“Success may instill confidence, but it is failure that imparts wisdom. With wisdom comes the inner serenity needed to create a bridge between failure and success.”
– Gary Burnison
In last week’s blog post we took a look at the problem of constant skepticism in our professional lives, and how it is often created from a fear of failure. We also looked at ways of reframing failure, as one technique to start defeating skepticism. This week we will be looking at how to shake personal bias in an effort to further reduce our tendency towards skepticism.
Shaking Personal Bias
Another breeding ground for close-minded skepticism is an over emphasis on past negative experiences. Regrets from the past, whether self-caused or not, can be powerful deterrents in the mind, unduly shaping your beliefs. A leader with a negative bias over a certain topic will be unable to assess it with objective eyes. Can you recall a time when you simply declared, “I’m not going there again?” And have you found yourself unable to clearly explain why?
These are the kinds of biases every person has in their lives, to some degree. We don’t know we have them. Leaders certainly are not exempt.
In his book, Everyday Bias, Identifying and Navigating Unconscious Judgments in Our Daily Lives, author Howard J. Ross helps us understand the powerful influence past experiences have on our minds:
“Unconscious influences dominate our everyday life. What we react to, are influenced by, see or don’t see, are all determined by reactions that happen deep within our psyche. Reactions which are largely unknown to us.”
How can a leader counter this?
First, accept the fact that subconscious influences often keep you from seeing things as how they really are. If you have a bitter taste over a certain issue, a bias could be in play. In significant decisions, err on the side of being biased, and decide to let another view have a chance of being true. Force yourself. You will most likely need help from a trusted colleague or coach.
Second, for the specific issue at hand, determine if the circumstances are actually the same as those in the past. If not, allow this to paint a better picture. Third, recall why the past outcome was negative, and what you learned since then so you can change your approach.
Finally, explore all reasons why your feelings could be off target, and concede that another perspective is more appropriate. Your skeptical position can be reversed.
I hope these steps to overcoming personal bias are useful to you, and that you will make a conscious effort to discover areas in which you have these personal biases at play. As always I’d love to hear from you. I can be reached here or on LinkedIn.
