Corporate Intuition: Don’t trust your gut, trust your authority.

We’re told “trust your gut” when it comes to making decisions. But what we aren’t taught is that not everyone makes decisions, literally in their gut.

The phrase “trust your gut” got popular in the 20th century with the rise of popular psychology and self-help. This comes with the conversation about the gut-brain axis and how your gut is like your “second brain.”

Scientists have found that your gut produces neurotransmitters like serotonin, impacting your mood AND intuitive sensations.

(PS 90% of your serotonin is made in your gut. If that isn’t a sign to improve nutrition protocol, idk what is.)

The metaphor of the "gut" as a source of inner wisdom dates back to ancient cultures that saw the belly or abdomen as a center of emotion and instinct. Today, we say “trust your gut” when we mean “trust your intuition.”

Here’s where we can get nuanced in intuition. While humans all have a gut that truly does impact their emotional regulation, intuition, and overall longevity, making decisions based on intuition can live in different emotional centers for different people: not just the gut.

In Human Design, it’s called your authority. The distinct way in which you build a relationship with, a listen to your intuition.

When it comes to authority, only 35% of the population can use the phrase “trust your gut” as literally as “you have an instant knowing in your belly.” *

Whereas 50% of the population has Emotional authority, meaning they use their emotional wisdom and their experiences to make decisions. In the moment, they are better suited to take note of the emotion that comes up for them when thinking about the decision, and then SLEEP ON IT, wait until their neutral, and then decide.

Think about that, if 50% of the population cannot decide in the moment…. Think about how we run our team meetings and expect our leaders to pick a side, make a call, allocate resources in real time.

We are probably pressuring people to make quick decisions when truly they need time and space to make the BEST judgement call.

And those are just the main 2 types. There are 7 total authority types.

🔮 PRIMARY HUMAN DESIGN AUTHORITIES

(Listed from most common to rarest)

Authority	% of Population	Inner Decision-Making Style	How It Relates to Intuition
Emotional (Solar Plexus)	~50%	Clarity over time. Ride the emotional wave before deciding.	Not instant — your “intuition” lives in emotional wisdom gained through experience. There's no truth in the moment - sleep on it.
Sacral	~35%	Gut response. “Uh-huh” (yes) / “Uh-uh” (no). Instant bodily knowing.	Deeply intuitive. This type actually lives the “trust your gut” — it’s physical, vocal, and immediate (if they know how to listen to their belly!)
Splenic	~10%	Spontaneous, subtle whisper of instinct. Quiet but fast.	Pure instinct. Comes in the moment, often just once. Feels like a whisper, scent, or nudge and they must be present, and in touch, to catch it.
Ego (Heart)	~2%	Willpower and desire from the heart. “Do I deeply want/desire this?” "Would I ride into battle for this thing?"	Intuition comes from self-worth and personal desire. Decisions feel empowering and self-honoring. If it feels like “I can and I will,” it’s a yes.
Self-Projected	~2%	Speak to hear yourself. Truth emerges from your voice.	Not traditional “intuition,” but intuitive clarity through expression. When you speak authentically, your truth rings out.
Environmental (Mental Projected)	<2%	Clarity comes through talking in the right environment with the right people. You don't need and shouldn't make decisions alone.	“Intuition” is contextual. You know what’s right for you when you hear yourself in spaces that feel good. Place = power. Good questions = clarity.
Lunar (Reflectors only)	~1%	There should be no pressure to decide quickly. Wait a full lunar cycle (28 days) for clarity or until you've experienced enough iterations of the idea/decision.	Intuition is patterned over time. You reflect the energy around you, and wisdom comes slowly, through cycles and observation.

For organizations, startups, or even friend groups that are in need of leadership that make better decisions, there is a better, more unique way of supporting people to trust their intuition.

You can find out your type using my free HD chart generator! I’d love to know what your authority is and if you feel like you’re given enough time at work to make the BEST decision possible!

According to widely shared statistics from Human Design educators and analysts (including sources like Jovian Archive, Genetic Matrix, and HD School teachings), these are the approximate percentages of each Authority type in the population. While Human Design doesn’t have a centralized research database, these estimates are based on decades of chart analysis from birth time databases and practitioner tools.