Belief-bias effect can easily destroy your career ambitions, dreams and aspirations. But you can project yourself against it.
For over 40 years, thousands of educators, parents, and corporate trainers have believed in learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile). The proponents of the idea claimed that students learn better when they are exposed to content or information in their preferred learning styles.
Hundreds of books have been influenced by the claim. Publishers ran with the claim and created lots of educational products that match students’ learning styles.
Back in the day, you couldn’t dare to give a “good speech” on learning without mentioning the learning styles.
But, recently, the unthinkable happened.
Several researchers questioned the learning styles ideas. They took a closer look at the evidence and data that supports the claim made by the proponents of learning styles.
Since you know where I am going with this, you might already guess what the researchers discovered. There was no evidence.
This story leads us to 2 ways belief-bias effect can ruin your career. Now you are wondering, “What is the belief-bias effect?”
In simple terms, it’s the tendency that most professionals have to let personal values, beliefs, and prior knowledge cloud their rationality and lead them to decisions that align with their prejudices.
Now you must be wondering, “How does belief-bias effect impact my career?” Let me explain. Since I am not your Continuous Improvement Coach, I will keep it short. Let’s dive in.
Belief-bias effect is holding you back
# 1- You are quick to accept and support any ideas you like —or you believe makes sense.
How to avoid that? Questioning everything you think you know is a good place to start.
Taking a closer look at traditional knowledge is the only way you will be able to see clearer—and understand better.
Do you want to be an invisible professional? I don’t think so. But the brutal truth is, to repeat Seth Godin,“ You can’t be seen until you learn to see.”
Being able to question your own beliefs and challenge your personal assumptions will set you apart. How? It’s the best way to train yourself to see things for what they are, not for what you are told they are.
It’s learning to see the “not-so-obvious”— what the average professional fails to see.
# 2- You are quick to accept and support popular ideas or point of views.
How to avoid that? Two things: 1) Question all popular beliefs and 2) keep an open mind when dealing with new ideas and change.
To follow the crowd is a sure way to become an average professional. Is that what you want? I did not think so.
The secret is, you can’t become a visible talent and make change happen unless you question the status quo.
Again, I am not your CI Coach; but let me ask you this: How will you protect your career against belief-bias effect?
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