How mental filters impact leadership decisions
Making decisions is often a difficult process for many, especially when it may be a new or challenging role to assume. A lot of factors influence what a person’s final choice may be and how long it takes to make it, from experience to confidence. Here we talk about mental filters and how they influence the decision-making process.
What are mental filters?
Cognitive distortions are irrational patterns of thinking, where we may not be able to see the full situation or do not remain objective/neutral. Some examples of cognitive distortions are Recency Bias and Black or White Thinking.
Mental filters are cognitive distortions where a person focuses solely on the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring any positives. The mental filter takes one small event and focuses on it exclusively, filtering out anything else.
For example, Rahman focuses on all of the negative or hurtful things that his partner has said or done in their relationship, but he filters all the kind and thoughtful things his partner does. This thinking contributes to feelings of negativity about his partner and their relationship. This selective attention can lead to a skewed perception of reality. For example, if you receive a lot of positive feedback on a project but one piece of criticism, you might fixate on the criticism and overlook the praise.
These filters often contribute to patterns of negative thinking and can affect how one perceives and reacts to various situations.
How can mental filters impact leadership decisions?
Mental filters can significantly impact leadership decisions in several ways:
- Affect perception of risk: People with a mental filter that focuses on negative outcomes may perceive risks as greater than they are. This can lead to overly cautious or risk-averse decision-making, possibly missing out on valuable opportunities.
- Reception of feedback: Working with a leader who focusses on mistakes can lead to a difficult feedback process that affects the morale of the person receiving inputs. If a leader is inclined towards criticism for improvement, while ignoring highlights, they might undervalue their team's strengths and achievements. This can affect motivation and self-esteem, and lead to a skewed understanding of team performance and needs.
- Problem-solving: A leader who primarily sees problems or obstacles may struggle to generate creative solutions. Focusing only on negatives can limit the ability to see innovative approaches or potential benefits.
- Team dynamics: Mental filters can affect how leaders interact with their teams. For instance, if a leader habitually filters out positive aspects of team performance, it might lead to decreased motivation and engagement among team members.
- Decision-making speed: By focusing on potential negatives, a leader may delay decision-making, seeking excessive information or reassurance. This can slow down the decision-making process and impact the organization’s agility.
- Communication: A leader with a negative mental filter might communicate in a way that emphasizes problems rather than solutions. This can create a pessimistic atmosphere and affect how the team responds to challenges.
How can you address your mental filters?
- Make a grows and glows list: Note down what are things that can ‘grow’, as well as things that are glowing
- Cognitive Restructuring: Practice cognitive restructuring by replacing negative thoughts with more balanced ones. For example, if you think, "I failed at this task," reframe it as, "I encountered challenges, but I also learned valuable lessons."
- Seek feedback and diverse perspectives: Get perspectives from others to balance your view. Sometimes, discussing your thoughts with a trusted colleague, mentor, or therapist can provide a more objective view and help counteract mental filters.
- Challenge your own thoughts and process
Addressing mental filters often involves developing greater self-awareness, seeking diverse perspectives, and adopting techniques from cognitive - behavioral practices to balance one’s thinking and improve decision-making processes.
