When it comes to making important decisions, whether it be in business, finance, or even our personal lives, it can be tempting to rely on our gut instincts. After all, our intuition has served us well in the past and can often provide us with quick answers to complex problems.

However, as much as we trust our instincts, the truth is that data is better than gut feeling. Here are 4 reasons why data should always take the lead over intuition when making important decisions.

• Data is objective, while gut feelings are subjective: One of the biggest advantages of data is that it is objective. Numbers don’t lie and they don’t have personal opinions or biases. When we make decisions based on data, we can be confident that the information we are using is accurate and unbiased. On the other hand, gut feelings are subjective and can be influenced by personal experiences, emotions, and beliefs. This means that our gut instincts may not always be reliable and could lead us to make decisions that are not based on the facts.

• Data provides a bigger picture: When we rely on gut feelings, we are only using a small portion of the information available to us. Data, on the other hand, provides us with a much larger and more comprehensive picture of the situation. By analysing data, we can identify patterns and trends that may not be immediately obvious through intuition. This allows us to make more informed decisions and to understand the situation in a more complete way.

• Data helps us avoid confirmation bias: Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that supports our beliefs and to ignore information that contradicts them. This can be a problem when making decisions based on gut feelings because our instincts may be clouded by our own personal biases. Data, on the other hand, is not affected by personal biases and provides us with an objective view of the situation. This helps us to avoid confirmation bias and to make decisions that are based on the facts.

• Data enables us to test our assumptions: Another advantage of data is that it allows us to test our assumptions. When we make decisions based on gut feelings, we may believe that our instincts are always right. However, data gives us the ability to put our assumptions to the test and to see if they are actually accurate. By testing our assumptions, we can be more confident in the decisions we make and avoid making mistakes based on incorrect information.

While gut feelings can be useful in certain situations, they should never take the place of data when making important decisions. Data provides us with an objective, comprehensive, and bias-free view of the situation, allowing us to make more informed and accurate decisions. So, next time you’re faced with an important decision, remember the power of data and let the numbers guide you.