They should not be automatic. A good dancer paces it out and gets a feel for the timing before venturing any twirls. Good dancers know where a figure is going so they can direct their momentum to the flow of the dance. This is a much bigger challenge in squares. The challenge of flow in contras is more controlled , but there are subtle shifts of flow where the dancers have to direct their own energy.
Good dancers make better dancers of the people they dance with.
And not just their partners. Gentle pressure clearly tells the person where they're going next. If they didn't know, it will help them figure out the dance. The good dancer also appropriately teaches dancers he encounters who are lost. This is best done by gentle, but firm shoves and encouraging words.