Here's how you can tackle biases and cognitive limitations in strategic thinking as a team leader.

By acknowledging bias, we can make more informed and fair decisions. Recognizing biases allows people to evaluate the situations more objectively & leading to better outcomes.

Sumo aquí 4 ideas para abordar los sesgos que todos tenemos: 1) Reconocer los sesgos, y su utilidad. En vez de “luchar” contra ellos, aceptarlos, verificar de dónde provienen y elegir qué deseas hacer con ellos. 2) Aprender sobre neurociencias: puedes profundizar en alguna lectura sobre sesgos cognitivos y el funcionamiento del cerebro, conexiones/sinapsis y demás temas de neurociencias aplicadas, para encontrar respuestas. 3) Detectar cómo te limitan los sesgos: así podrás elegir otro curso de acción cuando se presentan, re-orientando las decisiones, si así lo quieres. 4) Verificar qué los “gatillos” en tu mente. Generalmente un sesgo está acompañado de ciertas emociones y de sentimientos. Estos disparadores se puede ajustar o desviar.

Awareness is the first step in addressing biases and cognitive limitations. By acknowledging their existence and understanding their potential impact, individuals can become more vigilant in their decision-making processes.

To address bias and cognitive limitations in strategic thinking, begin by acknowledging and pinpointing prevalent biases like confirmation bias or anchoring. Incorporate diverse teams to introduce varied perspectives and counteract fixed viewpoints. Utilize structured decision-making frameworks, such as pre-mortem analyses or employing a devil’s advocate, to challenge assumptions and consider different outcomes. Continuously reviewing past decisions is crucial for learning from errors and refining strategies. Moreover, providing training on cognitive biases can increase awareness and furnish individuals with strategies to counteract these biases effectively.

- I foster a culture where every idea is valued, leading to richer strategies. - My team's varied experiences are our strength in overcoming complex challenges. - I've seen diverse inputs transform a good plan into an exceptional one. - Learning from each other is our daily practice, ensuring continuous innovation. - We unite our different perspectives to craft a shared, resilient future.

In my corporate journey and as CEO of B2BeeMatch, I’ve seen firsthand how diversity within teams sparks innovation and drives better decision-making. Embracing a variety of perspectives is a strategic imperative. Here’s what has been implemented to ensure we continually challenge cognitive biases and leverage our diverse strengths: 1. We make it a priority to include diverse viewpoints in every discussion. This practice enriches our strategies and helps us better serve our global clientele. 2. I believe in creating spaces where all voices can be heard and respected, allowing us to challenge the status quo safely and constructively. As leaders, it’s crucial to not only talk about diversity but to act on it.

I other to seek opinions every person matters in a team: - foster inclusiveness even in hybrid environments by acknowledging everyone on the call - go around and ask thoughts from everyone, even if you call them out, ask ‘do you have any other thoughts’ - often this invites even an ‘I agree’ - always ask if anyone wants to add another thought after the meeting, to reach out - this invites those who may need more time to digest info and form a perspective - this way you don’t go with the loudest or most vocal opinion

In order to have a good perspective, team members need to have information and opportunity. I make it a priority to make information available to all team members. With this information, I encourage all team members to fully develop opinions on their own prior to meeting to discuss. I also provide tools and structure and strategies to build and present those opinions. Finally, I give multiple avenues to present such as group meetings and 1 on 1 meetings.

Encourage diverse perspectives within your team to counteract biases and broaden the scope of strategic thinking. Embrace input from team members with different backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. This inclusivity fosters creativity, innovation, and more comprehensive problem-solving.

La planificación estratégica elabora planes y realiza proyecciones, basados en las perspectivas actuales y datos históricos; sin embargo la pandemia del 2020, realmente puso en evidencia que el rol de líder estratégico es tomar decisiones certeras en el menor tiempo posible; ya que sin ello hubiesen sido mucho más empresas las afectas o cerradas. Derivado de lo anterior el cuestionamiento de supuestos es necesario no sólo para tener presente varios escenarios posibles, sino tener entrenada la mente para situaciones adversas.

Probing questions that challenge underlying assumptions can help uncover potential blind spots and ensure that strategies are based on sound reasoning rather than cognitive shortcuts. By considering a range of possibilities and scenarios, teams can better anticipate potential risks and opportunities, leading to more robust and resilient strategies. As a team leader, fostering a culture where questioning assumptions is encouraged can lead to more thoughtful and effective decision-making processes. By challenging assumptions and considering alternative perspectives, teams can develop more agile and adaptive strategies that are better equipped to navigate uncertainty and complexity.

Challenging assumptions is a fundamental aspect of strategic thinking, particularly given the potential distortions introduced by cognitive biases like overconfidence and the availability heuristic. As a leader, fostering a culture of critical inquiry by encouraging your team to question their assumptions can significantly enhance decision-making processes. Probing questions and considering alternative scenarios are effective techniques for uncovering hidden biases and ensuring that strategies are grounded in reality rather than presumptions. I promote a mindset of rigorous scrutiny and openness to diverse possibilities, this helps my team develop more adaptable strategies to help them better equipped to navigate future uncertainties.

As a team leader, tackle biases by fostering an environment of open dialogue and diverse perspectives. Encourage team members to challenge assumptions and provide training on recognizing common cognitive biases. Promote continuous learning through regular workshops, feedback sessions, and staying updated with industry trends. Implement reflective practices and after-action reviews to learn from past decisions, ensuring that strategic thinking evolves and improves over time.

By providing opportunities for learning and knowledge sharing, you can create a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement within your team. This culture not only helps individuals stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices but also encourages them to challenge assumptions, think critically, and consider diverse perspectives. Regular reflection on decision-making processes can help team members identify and address any biases or cognitive limitations that may be affecting their strategic thinking. By fostering a culture that values learning and growth, you can empower your team to make more informed and effective decisions, ultimately leading to better outcomes for your organization.

The professional that doesn't dedicate time to continuous learning, especially the basics, is falling behind. You can't expect to maintain strong professional interactions if your not regularly polishing your skills.

Complexity is the enemy of execution, and this is more accurate today than ever before. The reason for this is because we often see companies experience this "accordian" effect of getting too complex, then simplifying, then getting too complex, then simplifying, and on it goes. Is there a way to skip this never-ending cycle completely? Yes, and it is called "integrative thinking - the learned ability to hold two opposing ideas in your mind at once, and then reach a synthesis that contains elements of both but improves on each." - The Opposable Mind. When applying this decision-making approach you dramatically simplify input overload and "noise" and avoid the "under-thinking" - the new pandemic we face in 2024.

- Tomar decisiones de manera analítica en base a la medición de los datos minimiza los errores decisionales. El marco DAFO es muy útil para analizar de manera objetiva todos los datos importantes de cada ecuación

To tackle biases and cognitive limitations in strategic thinking as a team leader, you can encourage open-mindedness, diversity of perspectives, and critical thinking within your team. Foster an environment where team members feel comfortable questioning assumptions, challenging each other's ideas, and considering alternative viewpoints. Additionally, implementing processes such as peer reviews, devil's advocacy, and decision-making frameworks can help mitigate biases and ensure strategic decisions are based on thorough analysis rather than personal biases or limited perspectives.

There are frameworks that I love to deploy in my teams & they are mostly rooted in behavioral science / economics. You could, of course, use SWOT, Six Thinking Hats, DECIDE, & others; however, let's focus on Nudge Theory: Nudge Theory (by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein) suggests that small changes in the environment can influence behavior in predictable ways without restricting choices. Design choice architectures that guide team members towards better decisions by making the preferred option the default or more accessible. So, set positive default options, simplify choices, provide timely feedback, use social proof, frame choices positively, make desired behaviors easy, and leverage commitment devices. Monitor and adjust as needed.

Strategic thinking is not a one-time event but a continuous process of reflection and adaptation. Encourage your team to regularly reflect on their decision-making processes and outcomes. This can be achieved through retrospective meetings where you discuss what worked, what didn't, and how you can improve moving forward. Adaptability comes from being open to feedback and willing to pivot strategies based on new information and changing circumstances. As a leader, model this behavior by being open to feedback and showing how adaptive strategies can lead to success.

Refletir está ligado a repetição, quanto mais a equipe refletir para sair da caixa e repetir boas estratégias/ práticas que vieram por meio de reflexões, mais ganho a empresa tem. Com a reflexão vem a adaptação, é necessário comprar a ideia e entender o por quê das coisas para conseguir mudar o mindset

Reflection reinforces the fact that we are not all knowing; an act that allows us toappreciate our fallibility. For teams, the "fabrics" is key,there is no point in choosing or working with a team you will not listen to or reflect on their ideas/suggestion. In a team, trust pivots change as team members naturally oscillate towards the same goal. Reflection is a powerful tool for reviewing success or failure and it a can help drive change. B.Dortmund's player (Adeyemi) will reflect on the lost chance in the first half of yesterday's UEFA Champions League final in Wembley for a while. Neutral football fan like us are trusting that the end product of his reflection will drive a change in his football philosophy.

I have found success using a framework of "Like Best, Next Time" for those post mortem analysis of projects, initiatives, churned business partners, etc. The approach is specific, first we identify what went well, what we "liked best". We follow that step by identifying and owning mistakes or missteps. Not with the intention to place blame, but use as a launching point for the final step of "Next Time". Based on where we missed the mark, we plan for what we will do, execute, or plan for to NOT repeat those same missteps in the next iteration. Simple framework that leads to defined and refined results.

Following the successful completion of a challenging project, it is essential to reflect on key learning moments. Acknowledging the importance of surpassing our mental barriers and using each other's input throughout the journey is crucial. Success serves as both a reward and incentive to apply the lessons learned to future projects.

Data Driven Approach: Emphasize the importance of data driven decision making. It will encourage the use of empirical evidence and quantitative analysis to support strategic decisions. By relying on data rather than intuition alone, teams can reduce the impact of cognitive biases.

Following points need to be considered: ✓ Awareness: Recognize personal biases and cognitive limitations. ✓ Encourage Diverse Perspectives: Foster an inclusive environment that values diverse viewpoints. ✓ Critical Thinking: Promote analytical thinking to challenge assumptions and biases. ✓ Data-Driven Decisions & Continuous Learning: Rely on data and evidence rather than intuition alone. Encourage ongoing education and development. ✓ Collaborative Decision-Making: Seek input from team members to gain multiple perspectives. ✓ Reflective Practice: Regularly review decisions and outcomes to learn from mistakes and successes. ✓ External Validation: Seek external feedback or consult with experts to validate strategic plans.

We should also Foster a culture of openness and feedback. We should Create a culture where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, providing feedback, and challenging ideas constructively. This can help uncover biases and lead to more robust strategic thinking.

- In trying to appear woke, resist the urge to pretend you don’t see the differences in people. E.g. making blanket statements like: Every human being look the same to me, I don’t see color 🙄 - Create an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable enough to air their opinion. - Don’t be led by emotions or intuition. Rather, make data-driven decisions based on the consensus opinion of majority. - Maintain transparency. Ensure everyone has access to the same information when decisions are made.