Unlocking better decisions

Our brain is naturally wired to be efficient and to find ‘quick’ solutions.

It will often use mental shortcuts, biases, past experiences and personal preferences to come to a quick conclusion because that’s easier than using time to investigate the current situation deeply and looking for nuances and complicating factors.

While this is efficient, it can also lead to errors in judgement and inadequate solutions.

So how can we make better decisions?

Greater awareness of our potential for bias is a good place to start.  We have all had those moments when we find ourselves paying attention to information that reinforces the things we already believe, following people on social media with similar views to our own or tuning into podcasts that support our views. We choose to live in our own bubbles; it’s comfortable and we feel good when our views are reinforced.

Here are a few ideas we can implement to enable us to identify and overcome biases and enhance our decision making.

• Embrace Mindfulness and Reflection: Regular practices of mindfulness can enhance our awareness of the present moment and help us recognise when we might be falling prey to cognitive biases. Reflecting on past decisions, especially those that didn’t turn out as expected, can provide insights into how biases influenced our choices.

• Seek diverse perspectives – try to actively seek out and consider perspectives that differ from your own. Challenging assumptions can lead to more balanced decision-making.

• Develop Critical Thinking Skills: Critical thinking involves analysing information objectively and evaluating it from various angles. By honing these skills, we can better navigate the influence of biases on our decision-making.

• Create Decision-Making Processes: Establishing a structured approach to making decisions can help mitigate the impact of biases. This might include listing pros and cons, consulting with others, and setting aside time to evaluate all available information before making a choice.

• Foster a Growth Mindset: Believing that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work can make us more open to learning from our mistakes and less likely to succumb to biases like the fixed mindset.

Cognitive biases might be hardwired into our brains, but they don’t have to dictate our decisions.  Through becoming aware of them, we can learn to navigate them more effectively. By adopting strategies that enhance our awareness and critical thinking, we can make decisions that are more aligned with our goals, values, and the life we aspire to lead.

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