I came across the following article on my twitter feed:Why Organizations Don’t Learn. There are a few items that really resonated with me. The author tackles bias and how to handle the organization as a leader to avoid pitfalls.

According to the article there are 4 consequences of a bias toward success:

1. Fear of failure
2. A fixed mindset
3. Over reliance toward past success
4. Attribution bias

To me, the consequences of failure are the real sticking point. Without success, at some level, a venture will be short lived.

I really like the part that directs leaders in how to overcome the bias toward success:

• Destigmatize failure
• Embrace and teach a growth mindset
• Consider potential when hiring and promoting
• Use a data-driven approach to identify what caused success for failure

Next, there is the bias toward action, which means reaction. Here are the consequences of this bias:

1. Exhaustion
2. Lack of reflection

How do leaders help to overcome this bias:

• Build breaks into the schedule
• Take time just to think
• Encourage reflection after doing

Now, the consequences for a bias toward fitting In are addressed:

1. Believing we need to conform
2. Failure to use one’s strengths

How to address bias toward fitting in:

• Encourage people to cultivate their strengths
• Increase awareness and engage workers
• Model good behavior

Finally, there may be a bias toward experts with these consequences:

1. An overly narrow view of expertise
2. Inadequate front-line involvement

And how to address this bias in leadership:

• Encourage workers to own problems that affect them
• Give workers different types of experiences
• Empower workers to use their experience

Great article by Francesca Gino and Bradley Staats. I look forward to applying these principles.