The Wisdom To Trust Someone Else's Instincts

From the time I could walk, I rode horses. These majestic beings are powerful, intuitive, deeply attuned to energy and were my teachers before I even had the words to describe what they were teaching.

This handsome boy in the photo is “O’Reilly,” the last horse I owned. It was at the local showground, but my most cherished memories weren’t the ribbons or applause. They were those quiet moments on dirt roads skirting the edge of my small country town, just the two of us, wind in my hair, heart wide open, singing at the top of my lungs.

That was flow. That was trust.

I trusted him completely. He trusted me. We shared the same spirit a love of freedom and the silent language of instinct.

There’s a deeper kind of knowing that lives in the body. And O’Reilly reminded me that sometimes, the wisest thing we can do as leaders and humans is not to lead, but to listen, pause, and allow someone else’s instincts to guide us.

I remember one gorgeous spring day near the end of our ride. The sun was warming my shoulders, a gentle breeze in the air. We were cruising along a red dirt road when suddenly, O’Reilly came to a dead stop.

I nudged him forward, thinking he was being cheeky. But he stood firm, ears pricked, muscles tense, head high. He was locked in, alert.

Then I saw it.

A massive brown snake, easily six feet long had slithered onto the road just ahead.

I hadn’t seen or sensed a thing. But he had.

That day, O’Reilly wasn’t just my horse. He was my protector. My mentor. He knew what I didn’t. His instincts kicked in before mine ever could. And I had the wisdom to trust him.

This isn’t just a story about horses. It’s a reminder that our instincts, our intuition are real, potent, and trainable. They’re not fluffy or woo-woo. They’re part of the deep intelligence that has kept us safe, inspired, and innovating for centuries.

As Professor Murray Gillin, one of Australia’s foremost entrepreneurship educators, shared with me during an interview for my upcoming book: intuition can be trained. Especially through experience. Especially with the guidance of seasoned mentors.

McKinsey even states that drawing on the instincts of experienced mentors can lead to faster decision-making and accelerated leadership development.

We don’t always need to see the snake to know it’s there. Sometimes, the smartest move is to trust the one beside us who feels it first.

And maybe, the true leadership skill isn’t always having the answer but knowing when to trust someone else’s.

Just like I did with O’Reilly.

Here's some tips to put this into action:

1. Scan Your Circle for Lived Wisdom Who in your world has already walked the path you're navigating now? Pause before your next big decision and ask yourself: What does their experience tell me that I might be missing?
2. Tune Your Inner Compass Next time you feel blocked or uncertain, notice who you naturally turn to. Instead of seeking their answers, ask: What does your gut say? Trusting another’s instinct often begins by listening with presence, not needing proof.
3. Practice the Pause When someone you trust senses something — a hesitation, a risk, a red flag — resist the urge to push through. Take a breath and ask: What are you feeling here that I might not be? Let their knowing inform your next step.

🌀 Sometimes, leadership isn’t charging forward. It’s knowing when to rein in, listen, and let someone else lead the way... even if they wear hooves.

#Leadership #Instincts #EmotionalIntelligence #Mentorship #TrustYourself #TrustOthers #PsychologicalSafety #Wisdom

If you want to fast track your ability to develop your instincts and intuition Simone has one on one and group coaching programs that help you to connect back with your inner wisdom in practical ways that accelerate your decision making and elevate your impact as a leader. For more information reach out to Simone at [email protected].