Some of my best ideas come to me in the shower.

One Monday, following a too-busy weekend, I was dragging through my morning routine, wishing I could take the day off, relax and watch movies. Free association took me to the thought “Wouldn’t it be great to be able to make a profit watching movies!”

Then I had this flash of insight — I could do just that!

That spark of insight led me to develop one of my favorite leadership skills workshops for women, “Leadership Lessons from the Silver Screen,” where I use movie clips to demonstrate essential leadership skills.

After that I started keeping a pencil and notepad handy in my bathroom! I hear other women say they have the same experience. They get their best ideas in the shower, driving in the car, or just before they turn out the light at bedtime.

It turns out there’s an explanation for that, but I’m going to spare you the neuroscience research details. (Aren’t you glad!) Known as “strategic intuition” these momentary flashes of insight actually draw from both the right and left sides of the brain, but most important, happen in an “empty space” that allows us to see a bigger picture of the future.

These moments of strategic intuition are valid, can be trusted, and often lead to amazing idea, solutions and advances for your business. Even better, once you understand how they happen, they can actually be cultivated.

In times like these we need all the strategic intuition we can get to solve problems and find new ways of doing business in a world that’s changing beneath our feet.

I’d love to hear your stories of strategic intuition. How and when you get your best flashes of insight? How have your experiences of strategic innovation helped you solve a problem or create a new idea? Send me your stories.