Animal Instincts — Tip of the Week
Over the holidays, a friend and I were talking about how smart animals, dogs in particular, are. My friend said something like, “Of course, they’re acting on instinct.” She then said something like, “Sometimes, I think we’d be better off if we followed their example and used our instinct more than we use our intellect.”
The debate between instinct and intellect is nothing new. Some like to argue that you make better decisions if you go with your gut instead of spending hours, days, even weeks teasing out an answer through the power of reasoning that the human mind gives you. If an animal knows what to do on the spur of the moment, then shouldn’t a human’s instinctual decisions hold sway over those of an intellectual nature.
I don’t know the answer. But it is something interesting to think about. I’m not suggesting that we ignore company policy or the law when we make a decision involving human resources or employment law. It does, however, seem that we are often paralyzed by our intellect, when the use of our instincts would do just as well if not better.
About Chris Parker
Chris Parker's practice focuses on the representation and counseling of companies in matters pertaining to the workplace and the protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. In addition to serving as an advocate for clients, Mr. Parker is also trained as a mediator and frequently serves as a third-party neutral.
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About Jimmy Daniel
Jimmy Daniel provides counseling to businesses of all sizes related to the employment relationship. He assists in the drafting of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, as well as provides guidance related to compliance with federal, state, and local legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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About Larry Bridgesmith
While serving in an Of Counsel relationship with the firm, Mr. Bridgesmith also serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University and as an officer and principal in Strategic Resolutions Group, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Bridgesmith brings over 30 years of legal experience in dispute resolution and innovative workplace strategies to clients, students and business entities alike.
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