Mining the Genius of Inclusion
It might seem obvious that diverse groups are more intelligent than homogeneous groups and numerous studies support this notion. So why do we so regularly turn to our same "go-to" people over and over again? Simple answer, it's more comfortable and because we believe doing so provides more consistent results. The challenge? Consistency isn't always what's needed. A variety of studies indicate that diverse groups actually solve problems better and have better predicative abili
The Virus of Bias: Can it Be Stopped?
We know how dangerous a virus can be. They infect our bodies, our computers, and our communication. Worst of all, viruses are invisible and often nearly impossible to detect before they wreak havoc. That’s the bad news. The good news? You can develop B-ray vision (the super power that enables you to see the virus of bias before it does its damage). First, what is a bias and why is it so dangerous? Actually, before that, let’s expose something. Biases are not all bad. In fact,
Do You Over-plan or Act Too Quickly?
How is an effective leader like a skilled movie director? Often, we think of the director as the one who yells, “Action!” . . . that word on a movie set (when everything is ready to go) that launches the actors and crew into creating and capturing the scene. But it takes more than just a command from the director for a scene to play out well. If no preparation has been done, there won't be anything worthwhile to film. And yet, if the director never issues that command, the fi
How Being Consistent Can Lead Us Astray
“Are you suggesting the consistency and standardization that have made us who we are, is creating problems?” The expression on the Quality Control Manager’s face communicated the depth of their frustration. They had spent weeks artfully articulating throughout the organization the importance of following the Standard Operating Procedures that had dramatically improved the company’s previous error ratio. Now someone was suggesting that the system was "overly standardized." “Th
The Power of Asking for Help in a Self-Help Society
Have you found ever yourself stuck and yet hesitant to ask for help? If so, you’re not alone. Many people go to great lengths to avoid reaching out to someone in their real world. Instead, they may thoroughly research the Internet hoping they can sort through the mountains of available information and readily understand it within its proper context. The challenge is, that while we may discover what we think is the correct answer, we may also fall prey to the phenomenon known
When Good Intentions Are Not Enough
You may remember the story about a rich man and a robber sharing a train compartment. As the rich man slept, the robber searched for the money he knew was hidden nearby. Come morning, he confessed his failed plan and the rich man chuckled. “I knew you were a robber,” he said, “so I hid my money in the one place I knew you would never look… under your own pillow!” The robber didn’t think to look close to home and neither do we. In fact, we often miss out on the incredible valu
What if You're Brain Blind and Don't Know It?
What do you see in this image? Some people see a tired old woman. Others see a stylish, slightly coy young woman. Why? It's an optical illusion that is playing upon your brain's recticular activating system (RAS) so that you see what you first expect to see. Okay, that's just a clevelry done picture, you might say. But have you ever experienced brain blindness in "real life?" How would you know? Let's think about it for a moment . . . have you ever had an moment like this? Yo
