The Importance of Emotional Intelligence

There are a number of factors that go into success in the workplace. One of the most important and most frequently used skillsets is that of making quality decisions. It is equally critical to be aware of inherent biases in our decision-making process.

Cognitive distortions can be counterintuitive in a leadership role. These are faulty habits that impede our decision-making. The following are examples of cognitive distortions to be aware of in your pursuit of being an exemplary leader in the workplace.

Cognitive Distortions to Be Aware of

Catastrophic Thinking

This is similar to being a pessimist, yet slightly different. Catastrophic thinking leads one to not only expect but constantly prepare for the worst in every situation. While being prepared is hardly a fault, catastrophic thinking borders on anxiety, constantly going over “what if?” situations that have yet to, or may never occur.

“Should” Statements

Social norms tell us there are certain ways of doing things, rooted in various expectations on how we conduct ourselves at home and in the workplace. However, constantly feeling like you or someone else should have done this or that further increases stress and anxiety. Instead of focusing on how you believe things should be, pay attention to how they actually are and what solution can be applied.

Jumping to Conclusions

We’re all familiar with the saying regarding assumptions, and for good reason. If your decisions are based on jumping to conclusions on what an employee or co-worker may say or do, you are falling under the faulty belief that you can read minds or predict the future. The best decisions are made when one has as much information as possible. By assuming you know how something is going to play out, you are short-changing yourself the opportunity to make a well-informed decision.

Personalization

People with a high emotional quotient know that taking things personally only interferes with attaining goals. This common distortion leads one to take the blame for things that are out of their control. This can be based on misinterpreting what a co-worker says or reaffirming a negative belief about yourself.  Whatever the case may be, personalization leads to forms of self-pity, such as feeling like you are being targeted or singled out. It’s best not to compare oneself to others, and instead take things as they come without taking them personally.

Emotional Reasoning

Emotional reasoning is a false belief that feelings are facts. While there is much to be said about relying on one’s ‘gut’ feeling (much can be read about this in Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “Think”), relying on feelings over objective evidence leads to mistakes. For example, just because you feel like you are not reaching your employees, does not mean it’s true.  Remove emotions are best as possible and stick to the facts.

Labeling

Labeling, or mislabeling, refers to the human condition of defining oneself or others with a label. While many of us think in black and white, labeling removes the opportunity to see the grey area. Labels often reduce others to generalities, based on the negative characteristics associated with the label you’ve put on them. Assigning labels keeps one focused on conclusions made based on past behavior. While taking all evidence into consideration before making a decision is wise, constantly looking back and permitting others to change will not result in quality leadership.

Conclusion

While this is not a complete list of cognitive distortions or cognitive biases, it should introduce you to the more often applicable ones. If you are able to identify these are they are occurring and instead implement more realistic, non-emotional decisions, you will see the fruits of these decisions manifest in the workplace.

An applicable tip that can help you identify these distortions and improve leadership and decision-making skills is to take a pause. By pausing before deciding, you refrain from being reactionary, which is often guided by emotion. Something as simple as a short walk or even a few deep breaths will redirect your thinking and lead to more fruitful results for all.