Will You Join the Wise Decision Maker Movement?

Greetings Decision maker,

Hopefully by now you took the Assessment on Avoiding Dangerous Judgment Errors in the Workplace.

If not, download it now and take it. Or schedule 15 minutes to do so in your calendar for today or tomorrow. Don’t let procrastination, which ironically stems from several dangerous judgment errors, prevent you from defeating these mental blindspots.

As you’ve gone through the assessment, you’ve probably been wondering what’s underlying all of these judgment errors that those who research cognitive neuroscience and behavioral economics like myself call cognitive biases. To understand the broader principles behind the assessment - both the science and the best practices - and how they apply to business, check out the Wise Decision Maker Movement Manifesto.

The key take-away from this manifesto is that the biggest falsehood in business leadership and career advice may also be the most repeated: “go with your gut.” The choice that feels most comfortable and appealing to your gut is often the worst decision for your bottom line, just like a dozen delicious, delightful, delectable donuts are much more appealing than a fruit tray, but are the worst choice for your waistline.

You have to adopt counterintuitive, uncomfortable, but highly effective techniques to avoid business disasters by making the best decisions. You have to pursue mental fitness just like you pursue physical fitness, skipping the donuts in favor of fruit.

This year, their topic is “Fragmented Realities - Regaining a Common Understanding of Truth.”

Because of my work promoting truth-seeking, as described in my best-selling book, The Truth-Seeker’s Handbook: A Science-Based Guide, I was invited to be one of the participants.

For those who didn’t read the book, it helps you make sure you correct any biased perceptions to see the truth of reality, which is critically important for making wise decisions. After all, how can you make wise decisions without having the right information? You’ll also learn techniques to correct the misperceptions of others. Doing so is surprisingly difficult, because we have defensive responses to others helping us correct false beliefs.

The research literature is loaded with dozens of cognitive biases that convincingly demonstrate the folly of going with your gut. Yet generations of managers have consistently ignored this knowledge in favor of going with their gut. Gleb Tsipursky picks up where the research leaves off and provides us with a compelling set of alternative decision making strategies that are far more likely to lead to positive outcomes. Before you find yourself about to make another gut based decision that will surely end badly you must take the time to read this book. It will save you from yourself!

Here’s a photo of someone who thinks she’s the main decision maker for my home. Her name is Siren, because of how loudly she meows. In this photo, she’s looking pretty skeptical about my decision to take her photo.

Still, I’m not sure how wise she is, given by the quality of her systematic decisions to try to trip me up every night when she begs for food. As my business partner (and wife) Agnes Vishnevkin says, she’s lucky she’s cute as heck.

Would love to see photos of your furry friends who make decision in your home: send ‘em if you have them! Yes, dogs are welcomed, too, and any other decision makers. Agnes and I unfortunately don’t have a dog: our consulting, coaching, and speaking and training travel schedule makes it unfair for us to have one. Cats, by contrast, do just fine by themselves while we are away.

Help Me Serve Your Needs

What does being a wise decision maker mean for you? What does it look like? How does it feel? Is there someone you’d consider a wise decision maker in your life? How did this person influence you? Email me with your thoughts on any or all of these questions to help me ensure that my content best serves your needs!

Decisively Yours,

Gleb