What’s Really Driving the Decisions You Make and Actions You Take?

Every day, we make decisions—some big, some small—but every choice carries consequences. The quality of our decisions relies heavily on our judgment. Yet, many of us unknowingly carry what I call “mind knots”—biases that interfere with clear judgment.

Mind Knots are cognitive and emotional biases that create mental distortions, tangling our perception and skewing our thinking. It’s a distinctly human challenge, and no one is immune. Psychologists, scientists, and economists have identified over 200 types of biases. And while some biases may be more dominant in each of us, make no mistake: we are all influenced by a unique mosaic of biases tucked into our subconscious.

Why does this matter?

These “mind knots” shape every decision, whether big or small, influencing your leadership and impacting your life. They can sway you long before you even realize it’s happening.

With over 25 years of experience providing leadership solutions, I’ve seen firsthand that every leader brings both strengths and biases to the table. Cognitive and emotional biases are part of the human experience; ignoring them means overlooking one of the most significant opportunities—and risks—in leadership.

Though biases cannot be eliminated, they can be managed. When you recognize them and understand their influences, you can harness these biases to work for you, instead of letting them work against you. So, what will it be—risk or opportunity?

In leadership, “mind knots” can either tie you down or propel you forward. The choice is yours.

Three Ways to Improve The Decisions You Make and The Actions You Take

1. Increase your awareness of cognitive and emotional biases and their impact on leadership and life.

   
   

2. Learn to recognize and identify your prominent biases to understand how they may be affecting your judgment and your daily decisions.

   
   

3. Practice intervention strategies to manage these biases, sharpening your mental agility and your leadership edge.

   
   

“Know your knots—the knots that can tie you down,

and the knots that can give you speed and move you forward.”

To learn more about recognizing and managing the biases that may be influencing you, visit our Mind Knots Bias Index of over 40 types of biases, their impact, and strategies for managing them.