Beyond the Noise: Challenging Cognitive Biases in Leadership
Why Critical Thinking Matters More Than Ever for Knowledge Workers
Taking stock
After almost seven years of writing online, where are we?
Well, my voice has changed (a lot) since my initial tentative "Monthly Musings" about leadership. Gone are the worries about sharing opinions and strong points of view. My motivations are to provoke rather than prescribe. I value brevity and clarity with a minimal consultant or academic fluff - I am neither, after all.
I take intellectual risks because I don't expect everyone to agree with me.
I want to challenge business people, especially knowledge workers, who are rewarded for their judgment when making good decisions.
To think better.
To help you not to get caught up in your cognitive biases again. And again. And again
Thinking that the latest "robust research" just because Adam Grant has shared must be true. Or the newest post, video or podcast from the fantastic storytellers Simon Sinek or Malcolm Gladwell (hint: their real job is telling stories.) Oh, wait. Let me think, "Do I want this to be true?"
If so, it is probably your confirmation bias in overdrive.
There is no universality when it comes to the workplace.
People are different.
People are complex.
There are No Silver Bullets (great book, by the way) or Magic Elixirs that work all the time and in all situations.
The “X Step ProgramTM” doesn't magically make all your problems go away.
If knowledge work were easy, we wouldn't need really smart people who get paid lots of money.
Work is hard. Work trips us up. Not everyone you will meet at work is like you and wants to work hard or even do a good job. Many just want to do as little as possible for their pay. And that's ok.
Reflections
Writing online can feel lonely at times. My worry isn't that someone will copy and steal my ideas; the reality for most of us is that our writing simply gets ignored.
I continue to write for three reasons:
First and foremost, I enjoy it.
Second, it helps me to appreciate what a) I don't understand and b) I do understand. Crucially, it helps me migrate the topics on the a) side of the ledger to the b) side and, therefore, ensure my learning >= the change around me.
Lastly, it helps my coaching clients, new, old, and future, by exposing them to new ideas and provoking them to spend more time thinking.
Seven years of writing a blog, posting on LinkedIn, and writing this Substack newsletter.
Plus, let's not forget the two self-published books (follow these links to pick up a copy):
I will soon start on my third book. In the coming months, expect to hear lots more about management, new managers, and accidental managers.
Anyway, just a quick back to the office after the summer post from me this time. Please do get in touch and tell me your stories. I'd love to get your views on my writing topics and how I can help you.
📫 - A quote that I am currently pondering
"Everything can look like a failure in the middle."
Rosabeth Moss Kanter (Kanter's Law)
Whatever the new project, initiative, habit, or change project, at some point, reality sets in 👉 this is harder to do than anyone thought.
🧾 - An absorbing and insightful (short) read
By Edward de Bono.
This is a short book that is quick to read and exposes the reader to a powerful decision-making framework that teams, groups, or individuals can use.
🤔 - If you did have the answer to this question, what would it be?
What am I not hearing that's being said?