to trust his gut instinct in a life-or-death situation.

This successful landing saved 155 lives on board, earning widespread recognition as a triumph of aviation skill and intuitive judgment. Later analysis also confirmed that Sullenberger’s decision to land on the Hudson was the only feasible option, validating his intuitive assessment of the situation. 

This case highlights how intuition, when harnessed through experience, can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Captain Sullenberger’s ability to trust his instincts under immense pressure emphasizes the critical role intuition plays in high-stakes professions. 

Intuition in high-stakes professions reminds me of a TEDx talk I came across a few days back called ‘Accessing Intuition as a Tool: Your Internal Guidance System’ by Jannine Barron. She is the founder of Natures Child, Australia’s first organic baby store. She is also an advocate for women’s health. Her entrepreneurial spirit led to the baby store, which stands as a pioneer in the organic industry, focusing on the importance of holistic well-being and intuitive living. In this blog, I will share what I learnt about intuition from her TED Talk. 

She recalls her initial days of setting up her company when organic products were far from mainstream. She recounts how she faced extreme scepticism from her peers and industry experts. Professionals warned her about the risky niche market, while her intuition suggested otherwise. She intuitively believed that parents generally wanted safer and more natural products for their children, even though parents did not fully advocate this need. She followed her instincts and started developing products and services that aligned with her belief in holistic well-being. Her intuition paid off, and her company, Nature's Child, became one of the trusted brands for families seeking sustainable, organic options. 

It is important to note that her decision to establish Nature’s Child was not a consequence of excessive market research but just listening to her inner voice, which was her comfort often when she received conflicting external advice. She also pursued her business internationally, positioning her as a pioneer in the organic industry.

What do you think intuition is, according to Barron? 

Barron refers to intuition as an internal compass or a natural guidance system that everyone has but often ignores. In her Tedtalk, she emphasizes how society reinforces concepts of rationality and external validation that often tend to overshadow intuitive thinking. It is this imbalance that disconnects individuals from their true selves and subsequently limits their creativity and decision-making abilities. 

She further reiterates that intuition is not about making irrational or impulsive (sudden) choices. But it is more of a process that taps into a deeper sense of knowing, going beyond the surface-level analysis. Here is a line from the talk that struck me deeply, and I hope it will resonate with you as well: “Intuition is a tool that complements logical reasoning rather than replacing it.”

Let’s now discuss the levels of intuition Barron describes as: Basic, Deeper, and Collective Intuition. 

The basic intuition, as the name suggests, is the everyday gut feelings that people experience. For example, you may feel drawn towards a certain opportunity or have a strong feeling about someone without any rationale (without knowing why!). Barron says these instincts are often rooted in our subconsciousness (the level of consciousness not always available for immediate thinking) and are shaped by personal experiences and environmental cues. 

The next one is the deeper intuition. This level goes beyond our immediate reactions and involves a strong sense of alignment with our values and purpose. Deeper intuition requires eliminating external noise, such as societal expectations or people’s opinions, and focusing on what you truly believe in, that is, your inner clarity. Barron says that this deeper intuition helped her align business decisions with her beliefs on sustainability and well-being. 

The last level, or the collective intuition, comprises a community-level sense of what is needed. For example, she talks about how she listened to her customers' unspoken needs and anticipated future trends, allowing her to create products that resonated well with them. Barron reiterates that this level of intuition is extremely important for leaders who aim to create meaningful impact. 

But these things are not as easy as it seems! 

Barron discusses how one may feel fearful and uncertain while making intuitive decisions, especially when they contradict conventional advice or empirical analysis. Her entrepreneurial journey was also filled with self-doubts, and she asked herself whether she was being reckless or visionary. But in her journey, she found that embracing your fear and other vulnerabilities while staying true to the inner voice motivates you to move forward. Nonetheless, she also emphasizes that a balanced approach towards decision-making is necessary where intuition and rationality work hand-in-hand. 

The question now is whether we can access intuition in our everyday lives. 

Barron shares some tips that can help us cultivate intuition in our daily lives. For example, practising meditation or mindfulness can help quieten the mind, enabling us to hear our inner voice. Also, spending time in nature and embracing the simplicity and stillness of natural environments can help us tap into our intuitive abilities. As also mentioned in our previous blogs, journaling helps document reflections, and practising journaling over time can help us recognize patterns and build trust in our instincts. Lastly, she talks about how intuition can manifest physically, such as a sense of tension in the body. She advises the audience to pay attention to these signals as they can give us clues about what feels right or wrong. 

One of the insightful things she says in her show is that intuition is not just a personal tool but a catalyst for broader change. When we trust our inner voice, we become more authentic and aligned with our values. This transition has a ripple effect, developing empathy, resilience, and innovation in society. In today’s fast-paced world, where information overload and pressure cloud our judgments, intuition plays a significant role. By enabling our intuitive sense, we can navigate complexity with greater clarity and subsequently make choices that resonate with their purpose. Barron’s journey shows that intuition, when trusted and nurtured, can direct towards transformative outcomes in both personal and professional domains of life. 

References

• Hayward, J. (2023, July 24). The Miracle on the Hudson - The full story. Simple Flying. https://simpleflying.com/the-miracle-on-the-hudson/

• TEDx Talks. (2022, October 31). Accessing intuition as a tool: your internal guidance system | Jannine Barron | TEDxFrome [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFywJfkvnvg