Projection Bias

Impact on LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS

Treasure:

In some cases, projection bias can help leaders empathize with their team by projecting their own feelings and experiences onto others, leading to a greater sense of connection, and understanding.

When time is limited, and a leader uses their own perspective as a proxy for others, the decision-making process is expedited.

If a leader’s preferences genuinely align with their target audience, projection bias can inadvertently result in decisions that meet the needs of the organization, customers, and/or markets.


Risk:

While there is some upside to projection bias, is also has associated risks. For instance, leaders might misjudge what motivates or concerns their team members, leading to ineffective communication and management strategies.

In business development, assuming the customer wants what the business leader wants can lead to products and services that don’t actually meet market needs.

Projection bias can also lead to undervaluing the opinions and ideas of others, missing out on diversity of thought in critical business decisions.


KNOW YOUR KNOTS - Learn to recognize when Projection Bias is taking the lead.

Ask yourself:

Do I often assume others share my views and preferences?

Am I surprised when others disagree with my perspective? How do I react?

Do I seek diverse input in decision-making? Or do I assume others feel like I do?

How do I determine what motivates my team or what my customers want?

Have there been instances where my assumptions about others’ preferences were incorrect?


STRATEGIES to manage this bias: Pause – Perspective – Practice - Progress

Pause:
Ask yourself if you tend to assume that others share your opinions, beliefs, or preferences without considering alternative viewpoints.

Reflect on whether you are often surprised or taken aback when someone expresses a different opinion or perspective from our own.

Consider whether you tend to assume that others have the same emotional reactions or feelings in certain situations as you do.

Reflect on whether you rely on your own preferences or if you gather data and feedback from a diverse range of sources.

Think about situations when you misjudged how someone else would react to a particular event or news, based on your own emotional response.

Consider scenarios where your assumptions may have led to misunderstandings or misjudgments.


Perspective:
Commit to developing a diverse team with a range of perspectives and make a conscious effort to seek feedback from these different sources.


Practice:
Practice active listening and empathy to truly understand others’ perspectives and how they may differ from yours.

Accept empathy as a crucial skill in understanding the emotions and perspectives of others and foster empathy as a cultural value across the organization to mitigate projection bias.

Challenge your own assumptions and urge your team members to challenge theirs as well and to consider alternative viewpoints before making judgments or decisions.

Seek clarification when encountering differing opinions or reactions. In diverse teams or organizations, promote cross-cultural awareness to help individuals across the organization understand that cultural differences can lead to varying perspectives.


Progress:
Provide education and training on cognitive biases including projection bias. Also include training self-awareness, cross-cultural awareness, and conflict resolution techniques for addressing and reconciling differing viewpoints and opinions.