Intro
What are the most important cognitive biases regarding leadership in innovation? Biases have been quite a hype on Linkedin the last years. But nontheless, I believe it is important for (not only) leaders to be aware of (at least) these biases and take steps to mitigate their impact on decision-making and interactions with others.
A little history about biases:
The origin of biases can be traced to various psychological and cognitive mechanisms that influence how individuals perceive, process, and interpret information. These biases often stem from evolutionary adaptations that served survival purposes in ancestral environments but may lead to errors in judgment or decision-making in modern contexts. Some biases are innate and hardwired into the human brain, while others may be shaped by cultural, social, and environmental factors.
Biases can be explained through the lens of cognitive psychology, which studies how mental processes such as perception, memory, and reasoning impact human behavior. These biases often occur automatically and unconsciously, influencing our thoughts, attitudes, and actions without our awareness (which called Daniel Kahneman our System 1, the autopilot or intuitive thinking). They can manifest in various forms, such as cognitive biases (related to information processing), social biases (related to group dynamics and social interactions), and emotional biases (related to feelings and emotions).
Biases serve as mental shortcuts or heuristics that help us make sense of complex information and navigate the world more efficiently. However, they can also lead to errors, distortions, and irrational judgments, particularly when they interfere with our ability to objectively evaluate information or consider alternative perspectives. Recognizing and understanding biases is essential for critical thinking, decision-making, and promoting fairness and equity in various domains of life.
"Biases are the lenses through which we perceive the world; becoming aware of them allows us to see more clearly."
— Tina Weisser
1.Idea Bias
The idea bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when we overvalue novelty or originality and undervalue the practicality or feasibility of an idea. This bias can lead to a preference for ideas that are new or creative, but not necessarily effective or useful. The idea bias often occurs in brainstorming sessions or other creative processes, where the goal is to generate new and innovative ideas. In these situations, people may feel pressure to come up with something unique or groundbreaking, and as a result, they may prioritize novelty over practicality.
2.Group Think bias
Group think bias is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of people makes a decision that is flawed or irrational due to the desire for consensus and harmony within the group. Groupthink is a type of conformity bias, where individuals within a group tend to conform to the group’s norms an
3.Confirmation bias
This is the tendency to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them. Leaders with confirmation bias may surround themselves with people who agree with them and ignore dissenting voices, leading to poor decision-making.
Unity can be a source of strength, yet when it blinds us to dissenting voices, it becomes a treacherous journey.
4.Survivorship bias
Survivorship bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when we focus on the successes and positive outcomes of a group or process, while ignoring the failures or negative outcomes. This can lead to an overestimation of the likelihood of success or a distorted view of reality. Survivorship bias can be dangerous when it comes to decision-making or when we draw conclusions from a sample that is not representative of the entire population.
5.Halo effect
This is the tendency to form a positive overall impression of someone based on one positive trait or characteristic. Leaders with the halo effect may overestimate the abilities of their employees or colleagues based on a single impressive performance, leading to over-reliance on certain individuals and ignoring potential flaws.
6.Anchoring bias
This is our tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information received when making decisions. Leaders with anchoring bias may make decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate information, leading to suboptimal outcomes.
What other biases do you think a good to carry in your „Bias starter kit“ we could revisit from time to time?