The Impact of Biased Thinking in Decision-Making: What the US Elections Teach Us About Team Dynamics
After the recent elections, especially with the intense polarization around figures like Trump and Kamala, I started thinking about something bigger than just politics. It's about how we process information and how that shapes our decisions—whether it's voting, making choices at work, or resolving conflicts within teams.
Here’s the thing: we live in a world where algorithms are designed to give us what we want to see. You open your social media feed or turn on the news, and you're immediately hit with stories that reinforce your point of view. It's all so easy to fall into the trap. We scroll fast, read headlines that confirm what we already believe, and before we know it, we're sucked into one side of the story.
The problem with this is that we miss out on the full picture. The more we engage with one perspective, the more we get trapped in it. It becomes a cycle, where we’re constantly fed content that supports our biases and shuts out anything that challenges our thinking.
This happens not just in politics but in workplaces, too. Think about when you've been in a meeting or a conflict at work. When we’re in a rush or pressured to make decisions, we often don’t take the time to get the full picture. It's tempting to seek out people who already agree with us—just like how we follow certain news outlets that align with our views. It’s human nature to want to be understood, to feel validated. But what we’re doing is reinforcing our biases, not expanding our perspective.
In fact, how many times do we go to someone who thinks completely differently from us for their opinion? It's uncomfortable, right? Usually, we avoid those conversations because we don’t want to be challenged. We want to be understood. But if we only listen to people who agree with us, we’re missing out on valuable insights, and that can lead to poor decisions—whether in politics, business, or relationships.
Listen With Curiosity
This is where active listening and curiosity come in. The key to making informed decisions—especially in the face of conflict—is to actively listen, to stay curious about what others are thinking, and to make space for different viewpoints. This means putting aside our need to be right or validated and instead, asking, “What am I missing here? What’s the other side of this story?”
Think about it: when we slow down and genuinely listen to someone else’s point of view, we open ourselves up to a wider perspective. This doesn’t mean we have to agree with them, but we’re creating the space to question our own assumptions. It’s like a puzzle—if we only focus on one piece, we’ll never see the full picture. But when we take the time to gather all the pieces, we can make a much clearer, more informed decision.
Conclusion
The next time you're facing a decision—whether in a meeting, during a team conflict, or even in a political discussion—ask yourself: Am I rushing to judgment? Am I looking for people who just reinforce what I already believe? And if the answer is yes, that's your cue to slow down and listen with curiosity. Challenge your thinking. Get curious about the other side. That’s where better decisions are made.
When we actively listen and remain curious, we make better decisions, foster stronger teams, and create solutions that are more sustainable. It’s the only way forward—whether we’re navigating political divides or just trying to build a more cohesive team at work.
