The document details Rossella Derickson's professional background as an executive coach and biochemist, highlighting her work with various organizations and her focus on utilizing intuition in leadership and decision-making. It explores the importance of intuition in situations with insufficient or conflicting data, and describes various methods to engage and develop intuitive skills. Additionally, it touches on the concept of the mind's ability to connect with others emotionally for better understanding and decision-making.

1. Intuition: Leading Edge for You and Your Clients
SBODN
August 1, 2011
Rossella Derickson
Rossella@Corporate-Wisdom.com
www.Corporate-Wisdom.com

2. Bio: Rossella Derickson, ICF Trained Coach
Rossella Derickson, a biochemist, has 22 years experience leading sales, marketing, and
project management teams with P&L responsibility. She is a founder and a principal in the
company www.Corporate-Wisdom.com. Over the past 5 years, organizations with which
she has worked include Cisco, Stanford University, Phoenix Technology, PARC, eGain,
Formfactor, Morrison and Foester, Santa Clara County Executive Office, Applied
BioSystems, Amgen, Kodak, and Hitachi.
Rossella brings a centered style to help clients open up to deal with challenges. She brings clarity and
problem solving approaches through tools learned through formal training and practical experience.
Rossella has translated her experience into Wisdom in the Workplace training modules to support
leadership and emotional intelligence development. She utilizes Kotter and Nadler change models,
depending upon the organization’s need for vision or business alignment. She facilitates learning through
webinar, video conferencing, telepresence and in person sessions. Rossella has launched customized
off-sites and training for multinational companies in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
For 8 years, Rossella held the position of Director of the South Bay Organizational Development Network,
SBODN.com – a forum for live and virtual events bringing thought leaders in OD, training, and coaching.
Rossella holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Rutgers University and is an ICF trained executive coach. She
is a gifted intuitive, having studied at Esalen and Aikido with Robert Nadeau, a student of Aikido founder
Morihei Ueshiba. Rossella is an author of "Awakening Social Responsibility, A Call to Action."
2

3. When Do Leaders Need Intuition?
Ron Schultz, in Unconventional Wisdom,
interviewed what he termed “twelve
remarkable innovators.” In their own words,
they explained how intuition can revolutionize
decision-making.
When is intuition most helpful to leaders?
 when there is insufficient data, or not
enough time to gather the data
 when there is too much information, or the
data is conflicting
 when data seems to support several
options equally

4. Check-in: How intuitive are you (on a good day or under pressure)?
Intuition Defined - Comprehension without the use of reasoning. It
sometimes comes in the form of symbols.
Intuition is a “physical state.” Laura Day, author of Practical Intuition,
states that the normal, waking cognitive “filters” are down. Then we use
our rational mind to interpret the impression.

5. Western - Eastern Convergence
Neural pathways Energy/ Life Force
Brain Waves Consciousness
Neurotransmitters
Electromagnetic field

6. How Does Intuition Manifest?
 Mind perception - Ability to put all the information
together without all the “facts,” quantum leap
 Audio perception - Hearing the meta-messages when
someone is speaking
 Gut feeling - feeling in the body
Exercise: Ancient Chinese divination tool:
• Think of a dilemma.
• Toss the coin.
• What is your body/gut response?

7. Gamma Insight Effect
Insight Alpha Insight Effect
 The aha moment–when an
answer pops into our head
seemingly out of the blue.
happens in a small fold of tissue
on the surface of the right
hemisphere called the anterior
superior temporal gyrus.
 It is taxing to the brain so occurs
when the brain is relaxed through
daydreaming, showering, gym
http://groups.psych.northwestern.edu/mbeeman/documents/CurrentDirxns_Kounios-Beeman_2009.pdf

8. Engaging Your Intuition
Intuition is goal directed. It’s activated by a
question asked consciously or unconsciously.
 Unconscious question:
(For example) Why does It always
seem like it is my fault when I argue
with my boss?
Intuitive information sometimes comes in the
form of symbols.
Exercise:
Your eye will be drawn to see what you need to
see; to know what you need to know….
Am I on the right track with my career?
My intuition guides me …

9. Developing Core Beliefs
Unstructured
Structured
How do we lose our natural open and intuitive state?

10. The Hijacking
Brain
 Threat vs. Reward- Much of our
motivation driving social behavior is
governed by an overarching
organizing principle - to minimize Neuroscience Research
threat and maximize reward. David Rock, www.neuroleadership.org

11. Hijacking Thoughts
How many of your 168 hours were lost this week?
Hrs / week Hrs / week
Being better than _______ Telling untruths ______
Being not as good as _______ Thinking about revenge ______
Being pessimistic _______ Thinking of enemies ______
Judging yourself _______ Thinking of lost opportunities ______
Pleasing friends _______ Thinking of resentments ______
Pleasing people at work _______ Trying to control others ______
Pleasing your family _______ Thinking about how unfair
Regretting old failures _______ things are ______
Replaying old hurts _______ Worrying about what
Replaying conversations _______ might happen ______
Exercise: What thoughts hijack you and your intuition?

12. Shifting Hijacking Thoughts
Label and Reappraise
Stress
(Boss communicates
harshly) Hijacking Thought
Negative Belief
Brain/PFC Spin
Examples of Negative Beliefs:
I always do it wrong.
No one listens to me.
I don't belong. Learned Defense Reaction
(Speak up, Don’t speak up, etc)
Coaching:
I can do it right.
I listen to myself.
I belong.

13. Get Out of Your Story
Label and Re-Appraise
 Labeling  Discuss
Naming the feelings that
have occurred and looking What thoughts "spin" in your
at them from a distance mind and distract you?
often allows the brain to
relax and to feel a sense of Label the feeling
control and therefore calm. associated with the thought.
See it from a distance.
 Re-Appraisal
Looking at a difficult or Or - reappraise and find a
threatening situation and new interpretation of the
redefining it's meaning high level disturbance .
allows the threat to reduce
and new neurotransmitters
to connect to future states
Neuroscience Research
that are more positive. David Rock, www.neuroleadership.org

14. The Mind Set
to Engage
Intuition
Being
Curious
Open
Calm

15. Mastering Your Mind
Richard J. Davidson
A Buddhist monk is fitted with electrodes in Richard Vilas Professor of Psychology and
Davidson’s neuroscience lab. His best-known work Psychiatry Ph.D. 1976, Harvard University
focuses on neuroplasticity, the capacity of the brain University of Wisconsin, Director,
to develop and change throughout life, something Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience
Western science once thought impossible. Director, Waisman Laboratory for Brain
Imaging & Behavior

16. Emotions – A Wave?
Lisa Feldman Barrett
Barrett L F et al. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2007;2:73-83

17. Emotions- Awareness of Others
 We can’t really know what’s going on until we stop
running and connect first with ourselves and then with
others.
 Ordinary empathy is sympathizing with a friend.
 Intuitive empathy is the capacity to energetically merge
with others and see life (positively and negatively)
through their eyes, and sense the world through their
feelings. Dr. J.Orloff, M.D. Second Sight
 It becomes difficult to distinguish these sensations from
your own, sometimes throwing you off center.

18. Heart and Mind
Calming Both "Brains"
 The mind “seems to be a non-stop talking
machine with a constant barrage of
endless thoughts, ideas, concepts,
meanings, memories, plans,
apprehensions, doubts, and repetitions.”
David Hawkins, author of Power vs.
Force, states most of us want anything
rather than silence. Studies by HeartMath
 The heart generates an electric field 40-
60X stronger than brain. It can be
measured 8 feet away from body.
Reflective Practice: Breathe deeply in a
rhythmic fashion. Imagine you can breathe
into your heart. Recall a positive experience
that brings forth a positive emotion.
www.Corporate-Wisdom.com 18

19. Using Intuition to Decide on a Course of Action
Think of a situation you are grappling with. Define the situation clearly.
Think of 2 possible solutions. Take a deep breath. Close your eyes. RELAX.
Imagine a jacket, and associate the jacket with one of the possible solutions to the
situation you are grappling with. How does the jacket fit? How does it feel?
Put on the second jacket. How does this one fit? Feel?
What is your intuition telling you?

20. Are You in the Flow?
High Anxiety/Fear
Flow
Boredom
High
Low
Skills

21. Follow the Flow
 Being at the right place at the
right time. Knowing what is
next.
 Being awake to possibilities
without distraction.
 Having a clear question and
trusting the “effortless flow.”
Quote by Oprah Winfrey: Find the flow and follow it. You can’t go
wrong. Even if you’re in a situation where you are uncomfortable or
out of place, don’t try to swim against the current. Change direction.
Find the flow and follow it.

22. Flow
 Alignment – Google “The
Energy Project”
 Purpose is not something you
do intellectually… It comes
from the core of who you are
and drives your success
Intention: If I followed my deepest intuition I would…

23. Wisdom in the Workplace
Consulting, Training, and Coaching
Senior Executive Programs Team Modules Wisdom Series Sustainable Programs Assessment & OD Work
Executive Team Coaching Developing Direct Reports Core Communication Skills Developing Sustainable Strategies Embracing and
Sustaining Change
Individual Coaching Building a Cohesive Team Conflict Resolution Assess Your CSR Program Merger Integration
Skills
Creating Your Management Style Building Wise Teams Managing Your CSR Program Process Improvement
On Purpose
Running Effective Meetings Managing with Wisdom Team Building for Good "Right sizing" Facilitation
Leading with Vision
Accessing Intuition and Creativity Coaching Skills for Managers Green Team Facilitation
23