Critical Thinkng for Leaders

Getting Started

Author Meena Thuraisingham, in her book

The Secret Life of Decisions: How

Unconscious Bias Subverts Your Judgement

, argued that:

decision making relies on perceptio

n and, therefore, can be a highly imperfect

process. We see what we expect to see, that is, we observe selectively; we interpret

events so as to confirm our view...noticing only information that is consistent with

our world views and ignoring dissonant inf

ormation; we often remember things that

did not happen or at least not the way we remember them. This leaves leaders and

organizations exposed and out of touch in a number of ways, and in turn the

decisions they make. (2006, Chapter 2)

The author goes on t

o explain that our thinking often operates at a subconscious or

even unconscious level, such that we may be unaware of the influence our thinking

has on the decisions or choices we make. She compares this to an iceberg that does

not reveal much of its cont

ents below the waterline. It’s important to note the

difference between bias and prejudice. Biases are not inherently negative or “bad”

while prejudices tend to be. For example, one may be biased about the clothing or

foods they prefer and that is certainl

y acceptable. When bias is applied in ways that

display prejudice, then negative thinking can result in negative decisions and

behaviors. Terms like bias and prejudice tend most commonly to be associated in

society today with issues like politics, race, or

religion. However, that is a very

limited view of bias...a phenomenon that occurs in most every area of human

thinking.

INSTRUCTIONS

Review the Heshmat article(new tab) and pages 19

-

46 in the Paul and Elder text.

Write a reflection paper that applies

each of the four primary forms of sociocentric thought, as

discussed in the Paul and Elder text (pages 19

-

46) to examples from your own workplace or in

some larger context in our society. (If your reflections involve political matters, use what you are

lea

rning to avoid writing in a partisan manner!) Consider how your understanding of

confirmation bias informs your responses to the forms of sociocentric thought. Your assignment

should take the form of a two

-

page reflection paper (500

-

600 words in a Word doc

ument).

In addition to course materials, your paper must include at least two additional sources outside of

those included in this course’s syllabus.

Be sure to consider the implications of your reflections as they apply to the role of leader, either

your

own experiences as a leader or even as a follower.

Inasmuch as this is a reflection paper, first

-

person voice is acceptable.

Getting Started

Author Meena Thuraisingham, in her book The Secret Life of Decisions: How

Unconscious Bias Subverts Your Judgement, argued that:

decision making relies on perception and, therefore, can be a highly imperfect

process. We see what we expect to see, that is, we observe selectively; we interpret

events so as to confirm our view...noticing only information that is consistent with

our world views and ignoring dissonant information; we often remember things that

did not happen or at least not the way we remember them. This leaves leaders and

organizations exposed and out of touch in a number of ways, and in turn the

decisions they make. (2006, Chapter 2)

The author goes on to explain that our thinking often operates at a subconscious or

even unconscious level, such that we may be unaware of the influence our thinking

has on the decisions or choices we make. She compares this to an iceberg that does

not reveal much of its contents below the waterline. It’s important to note the

difference between bias and prejudice. Biases are not inherently negative or “bad”

while prejudices tend to be. For example, one may be biased about the clothing or

foods they prefer and that is certainly acceptable. When bias is applied in ways that

display prejudice, then negative thinking can result in negative decisions and

behaviors. Terms like bias and prejudice tend most commonly to be associated in

society today with issues like politics, race, or religion. However, that is a very

limited view of bias...a phenomenon that occurs in most every area of human

thinking.

INSTRUCTIONS

Review the Heshmat article(new tab) and pages 19-46 in the Paul and Elder text.

Write a reflection paper that applies each of the four primary forms of sociocentric thought, as

discussed in the Paul and Elder text (pages 19-46) to examples from your own workplace or in

some larger context in our society. (If your reflections involve political matters, use what you are

learning to avoid writing in a partisan manner!) Consider how your understanding of

confirmation bias informs your responses to the forms of sociocentric thought. Your assignment

should take the form of a two-page reflection paper (500-600 words in a Word document).

In addition to course materials, your paper must include at least two additional sources outside of

those included in this course’s syllabus.

Be sure to consider the implications of your reflections as they apply to the role of leader, either

your own experiences as a leader or even as a follower.

Inasmuch as this is a reflection paper, first-person voice is acceptable.