Cognitive Bias...what is it?
As new managers begin their journey, they are often faced with a slew of decisions that can make or break their success. However, what many new managers do not realize is that they are also up against a significant challenge: cognitive bias.
Cognitive bias refers to the systematic errors in thinking that can impact decision-making, judgment, and behavior. These biases can arise from our innate mental shortcuts, past experiences, or social influences and can lead to irrational or illogical decisions.
For new managers, cognitive bias can be particularly detrimental as they are often navigating unfamiliar territory and dealing with new challenges. Here are some ways in which cognitive bias can impact new managers:
Overconfidence Bias
New managers may overestimate their abilities and knowledge, leading them to make rash decisions without seeking input or advice from their team or colleagues. This can lead to poor decisions or alienating team members.
For instance, a new manager may feel confident in their ability to manage a project and make critical decisions, leading them to ignore the input and expertise of their team members. This can lead to missed opportunities or overlooked details that could have an impact on the project's outcome.
Confirmation Bias
New managers may seek out information or evidence that confirms their preconceived notions, while ignoring or dismissing information that contradicts their beliefs. This can lead to a lack of diversity of thought and limiting innovative ideas.
For example, a new manager may have a belief that a particular strategy will be effective for their team, leading them to only seek out evidence that supports this view. This can result in overlooking potentially better or more effective strategies, leading to missed opportunities for growth or success.
Halo Effect
New managers may form overly positive or negative impressions of team members based on a single trait or action, such as their first impression or a recent success or failure. This can lead to biases in performance evaluations and promotions.
For instance, a new manager may have a positive impression of a team member based on their strong communication skills, leading them to overlook other areas where the team member may be struggling. This can result in overlooking areas where the team member could improve or missing opportunities to provide feedback or support.
Availability Bias
New managers may make decisions based on readily available information or recent events, while ignoring important information that is not as easily accessible. This can lead to overlooking long-term implications or missing critical details.
For example, a new manager may make a decision based on recent customer feedback, without considering other factors such as long-term trends or the impact of the decision on the team's workload. This can result in overlooking long-term implications or missing critical details that could have an impact on the organization's success.
Anchoring Bias
New managers may be influenced by the first piece of information they receive, which can set the tone for all subsequent decision-making. This can lead to a narrow focus or missed opportunities.
For instance, a new manager may be anchored to a particular strategy or idea presented by a colleague or superior, leading them to overlook other potentially better or more effective strategies. This can result in a narrow focus that limits growth and success.
These are just a few examples of how cognitive bias can impact new managers. The good news is that there are strategies to mitigate these biases, such as seeking diverse perspectives, gathering data from multiple sources, and consciously reflecting on decision-making processes.
As a new manager, it's important to be aware of the potential impact of cognitive bias and take steps to minimize its influence. By doing so, you can make better decisions, build stronger relationships with your team, and ultimately be more successful in your role. At Rebel in the Pot we make sure you not only know about all the ways a cognitive bias could affect you and your team but also how to deal with them.