Have you ever questioned the data on something, just because your gut and intuition were telling you that something was off? Having access to data is an incredibly powerful asset, but we must take the surrounding narrative and context into account. In this episode, we’ll talk about why it’s important to be critical of the information we’re presented with and how to ensure we’re mixing both storytelling and data into our everyday decision-making.
Season 1, Episode 9: Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Doubt the Data?
Episode Description:
Data doesn't lie—until it does.
In this thought-provoking episode of Why Does It Feel So Wrong to Be Human at Work?, hosts Pinaki Kathiari and Chris Lee explore the complicated relationship between data-driven decision making and gut instinct. From legendary art forgeries and tech valuations to corporate benefits and poker games, they show how numbers and intuition both play critical roles in how we navigate decisions at work.
They explore:
If you've ever hesitated to act without "enough data," or ignored your gut because "the numbers say otherwise"—this episode is for you.
Timestamps:
Books & Resources:
Mic-Drop Moments:
“We don’t make decisions with our heads. We justify them with our heads—but we make them with our hearts.”
“Data makes your choice defensible. Gut makes it meaningful.”
“Prototyping is the new research. Action is better than overanalysis.”
“Sometimes the data’s just there to catch the blame if it goes wrong.”
Connect with Us:
Pinaki Kathiari – LinkedIn | Local Wisdom
Chris Lee – LinkedIn | Gallagher Communication
Special Thanks:
Shoutout to the team at Local Wisdom for championing nimble data, to Gallagher for advancing human-first communications, and to all the brave decision-makers who dare to trust both numbers and instinct.
Let’s Hear It:
What do you trust more at work—your gut or the data? Tell us your decision-making story. We’re on LinkedIn, TikTok, or drop us a note at whydoesitfeelsowrong.com.