Rational vs Intuitive decision-making

Yes, it is simplistic to differentiate between the two using absolutes. But we all know that some people tend to go with their gut feel, and others go with their specially designed weighted spreadsheet.


This reminds me of a story about Charles Darwin, who was nursed for a time by his cousin Emma Wedgwood.
Eventually he selected (boom boom) her as a wife, but only after drawing up a list of pros and cons, which included the immortal line:


'Constant companion and a friend in old age...better than a dog anyhow'

Anyhow....I recently did a study which had the intriguing conclusion that, in terms of career contentment, the rational decision-making style has (not surprisingly) been more successful.

HOWEVER, there are signs that this is changing and that now those who are most content with their careers rely on intuitive decision-making. Following your heart and not your head is glib, but it does fit with the idea of a 'boundaryless' career, as a rational style did with the more 'fixed' career paths of the past.

Intuitives have long been told to think more rationally. But I wonder if it is now time for rationals (like me) to be told to think less rationally as a counterpoint to our natural style?