Humans are prone to cognitive biases. Don’t rely on your intuition to make important decisions. Instead, understand the most common mental models to improve your thinking. Build your very own metacognition toolkit to face choices with a calm, informed mind.
Popular articles in this category include be careful of the optionality fallacy and the Occam’s razor fallacy, avoid falling prey to illusory correlations, use checklists when you can’t trust your brain. Learn about the curse of knowledge, The Cobra Effect, and Parkinson’s Law.
We often talk about “trusting our gut.” But the gut feelings people refer to can actually stem from two very different sources: instinct and intuition. Because they feel so similar (fast, automatic, sometimes emotional) we tend to treat them the same, which can lead to poor decision-making in many situations. Instinct is evolutionary and biological, … Read More
When being able to do everything prevents you from achieving anything This morning, I sat in front of my laptop and asked myself a simple question: what should I work on today? Looking at my projects in progress, I have three literature reviews I find interesting, an app idea that could be useful for the … Read More
FEATURED TOOL Welcome to this edition of our Tools for Thought series, where we interview founders on a mission to help us think better and work smarter. Steffen Bleher and Michael von Hohnhorst are the founders of Capacities, an object-based knowledge management space that allows you to connect your thoughts, get new insights, and use … Read More
Most people think multiculturalism means passport stamps and foreign languages. But there’s a more powerful kind happening right in your head: cognitive multiculturalism: the mental flexibility and fluency you develop from experiencing different worlds.
When I was a kid, I used to think I was doing much better at tests when using a particular pencil my sister had gifted me. So I would make sure to use this pen for every test. I have a friend who thinks that city people are generally rude. So when he meets a … Read More
Used well, thinking out loud can sharpen how we work and how we think. By speaking and using our voice, knowledge workers can improve clarity, creativity, and decision-making.
Leading like a scientist begins with a fundamentally different relationship with uncertainty. While leaders traditionally view uncertainty as a threat, research shows that teams that openly acknowledge what they don’t know consistently outperform those projecting false confidence.
You excel at your job, and yet when you return home, a strange paralysis sets in. This is a functional freeze – a state where you’re performing well in your duties but are unable to invest energy in your own growth.
When I was seven, I wanted to be a paleontologist. I collected rocks and fossils, memorized dinosaur names, and could tell you exactly which period the Stegosaurus lived in (it’s the Late Jurassic, in case you’re wondering). Then it was veterinarian, astronaut, fashion designer – each passion consuming me completely until the next one came … Read More
When you’re uncertain, your brain activates two key regions, but handling uncertainty isn’t about suppressing emotions in favor of logic. Instead, it’s about coordinating both parts of yourself to respond more effectively.
