Identify your cognitive biases
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 6:55 am
More often than not, we are a product of our cognitive biases. This is prevalent in even the simplest decisions we make, such as the people we choose to surround ourselves with - it is a result of our confirmation bias, which aligns us with people who do not challenge our beliefs.
As a business professional, you will have to contend with many biases that can negatively impact your decisions. One example is the role that bias plays in companies’ hiring decisions, where hiring managers can make poor decisions by evaluating a new candidate based on the characteristics of the candidate’s predecessor.
Likewise, designers can create a website with terrible UX some of the important considerations because they are blinded by their knowledge bias - the result of not checking their decisions based on their prior knowledge of the features and benefits of the products or services their company offers.
Being aware of your biases is a big step toward making better decisions about your career or business.
How to do it: According to one field study, debiasing training is one way to combat bias. In this study, business students received training in an intervention that reduced their decision-making bias by nearly a third.
You can also take more practical steps, such as using HR solutions with built-in features to standardize interview processes to reduce bias in hiring.
Decisions, decisions…
These are my steps to developing good decision-making skills - what are yours? Share them in the comments.
To learn more about how to make better decisions, read these articles on our project management blog:
Developing a Change Management Plan: A Beginner's Guide
5 Evernote Alternatives to Organize Your Life and Business
Six Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Project Schedule
How to Plan Your Day with Skills in Mind for Successful Project Management
Looking for project management software? Check out Platforms' list of the best project management software solutions .
As a business professional, you will have to contend with many biases that can negatively impact your decisions. One example is the role that bias plays in companies’ hiring decisions, where hiring managers can make poor decisions by evaluating a new candidate based on the characteristics of the candidate’s predecessor.
Likewise, designers can create a website with terrible UX some of the important considerations because they are blinded by their knowledge bias - the result of not checking their decisions based on their prior knowledge of the features and benefits of the products or services their company offers.
Being aware of your biases is a big step toward making better decisions about your career or business.
How to do it: According to one field study, debiasing training is one way to combat bias. In this study, business students received training in an intervention that reduced their decision-making bias by nearly a third.
You can also take more practical steps, such as using HR solutions with built-in features to standardize interview processes to reduce bias in hiring.
Decisions, decisions…
These are my steps to developing good decision-making skills - what are yours? Share them in the comments.
To learn more about how to make better decisions, read these articles on our project management blog:
Developing a Change Management Plan: A Beginner's Guide
5 Evernote Alternatives to Organize Your Life and Business
Six Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Project Schedule
How to Plan Your Day with Skills in Mind for Successful Project Management
Looking for project management software? Check out Platforms' list of the best project management software solutions .