Leading with Grace: 7 Steps to Being Powerful Without Losing Yourself (3 of 5)

4. Trust Your Intuition

We’ve been taught to worship logic and facts—and yes, those matter. But don’t underestimate the quiet power of gut instinct.

People often misunderstand intuition as mystical, but in reality, it’s accumulated wisdom. It’s your subconscious collecting patterns, signals, and emotional data your mind hasn’t caught up with yet.

So when your gut whispers, Something’s off here, listen. When your heart nudges, This is your chance, lean in. The best leaders know how to balance head and heart, logic and feeling. It’s not either-or—it’s both.

5. Find Value In Criticism

Feedback can sting, especially when you’ve poured your heart into something. But learning to separate your work from your worth is a game-changer.

Not every critique is a dagger. Some are mirrors—revealing what we couldn’t see on our own. When someone offers feedback, try not to take it as a personal indictment. Instead, pause and ask yourself: Is there something useful here? If so, use it to grow. If not, let it roll off.

Don’t waste energy defending every move. Let your outcomes speak louder than your ego. There’s grace in accountability.