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Outsmart your own biases is what you going to learn in this article.

“It is an acknowledged fact that we perceive errors in the work of others more readily than in our own.”
― Leonardo da Vinci

Think you’re smart? Hate to break it to you, but a lot of people do.
Everyone tends to overestimate him- or herself. As a side effect, people also overestimate their family and friends. 

This seems to be hard-wired into our genes. Although it made us greater risk-takers long ago, it can also be a misstep when making decisions. Decisions in life, but also at work.


This “overconfidence” bias is just an example of a myriad of different types of cognitive biases.


What is cognitive bias?


A subjective cognitive error, a wrong thought process. It also entails systemic patterns in false and subjective presumptions.


The question Blacksheep is asking: “How to outsmart your own biases?”
Let us elaborate…

Types of cognitive bias

outsmart your own biases- cognitive biases


There are about 21 types of cognitive bias, but let’s not go into all of them. Let’s look at some common existing types of bias:

  • Confirmation
  • Blind-spot
  • Anchoring
  • Overconfidence (aforementioned culprit!)

    Confirmation bias – the impulse to only adopt data that suits our own ideas the most. 


Blind-spot bias – not seeing your own weak sides. People tend to notice bias in others much more, as opposed to acknowledging their own.

 
Anchoring – a bias that surfaces when making quick decisions under pressure. The decision is based on the first data available. For example, if someone makes you an offer, you will most likely base your counteroffer on this initial offer.


The overconfidence bias – With overconfidence comes greater risktaking. Having a lot of knowledge on a subject makes you more vulnerable to this bias. This is because you are convinced you are right too often!


Change your way of thinking and outsmart your own cognitive biases


So… What are good ways to outsmart your own biases?

Step 1: It would be to discover your personal set of most commonly practiced cognitive biases and map them. By doing this, you will recognize them easier in the future.

Step 2: Making a problem-solving diagram is something different than sticking to it! It will take a while but it will become muscle memory. It keeps you from going on the proverbial slippery slope.
So stick to simple problem-solving diagrams when making important decisions, it avoids emotions running the show.

In other words:
“Map your own biases and stick to a (simple) problem-solving diagram when making important decisions.”

Learn more @The Blacksheep Community


Ask yourself these questions:
Do you feel the need for a new way of thinking?

Do you feel an outsider from time to time?

Well, we are here to tell you there is a lot of untapped potential in being an outsider. This is what The Blacksheep Community explores. Maybe you resonate with what we do.
In our community, we try to answer a lot of good questions via the use of practical wisdom from all over the globe from like-minded people.

To create a movement in the good direction of the future, we have to learn a new way of thinking.
This is exactly just what Blacksheep does.

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