Mila Ivanova, 28.01.2025
Our brain is an immensely powerful and complex machine which helps us deal with everyday reality. But it is much more than that – the way we think influences our emotions and in turn our actions and behaviors. Yet, the human brain is also designed to make assumptions about the external world based on the imperfect information it has access to, which inevitably leads to errors under certain circumstances.
The cognitive biases we develop as a result of hidden beliefs, incomplete information, set perspectives we have, stand in the way of us achieving our potential and obscure our thinking. So can we do anything about it and where do we start?
The first step is acknowledgement of cognitive biases and awareness of their nature.
By being aware we are able to spot them more easily when they occur. Below is a list of some of the most common ones to look out for. I also explain how they can show up in a coaching context and what their relevance is:
| Cognitive Bias | Definition | Examples & Implications |
| Confirmation Bias | The tendency to listen to information that confirms our existing beliefs. We selectively search for information that reinforces our point of view. | Hanging out with people who have similar viewpoints and dismissing even valid opinions that threaten one’s worldview. Finding it challenging to resolve a personal situation (to see from the other person’s eyes) or to receive feedback. |
| Gambler’s Fallacy | The tendency to think that future situations are influenced by past events (i.e. series of roulette wheel spins). | Thinking that something cannot be achieved because it has gone wrong before. |
| Negativity Bias | The tendency to focus more on the bad news and to somehow perceive them as more important or profound | Can make one think more negatively in life, which in turn has an impact on mood, choices, motivation and ability to achieve goals |
| Bandwagon Effect | The tendency to conform and go with the crowd, even if it is not in tune with our personal beliefs. | Can lead to feelings of disconnect and a lack of genuine belonging as one is hesitant to show their true self to the world. |
| Fundamental Attribution Error | The tendency to attribute the actions of others to their character and personality, while attributing your own behaviors to external factors outside your control. | Holding others accountable, while adopting a more lenient approach for ourselves, thus leading to difficulties dealing with relationship issues. |
| The Halo Effect | The tendency for an initial impression of a person or situation to influence what we think about them overall, the so called „what is beautiful is good“ principle. | One sees a well-dressed, well-versed person in front of them and one assumes they have a college degree and a stable job. |
| Illusory Correlation | The tendency to see an association between two variables which are not actually related. | Paves way for the creation of stereotypes (i.e. going to the dentist is always painful and unpleasant). Making people aware of this can help them deal with some long-lasting phobias or preconceived unproductive ideas. |
| Projection Bias | The tendency to believe that our current values, emotions and beliefs will remain the same in the future. | One makes short-sighted decisions based on current emotions, decisions that will not necessarily work in the future. Might be difficult to align with our long-term goals (i.e. losing weight). Recognizing the idea that our values and emotions can and probably will change in the future, can help create sustainable traction with one’s long-term goals and set up lasting support structures. |
| Status-Quo Bias | The tendency to fear change and to try to stick to the same routines. | Same meal at a restaurant, same job, same walk home every day. Can create stagnation, difficulty in letting go of situations that no longer serve us and lack of spontaneity in daily life. |
| Mere-Exposure Effect | The tendency to develop a preference for a particular thing merely because you are exposed to it, or familiar with it. | Studies show that the more often people see a person, the more pleasing they perceive that person to be. Having an awareness about this can help discern what one’s true feelings and thoughts are. Big in terms of the effects of advertisement of products as well. |
Tackling cognitive biases enables us to filter out the noise, clarify our thoughts and connect in a deeper, more authentic way with our values, perceptions and beliefs, unclouded by the tricks of the mind. This in turn, especially when we are at a crossroads, leads to making rational decisions that are beneficial for us in the long-run.
There are various cognitive behavior-based techniques and exercises that could be used in a coaching context to expose and deal with the tricks of the mind. Some of the most common and effective ones include:
- Journaling – self-reflection, identifying thought patterns
- Unraveling cognitive distortions – identifying and challenging harmful automatic thoughts
- Cognitive restructuring – exposing causes of faulty thinking, reframing them
- Play the script until the end – reflects on worst case scenario, treats fear, advances coping mechanisms
- Relaxed breathing – calms and focuses the mind
- Mindfulness – learning to be in the present moment, focusing on physical relaxation and sensations
If you want to know more, to address your biases, or to go through a simple, yet effective exercise that explores your thought patterns in a coaching session with me, contact me, to work together.