What are the things that your gut tells you? That you’re hungry, or you have an upset stomach? Or that you’re nervous?
But what about the quieter signals, the subtle nudges that seem to come from somewhere deeper? The feeling that something is not quite right, or the sense that you need to lean in or step back.
We call it a gut feeling for a reason. Others use different names. For the Spiderman fans out there, some describe it as their Spidey-sense.
A colleague once called it the “little bird on his shoulder.” When I asked why, he said that whenever something felt off, he sensed a gentle tap, like a small bird landing softly to get his attention.
Whatever we call it, that inner signal has a way of speaking up. The real question is whether or not we are listening.
Listen to your gut
A dear friend of mine felt a little tap on her shoulder this past week. Something was nagging at her. She could not explain it, but she knew something was not right. When she finally took a closer look, the full picture came into view. Now she is working through the next steps to address it. She told me she sensed it long before she had to face it head on.
This same friend and I have often validated our instincts together, or what we call a double gut check, especially with major life decisions. Saying things out loud and testing our thinking with someone we trust helps bring clarity to what we are already sensing.
I experience something similar when managing projects, particularly large initiatives. I cannot always articulate it, but I often sense when something is about to shift. I may not be able to pinpoint exactly what it is, yet the signal is there.
Rather than ignore it, I quietly begin preparing the project team. Together, we think through possible scenarios and consider how our sponsors might need to respond if that instinct proves true.
More often than not, what is unfolding behind the scenes eventually comes to light. When it does, I am grateful to have the risk documentation and supporting evidence ready so we can respond thoughtfully and with confidence.
Get a head start
Our intuition rarely gives us all the details, but it often offers a valuable head start if we are willing to listen.
There are times, of course, when I miss the cue and end up scrambling. In those moments, my team and I quickly shift priorities, set everything else aside, and focus on gathering the information we need to determine the next steps. Our response is reactive rather than proactive, which is never ideal.
Looking back, I always regret not paying closer attention to that early nudge because scrambling is frustrating. If I had listened, we would already have had a clearer path forward.
It’s like your little bird on your shoulder telling you to fill up your gas tank today. You don’t, and the next day gas prices soar just as you’re about to take a long drive.
Whether it is a personal choice or a complex project at work, your gut often notices what your mind has not yet figured out.
Paying attention gives you a head start, helping you act with confidence instead of scrambling and turning uncertainty into a clearer path forward.
So, what is your little bird telling you lately?
With 20+ years project management experience, Barbara Kephart has led projects across industries like medical software, clinical trials, and cybersecurity. With experience teaching technical project management and stakeholder engagement, Barbara is dedicated to helping companies pivot, prioritize, and complete projects with Chief Project Officer-level expertise, project professionals, practical training, and hands-on management—without the executive-level price tag.