The Brainy Business | Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy | Behavioral Economics

In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Mike Rucker, author of the brand new book, The Fun Habit, which just came out a couple of days ago on January 3, 2023. Mike is an organizational psychologist and charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association whose work has been published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management and Nutrition Research. His ideas about fun and health have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Fast Company, The Telegraph, Psychology Today, Forbes, Vox, Thrive Global, Mindbodygreen, and more. He was named one of ten digital changemakers by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, and currently serves as a senior leader at Active Wellness. And, not surprisingly, today's conversation is all about fun! We also talk about framing and word choice and how fun and change really do go together. It's a great chat that I can't wait to share with you. Show Notes: [00:41] In today’s conversation, I am joined by Dr. Mike Rucker, author of the brand new book The Fun Habit.  [02:32] Mike shares about himself and his background. He is an organizational psychologist by trade but focuses more on behavioral science.  [02:44] His new book, The Fun Habit looks at living a life more joyfully through actively pursuing the activities you engage in rather than pursuing happiness.  [04:04] From 2009-2016 he optimized his life and tried to extrapolate as much happiness as he could.  [06:33] He found out that the more he tried to chase happiness the unhappier he was and he wanted to figure out why.  [09:08] We can have more longevity with certain tasks if we add a component that makes it pleasurable for us. We do mundane things – with a little creativity, we can reframe them.   [12:07] If we take control over how we spend our time and we bias it towards fun things, ultimately we are going to perceive the world in a more positive and optimistic light.  [14:41] If you don’t take time off the table for yourself you are not showing up as the best version of yourself.  [16:42] When our lives are overly habituated and we are always doing the same stuff we store those memories as single units. [18:58] Most people live this habituated life and that becomes comfortable, but you forget that you can have a little bit of time for yourself. [20:42] Disruption is a great opportunity for change.   [21:42] The initial step is to sit down and brainstorm what you would like to do more for fun. This could include past hobbies, things you authentically feel connected to, and things you long to do. Par your list down to 8-15 things so it is actionable. [23:34] An important second step is to make sure it is not an exercise of adding things to your already busy life. Mike suggests doing a time audit.  [26:16] We need to swap out the “low-hanging fruit” activities for ones that light us up more.  [27:15] First create space in your schedule. Once you have that, use the list you made to integrate things that are more fun into your life.  [28:29] A lot of times the biggest impact is looking for a way to change an activity so it is better, or adding something on. [30:56] When you hear about fun interventions at work you need to make sure everyone can come in and have fun at the activity in a safe place. Leaders need to be setting an example.   [33:07] Fun in the workplace generally unites you around a common goal. Cohesion comes from wanting to accomplish something together.  [35:16] Because our brains work in micro-moments and microdecisions, we really need to be looking at the little things. (Change is more than just the big stuff that requires a project team.) [38:00] People who have a best friend at work are more loyal, happier, engaged, and better employees. Helping to incorporate fun and allowing people to connect is valuable.  [40:45] You can either empower the individual so that they can have more fun and more vitality when they come back to the office or you can create it from an empathic standpoint where you are creating opportunities for organic fun.  [41:37] Fun is not the same for everyone.   [42:56] If the outcome of whatever you are trying to do can still be the same but allow people to do it in a way that feels comfortable to them, you are going to have more fun every time.   [44:10] Melina’s closing thoughts [44:54] We are a species that is meant to have fun. We should take the time and make the effort to bring fun back into our lives.  Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: The Fun Habit, Mike Rucker Get It Done, by Ayelet Fishbach Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes How to Change, by Katy Milkman Indistractable, by Nir Eyal Connect with Mike:  Mike’s Website Mike on LinkedIn Mike on Twitter Top Recommended Next Episode: Temptation Bundling (ep 250) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation with Ayelet Fishbach (ep 186) Using Motivation and Happiness Science to Make 2023 Your Best Year Ever (ep 249) Temptation Bundling (ep 250) How To Change, an interview Dr. Katy Milkman (ep 151) Framing (ep 16) Priming (episode 18) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 248) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Habits (ep 21) Loss Aversion (ep 9) How to Become Indistractible, Interview With Author Nir Eyal (ep 78) Good Habits, Bad Habits, with Dr. Wendy Wood (ep 127) Vulnerability Loops (ep 229) Do You Subtract Enough? with Leidy Klotz (ep 162) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter

Today’s episode is all about temptation bundling, and before we talk about what that is, can we take a minute to celebrate the milestone that is this episode?! This is the 250TH EPISODE of The Brainy Business podcast!!!  What an amazing way to kick off 2023. I would love to say that I planned it that way, but it was more serendipitous than anything (I think that’s how we know it was meant to be).  One thing that has allowed me to write, record and set up 250 episodes (along with everything else I do each week) is temptation bundling, which is the focus of today’s episode. This one originally aired as number 136 in January 2021, and there is a reason I chose to have it back again to kick off the year.  Temptation bundling is a great way to help you reach goals by making something mundane, boring or hard more enjoyable and likely to be completed. Don’t get me wrong, I love creating the podcast. It is fun to learn and share and I do enjoy it. However, it has plenty of mundane stuff that needs to be done to keep it moving, so a little temptation bundling is very helpful in getting this and so many other aspects of my life and work moving forward when it might be easier or more tempting to put it off. Listen in for all the ins and outs of temptation bundling and how you can use it for your own life and work. Show Notes: [00:39] Today’s episode is all about temptation bundling, but first, we must celebrate 250 episodes! [01:49] Temptation bundling is a great way to help you reach goals by making something mundane, boring or hard more enjoyable and likely to be completed. [02:54] One of my favorite things about temptation bundling is how simple it is.  [04:42] Temptation bundling is taking something you should do but may have a longer-term reward and may not be super appealing at the moment…and bundling it with something you really want to do right now.  [06:53] A slight change in routine can upend newly formed habits and make it hard to start up again if you aren’t careful.   [08:11] Pretty much anything can be a candidate for the bundle. What you set up doesn’t need to be what someone else would want or need. [09:46] Temptation bundling uses a “now” activity to achieve a longer-term goal and overcome time discounting.  [10:16] Don’t feel like you need to bundle things simultaneously. Most multitasking doesn’t work well.  [11:05] Start by looking for something you love to do in your spare time. If you had a free day, what would be at the top of your list? [12:52] It is important to have that reward tied to the action you need to take now to be successful.   [13:39] Temptation bundling is everywhere. You just have to find the cheese to your own personal life broccoli and you will be achieving goals left and right.  [13:49] Melina’s closing thoughts [14:33] It doesn't matter if this is in the “manufactured happiness’ category. Our brains look at natural happiness and manufactured or synthetic happiness in pretty much the same way. [15:08] One of my other favorite things about temptation bundling, is that it allows you to get more done. Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode:   How To Change, by Katy Milkman Get It Done, by Ayelet Fishbach Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes Indistractable, by Nir Eyal The Fun Habit, by Mike Rucker Top Recommended Next Episode: How To Change, an interview Dr. Katy Milkman (ep 151) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation with Ayelet Fishbach (ep 186) How to Make 2023 Your Best Year Ever with Ayelet Fishbach and Cassie Holmes (ep 249) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 248) The Brainy Benefits of Gratitude (ep 236) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Time Discounting (ep 51) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Negativity Bias (ep 223) Framing (ep 16) Loss Aversion (ep 9) How to Organize Your Brain with Behavioral Economics (ep 83) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter  Holding the Hunger Games Hostage at the Gym: An Evaluation of Temptation Bundling Katy Milkman on Twitter

Happy (almost) New Year! This is the last episode of 2022, coming out on December 30 – and what a year it has been! My second book, What Your Employees Need and Can't Tell You came out in October, and I got to do a book signing at the Sam's Club Auditorium which was amazing! I also got to speak at some amazing conferences, including travel to Amsterdam and for multiple groups in Latin America, had students from around the world in the certificate program at Texas A&M, got to work with amazing clients and so much more. I can't wait to see what 2023 has in store. One of the things I am most excited about is speaking at SXSW in Austin in March.  Well, speaking of 2023 being an amazing year, that's what this episode is all about. I've done something a little bit different in this episode by bringing on two guests to do a panel of sorts. One of them you have met before, Ayelet Fishbach, Professor of Behavioral Science and Marketing at the University of Chicago and author of Get It Done, which came out earlier this year. Our other panelist, Cassie Holmes, is a professor at UCLA who wrote the new book Happier Hour, which is so beyond fantastic. She specializes in the science of happiness and talks about time poverty and so many other amazing things. (Don’t worry, we have a full interview that is all about Cassie and her work coming out in early 2023.) In today's episode, that topic is having the best, happiest year by understanding the science of motivation, goals, achievement, happiness, mindset, and more. Listen in to find out how you can make 2023 your best year yet!  Show Notes: [00:06] In today’s episode, I am excited to welcome Ayelet Fishbach and Cassie Holmes to discuss how you can have the best year ever.  [01:15] Forty-six different guests have joined me on the show this year including those in today’s interview. We also started testing out releasing two episodes a week.  [04:51] Today I have brought together two people from different universities studying somewhat different (but arguably related) topics to have a discussion about how their work compliments (or contradicts) one another. Today’s topic is having the best happiest year by understanding the science of motivation, goals, achievement, happiness, mindset, our thoughts towards time, and more.   [06:21] Ayelet shares about herself, her background, and what she does. She is a motivational scientist.  [07:47] Cassie shares about herself, her background, and what she does. She is a professor that studies happiness and life satisfaction.  [10:25] We are talking about how to help people have better, more successful years in 2023.  [11:24] Around the time the year ends and the new year begins, people are thinking about what they want to achieve. However, there is a likelihood that you will forget about your resolution.  [13:27] You have a wonderful opportunity to reflect back on the prior year.  [16:08] When we feel like we are constantly rushing or hurrying, we are more reactive in how we invest our time instead of proactive and investing in those things that really matter.  [19:02] Looking back is often a way to reaffirm your commitment.  [21:58] Set goals that you can see yourself doing right now and what will make you feel good right now.  [22:41] A year is not the right time frame for many goals. A year has a very long middle. Often weekly and monthly goals are better.    [24:57] Folks who take a broader perspective of time report greater meaning and satisfaction and are happier in their days.  [26:44] Invest time in ways that are worthwhile. The particular activity you are engaging in and also how you are engaging in that activity are what makes the activity worthwhile.  [28:37] You constantly need to navigate the motivation and priorities of your goals.   [30:42] We often get stuck on the little stuff that doesn’t really matter instead of focusing on the most important things that help us to move forward on a bigger goal. A to-do list can be a distraction from our higher-value goals.  [32:56] Melina shares four things that work against us: optimism bias, time discounting, planning fallacy, and bikeshedding.  [34:12] Progress is motivating – progress feels good – which is why we often love our to-do lists.  [36:18] You want to ask why you are doing the thing you are doing. You also want to ask how questions.   [39:29] Those who treated their weekend like a vacation were significantly happier when they returned to work and enjoyed the weekend more. Our weekends are meant to be breaks so we can return feeling refreshed and motivated.  [41:26] We need to be intentional and carve out spaces for true breaks during the week – at least once, ideally more.  [46:20] It is important to create the right balance between our goals and the activities that help us achieve the goals.   [49:31] Restructure your day in a way that makes more sense for the goals that you have for yourself for the week and year.  [51:32] It is often harder to learn when you are working from home and not with other people you can learn from. Connection and friendship have suffered between colleagues working from home during the pandemic.  [54:17] Developing friendships with colleagues can be so hard through Zoom, but figuring out ways to bring people together to foster those relationships is so important.  [57:16] Do our panelists set resolutions? Melina and Cassie say no (listen in on her upcoming episode to find out why). Ayelet sets New Year’s resolutions because it is an opportunity to think about what she wants to achieve and where she wants to go.  [58:35] Melina’s closing thoughts [59:54] Melina chooses a word annually. It is a theme to guide her and keep her centered throughout the year on what she wants to accomplish.  [61:36] Thank you for supporting The Brainy Business! I appreciate you more than I can ever say!  Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes Get It Done, by Ayelet Fishbach How to Change, by Katy Milkman Power of Regret, by Dan Pink Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood Connect with Ayelet & Cassie:  Ayelet on LinkedIn Cassie on LinkedIn Ayelet on Twitter Top Recommended Next Episode: Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation with Ayelet Fishbach (ep 186) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Resolutions and Keeping Commitments (ep 29) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 248) Temptation Bundling (ep 136) Motivation and Incentives at Work with Kurt Nelson (ep 187) Secrets of Motivation and Incentives, Tim Houlihan Interview (ep 109) The Brainy Benefits of Gratitude (ep 236) The Power of Regret with Daniel Pink (ep 214) Time Discounting (ep 51) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) Good Habits, Bad Habits, with Dr. Wendy Wood (ep 127) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter Get it Done Happier Hour Ayelet Fishbach - University of Chicago Cassie Holmes - UCLA

Today’s episode is all about brainy goals — how to set them and think about them to put you on a path to success, instead of inadvertently setting yourself up to fail. Now, you would never intentionally set up goals that won’t work out, but our brains are programmed in a way that makes it so we consistently stack the cards against ourselves. We try to do too much, spread ourselves too thin, rely on willpower to get us through, and don’t understand the importance that tiny habits play in our ability to accomplish big things.  At this time of year (this is the second to last episode before we close out 2022) most people are thinking about planning and what the next year will bring for them. How things will be different, what they want to accomplish, what habits they want to change if they will plan resolutions (and if so...what they are), and the like. That’s why I decided to refresh this episode from 2019 right now. It felt like the perfect way to end the year, especially in light of this coming Friday’s topic! That episode is a panel of sorts that incorporates expert advice on how to have a happier 2023 and set your year up for success.  So to get you in the right mindset preparing for that, and just because it is probably something you are already thinking about right now, it felt like the right time to talk about goals. I get a lot done — two podcast episodes a week, a weekly newsletter, two books in less than two years, teaching and creating my courses for Texas A&M, speaking, consulting, and still having time for an enjoyable life with my family. The only way that is possible is by tackling and thinking about goals in a brainy way. Listen in to hear all my tips and tricks.  Show Notes: [00:23] Today’s episode is all about brainy goals — how to set them and think about them to put you on a path to success, instead of inadvertently setting yourself up to fail. [05:17] We all have goals and are all optimistic that we will achieve them someday. The truth is that if you don’t set your goals up correctly there is a good chance life will move too fast and you won’t achieve what you are capable of.  [05:52] There are three main tips for setting and achieving brainy goals. Define your goals and limit them to know more than three. Break down the path to achieving those goals into small steps. Say no to everything else.   [07:11] The opposite of distraction is traction.   [09:55] Step one is to limit and set your goals. You first need to list out every goal you would like to accomplish in the next 5, 10, or 50 years. [10:48] Now you have to pick three. If they make sense to combine and make the goal a little more amazing that’s okay but make sure it’s logical.  [12:07] Your brain doesn’t like change. It is scared of it. Keeping you stuck and dwelling on making things perfect or being really sure are tactics by your brain to delay change.  [14:06] It is important to declare and own those top goals so that everyone in your life knows what is most important and is on board with that.  [16:47] Melina shares a story about her taking a walk with her husband to the mailbox and Puerto Vallarta. [19:25] We are sticking with goals and priorities we set in a cold state because they are what matter in our life.  [20:53] Once you know what those top three are the next step is to break each of those three goals into the small steps it will take to get there.   [22:54] You can’t do it all at once. There are a few ways you can break those down. One way I recommend is breaking the big lifetime into subgoals for the year.   [24:33] Start small with the thing that is impossible to justify not doing. [26:17] Every goal is reached in lots of small steps. Goals are the sum of all the effort it took to get there. If you don’t plan for the small steps they won’t happen.  [26:49] Remind your brain of the top three as much as possible in as many different ways as you possibly can.   [28:17] You need to be incredibly particular about what you surround yourself with in your life, in your life, and everywhere.  [30:49] Reminding your subconscious of your goals as often as possible will help keep you on track.  [31:14] Determine what three things are really important to you. Shout them from the rooftops and put every single egg in their baskets.   [27:41] Melina’s closing thoughts Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Get It Done, by Ayelet Fishbach Happier Hour, by Cassie Holmes Indistractable, by Nir Eyal How To Change, by Katy Milkman Atomic Habits, by James Clear Top Recommended Next Episode: Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation with Ayelet Fishbach (ep 186) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Resolutions and Keeping Commitments (ep 29) The Overwhelmed Brain and its Impact on Decision Making (ep 32) Optimism Bias (ep 34) How To Change, an interview Dr. Katy Milkman (ep 151) How To Become Indistractable, with Nir Eyal (ep 78) Temptation Bundling (ep 136) Celebrate! It’s More Important Than You Think (ep 80) Habits (ep 21) The Power of Habit (ep 22) Herding (ep 19)  Good Habits, Bad Habits, with Dr. Wendy Wood (ep 127) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter  Brainy Business Courses

In today's conversation, I am joined by Dr. Dolly Chugh. Dolly is a social psychologist and management professor at the New York University Stern School of Business where she teaches MBA courses in leadership and management. Dolly is well-known for her teaching and facilitation skills. She was one of six professors chosen from thousands at New York University to receive the Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020 and one of five to receive the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Faculty Award in 2013. Dolly’s research focuses on “bounded ethicality,” which she describes as the “psychology of good people.” Her work has been published in leading psychology, economics, and management journals, and cited by many books and authors. Prior to becoming an academic, Dolly worked at Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Sibson and Company, Scholastic, and Time Inc. Dolly attended Cornell University where she majored in psychology and economics for her undergraduate degree and Harvard University for her MBA and Ph.D. As you will hear in the episode, this is a really personal one for me that hits home for a reason that I haven't really talked about much on the show. Hopefully, it is well received and you understand why I brought it up today, and why I intend to talk about it more in the future. Show Notes: [00:43] In today’s conversation, I am joined by Dr. Dolly Chug. Dolly is a social psychologist and management professor at the New York University Stern School of Business where she teaches MBA courses in leadership and management.   [02:54] This is a really personal one for me that hits home for a reason that I haven’t really talked about much on the show.  [04:35] Dolly shares about herself, her background, and her work. She is currently a professor. Her research focuses on the psychology of good people.  [06:36] People didn’t understand how her double majors went together but they were both about human behavior.   [09:19] She shares how her book, A More Just Future came about. [12:20] After reading the Little House on the Prairie series with her children, on a family trip to visit the area she had many realizations about the history and time period. She pushed it aside at the time, but it kept coming up down the road.  [13:45] She decided she wanted to better understand our relationship with our past as well as our emotional relationship with our country. She wanted to leverage what social psychologists and other social scientists know to offer us tools so we just don’t push them aside.  [16:09] We see the past as farther away and blurrier than the future.  [17:12] Understanding today requires me to understand yesterday. [19:44] When we are in a hot emotional state we are more action-oriented.  [21:40] Our minds unconsciously invest in the status quo even when it doesn’t benefit us. It protects the default.  [23:08] On almost every meaningful outcome that you can think of there is a racial disparity in the United States.  [24:22] Our brains will justify the systems around us. That is the system justification theory or what she calls the “Good Guys Win Mindset.” It leads us to accept things as they are. [26:23] The cognitive task of accepting that two contradictory statements can both be true is incredibly important.  [28:13] The paradox mindset is a really powerful tool that we can use when we are trying to understand all these contradictions in our past and present.  [29:27] What is the one little thing you can do right now that might be the spark of something new and being able to make that change?  [30:07] The book was a very deep personal journey for Melina. She shares more about her journey (and that of her family) being Alaska Native (Tlingit and Tsimshian).  [32:19] The past isn’t that far away.  [33:18] There are a lot of ways that the past spills into the present through our word, our beliefs, and our trauma.  [35:52] Melina shares how important preserving her native culture is for her and what she is doing with her son to preserve their culture.  [37:25] Dolly’s book has helped Melina to take steps forward in preserving the culture instead of letting it simmer in her own mind.  [39:21] We all have some family history that we either cherish, don’t know, or are embarrassed by. Understanding how that lives in the present is very interesting and we absolutely bring that to work with us.  [42:02] Check out Dolly’s newsletter, Dear Good People.   [43:24] Melina’s closing thoughts Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: A More Just Future, by Dolly Chugh Both/And Thinking, by Wendy Smith & Marianne Lewis How to Change, by Katy Milkman The Person You Mean To Be, by Dolly Chugh How Minds Change, by David McRaney Connect with Dolly:  Dolly’s Newsletter Dolly on LinkedIn Dolly on Twitter Top Recommended Next Episode: Past, Present, and Future Biases (ep 246) Already Heard That One? Try These:  How To Change, an interview Dr. Katy Milkman (ep 151) Only 1% of People Blow the Whistle at Work—How to Fix That, with Nuala Walsh (ep 153) Time Discounting (ep 51) Status Quo Bias (ep 142) The Power of Us with Dr. Dominic Packer (ep 178) The Power of Story, an Interview with Dr. Michelle Auerbach (ep 145) Confirmation Bias (ep 102) Vulnerability Loops (ep 229) How Minds Change with David McRaney (ep 210) Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter  Ketchikan: Our Native Legacy

Today’s episode is another refresh from the series I did on “All the Biases” back in 2019. Two weeks ago on episode 242 we had the one on numbers-based bias called “Math is Hard” and this week is all about time. It focuses on the past and the future and how we don’t look at them in the same way, and how that can impact our behavior (it isn’t always the same and our preferences definitely change when we are looking forward versus backward) and how this changes the way we value things and so much more.  I chose to refresh this episode today because this coming Friday, Dolly Chugh is on the show to talk about her new book, A More Just Future. We talk specifically about how the way we look backward isn’t the same as when we look forward, and how that impacts our likelihood to take action. Even when we are furious in the moment, and are adamant we will take action, because the past and future don’t impact our behavior the same way we often don’t. This can be really problematic when we are looking to right the wrongs of the past and present for a better future.  As you listen today, I encourage you to consider how the past, present, and future are different for you. Think of a time when you were outraged by something in the moment and said (either aloud or in your head) that you were absolutely going to do or say something and never did. Why is that? When you remember that incident do you feel as upset about it? What if you heard it was going to happen tomorrow or a week from now? What might you do to prevent it? Why do the past and future feel different and how can this knowledge change the way you support other humans? Show Notes: [00:39] Today’s episode is another refresh from the series I did on “All the Biases” back in 2019. [01:39] Because the past and future don’t impact our behavior the same way, it can really be problematic when we are looking at history and helping to right the wrongs of the past and present. [03:48] People want immediate payoffs.  [06:23] Due to impact bias, we overestimate the duration of the intensity of the impact of how we will feel in the future. We are also victims of projection bias.  [08:26] To prove a point now you might be making a choice that negatively impacts your future self.  [10:08] The sunk cost fallacy is where people will keep spending and justify pouring into a bad prior investment even though evidence shows it is bad.  [12:37] As your brain gets overwhelmed your subconscious is more likely to take the reins, meaning you will make more battery and present-focused decisions instead of snowball, future-focused decisions.  [14:05] In the cold state we may know that something is a good idea and commit ourselves that when you are in a hot state you don’t have the option to let that hot self take over and make a bad decision about the present.   [16:03] People think that when you are in that cold state you're not going to require, need, or want whatever the things are as much as you actually will when your body chemistry has changed to the hot state.    [16:49] People are impacted more by losses than gains and it takes double the joy felt by a gain to equal the pain that is felt by a loss.   [18:03] You may consciously want to stop dreading something. However, as long as your subconscious is still getting some kind of reward or benefit from the physical act of dreading you would need a lot of extra savoring, positive benefit, and something to enjoy at the moment to combat the dread.  [20:45] We do not really like risks and will avoid them when we can. Due to a zero risk bias, we humans prefer to reduce a small risk down to nothing than we would like to take a bigger reduction in a larger risk.  [22:27] When you think you are safer, you are more likely to take risks in other areas. For example, people drive worse when wearing a seatbelt. [25:01] Because we don’t want to change, we may ostrich and avoid the potential negative even at our own personal cost.    [26:13] For one person to succeed it does not mean everyone else has to lose or fail.  [28:52] When you know the rules of the game (all these biases and how they work together) it can be easier than you think to trick your brain into doing more in your own favor and use these biases in your favor so you can make decisions today that you will appreciate tomorrow or help get yourself out of a negative spiral.  [31:52] Melina’s closing thoughts [32:37] Time discounting is such a big hurdle for us but knowing about it and how it combines with bikeshedding, planning fallacy, and optimism bias is the first step in tackling this.  Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Fierce Conversations, by Susan Scott A More Just Future, by Dolly Chugh A More Beautiful Question, by Warren Berger How Minds Change, by David McRaney Behavioral Investor, by Daniel Crosby Top Recommended Next Episode: Time Discounting (ep 51) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Focusing Illusion (ep 89) Get Your D.O.S.E. of Brain Chemicals (ep 123) Decision Fatigue (ep 132) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) Optimism Bias (ep 34) Loss Aversion (ep 9) Math Is Hard (ep 242) A More Beautiful Question with Warren Berger (ep 200) Endowment Effect (ep 139) Status Quo Bias (ep 142) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter  Diversification Bias: Explaining the Discrepancy in Variety Seeking Between Combined and Separated Choices Mixing Virtue and Vice: Combining the Immediacy Effect and the Diversification Heuristic Research on How Self-control Works Could Help You Stick With New Year’s Resolutions Free Will in Consumer Behavior: Self-control, Ego Depletion, and Choice A Multilab Preregistered Replication of the Ego-Depletion Effect Hot–Cold Empathy Gaps and Medical Decision Making Exploring the Cold-to-Hot Empathy Gap in Smokers Anomalies: The Endowment Effect, Loss Aversion, and Status Quo Bias Experimental Tests of the Endowment Effect and the Coase Theorem Does Market Experience Eliminate Market Anomalies? The Case of Exogenous Market Experience

In today's conversation, I am joined by Evan Nesterak, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Behavioral Scientist, a nonprofit digital and print magazine that examines the world through the science of human behavior. Previously, he led the Mindset Assessment Project, an initiative designed to bring rigorous psychological research into the world of sport and worked with Angela Duckworth at the University of Pennsylvania on character development research. This is such a fun conversation, where Evan tells some "never before publicly discussed" stories from his background and that of Behavioral Scientist, which is always fun. We get to hear all about his work and the focus at the magazine, it is full of laughs and brainy goodness. You don’t want to miss it!  Show Notes: [00:42] In today's conversation, I am joined by Evan Nesterak, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Behavioral Scientist, a nonprofit digital and print magazine that examines the world through the science of human behavior. [02:36] Evan shares about himself, his background, and the work that he does. [03:35] He also did some research with the US Soccer Federation where they did a study looking at the mindsets of the elite youth players in the development academy.  [06:09] Evan shares how he met past Brainy Business guest Leidy Klotz.   [08:50] Often when you are newer to something you are automatically put into the mentee role. It is powerful to have that script flipped and be the mentor even if you are newer into something if you have enough experience that you can add value.  [11:13] He learned a lot working with Angela Duckworth and he has taken a lot of lessons since leaving the lab.  [12:25] Evan shares the history of how Behavioral Scientist started.   [14:00] After graduating from college, he decided to do what he now calls “real world college.”  [16:24] He realized there was no place for him to read about really interesting psychology work that was happening.  [17:21] In 2012 Evan and his brother started The Psych Report. They had expert psychologists write about their research in digestible, interesting, and engaging ways.  [17:59] In 2016 it evolved: they teamed up with some other projects and co-founded Behavioral Scientist in 2017.   [20:33] The way we think about human behavior can influence the world we design.  [22:48] They compiled a team from various backgrounds and got to work. Their goal has been to stay curious, prioritize people who ask interesting and ambitious questions about human behavior, and try to answer them in rigorous and thoughtful ways.  [25:12] Don’t worry about trying to read everything. Try and find your trusted sources.  [27:12] Being open to other formats can be a really great way to read with an eye for human behavior.  [28:55] You immediately have respect for people when you write or do something outside of your comfort zone.  [29:45] Melina shares about past guests  Doug Kenrick and David Lundberg-Kenrick and their work.  [33:04] The first thing when writing a book in academia is to take action and try and do it.  [33:58] Then you need to understand what your background and strength is in writing and who you want to write for. [35:20] You have to get someone invested and a great way to do that is stories, examples, and cost and opportunities.  [38:04] The more focused you can be in your writing the better.  [39:09] Evan’s first suggestion is to sign up for the Behavioral Scientist weekly newsletter and see if it is for you. Hopefully you will encounter things that you wouldn’t necessarily seek out but you would learn something that would have  an impact on your life.  [41:17] Monthly they put out the Research Lead where they focus on new research topics.   [44:16] Brain Meets World is a thematic print issue that traces the journey of what happens to our ideas as we bring them out to the world.  [46:40] When you chase the answers all the time it never feels satisfying.  [48:52] Melina’s closing thoughts Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Grit, by Angela Duckworth Subtract, by Leidy Klotz The Paradox of Choice, by Barry Schwartz How to Change, by Katy Milkman Brain Meets World, by Behavioral Scientist   Connect with Evan:  Behavioral Scientist Website Evan on LinkedIn Evan on Twitter Top Recommended Next Episode: Do You Subtract Enough? An interview with Dr. Leidy Klotz (ep 162) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Behavioral Science in the Wild with Dilip Soman (ep 241) Paradox of Choice (ep 171) How To Change, an interview Dr. Katy Milkman (ep 151) Dr. Robert Cialdini and the (Now!) 7 Principles of Persuasion (ep 157) Do Nudges Work? with Michael Hallsworth (ep 218) Solving Modern Problems with a Stone Age Brain (ep 237) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter  Behavioral Scientist Newsletter A large-scale field experiment shows giving advice improves academic outcomes for the advisor Writing Workshops from Behavioral Scientist The Battle for Human Nature, by Barry Schwartz Barry Schwartz – Last Collection speech

Decisions are everywhere — we are making them all day long. Even if you know you are making a lot of decisions, you probably don’t grasp the full weight of them. Think about yesterday, how many decisions can you remember making? How many decisions do you make on an average day? Research shows that people make 35,000 decisions every single day!  Can you believe it? Clearly, the bulk of those are done subconsciously as we couldn’t exist if we had to do all of those on a conscious level. So, how do we make better decisions? What happens when we make too many decisions? Is there a point in the day when we have hit our decision number and it’s all downhill from there? Or is there an opportunity to recharge those batteries and have a second wind?  When do we reach the point of decision fatigue and what can we do to avoid it? That’s what this episode is all about. This refreshed episode originally came out on Christmas day, 2020 (at the end of a year full of decision fatigue). It includes tips for making better decisions around the holidays and is useful all year round. Ready to optimize your decisions? Listen in… Show Notes: [00:39] Today’s episode is all about decision fatigue. [03:21] We humans make an incredible number of decisions each day.  [04:48] We all make about 35,000 decisions every single day. Some of those are big choices evaluated by our conscious brain but over 90% are made by your subconscious.  [05:51] As you begin to get fatigued, you rely on your subconscious rules of thumb to make decisions. You’ll be more cautious and make decisions that are risk-averse without even noticing the change in your behavior.  [07:48] If you don’t bog down your brain with mundane choices you can free it up so it doesn’t get fatigued as quickly.  [09:34] Doing something today is the best way to make tomorrow easier.  [11:14] Decision fatigue is similar to overwhelm but they are not the same thing. Your brain can get overwhelmed by more than just decisions.  [14:08] Be thoughtful about the things you will be thoughtful about. There are lots of things that seem important at the moment that simply aren’t.  [14:33] Dopamine is a chemical that your brain likes. It forms lots of habits around getting more of it and Dopamine goes hand and hand with anticipation.  [15:16] Just because it feels bad or painful doesn’t mean it is wrong or that it isn’t in your best interest to continue down the path. It might just be your subconscious rebelling about not getting the Dopamine it is used to. Take that painful moment as a good sign and celebrate it and keep moving forward.   [16:58] It is so important to put extra thought into your customer experience journeys. You want to reduce that friction and make it as easy as possible to do business with you.   [19:04] You are making it easier for someone to make a choice.   [20:47] Look for ways to reduce decisions and make it easier to work with you.   [21:12] Decision fatigue is another reason batching content and tasks is so important. When you set aside some time to plan out content in advance, you condense all those decisions into one. It is a super simple brain hack. [22:17] Another closely related item to batching is delegating. Don’t hold onto every little decision and choice on a project. Fight the urge to have everything done perfectly in the way you would do them and free up your brain from making decisions that someone else could do.   [24:04] Take breaks. Take a lunch break, weekend off, breaks throughout the day, and even naps.  [25:59] It isn’t selfish or self-indulgent in a bad way. It’s actually beneficial to your overall decision-making to take this time for yourself. It helps keep your brain clear, your decisions stronger, and your work better and more meaningful. Taking care of your brain is important.   [27:41] Melina’s closing thoughts [27:53] When you can streamline the things you do and reduce the unnecessary decisions in your life by making them habits, it can really help you to do more and better things. [29:45] The more you streamline and plan while you are in a cold state (before the moment of distraction hits) the easier it will be in the long run. Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: Essentialism, by Greg McKeown Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood Friction, by Roger Dooley The Selling Staircase, by Nikki Rausch Sludge, by Cass Sunstein Top Recommended Next Episode: Habits: 95% Of Decisions Are Habitual - Which Side Is Your Business On? (episode 21) Already Heard That One? Try These:  The Overwhelmed Brain & Its Impact on Decision Making (ep 32) Defaults: The "D" in NUDGES (episode 38) Good Habits, Bad Habits: An Interview with Wendy Wood (ep 127) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Time Discounting (ep 51) Get Your D.O.S.E. of Brain Chemicals (ep 123) Friction - What It Is And How To Reduce It, with Roger Dooley (ep 72) How to Make it Easy to Do Business With You With Nikki Rausch (ep 96) Sludge: What It Is and How to Reduce It (ep 179) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (episode 70) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter  How Many Daily Decisions Do We Make? Decision Fatigue: What it is and how it’s killing your focus, motivation, and willpower How Willpower Works: How to Avoid Bad Decisions When Thinking is Hard: Managing Decision Fatigue You’re facing a lot of choices amid the pandemic. Cut yourself slack: It’s called decision fatigue. What is Decision Fatigue? The Science of Decision Fatigue How to Identify When You’re Experiencing Decision Fatigue

Today is all about the aversion that humans have to uncertainty and ambiguity, our fear of the unknown, and how it can cause us to choose something we are familiar with even though it may not be in our best interest. While this can often align with risk aversion, they are not the same thing, and while they do often correlate, they don’t have to.  More on that, and of course, loss aversion and inequity aversion – all the aversions – on the show today, but because this is a concept I’m guessing you’ll “get” pretty easily, there is less on the research studies (they are linked in the notes). That leaves the bulk of the episode to focus on how this applies to you in two aspects of business: internal communication and customer experience. Ready? Let’s get started. Show Notes: [00:43] Today is about the aversion that humans have to uncertainty and ambiguity, our fear of the unknown, and how it can cause us to choose something we are familiar with even though it may not be in our best interest. [02:38] The most important thing to know is that we don’t like the unknown. We don’t like uncertainty in our choices and will prefer known risks over unknown risks. And also, because our brains are lazy and rely on rules of thumb, we often will avoid making complex (and not so complex) calculations. [03:39] Consider the stock market. This can have unknown risks and so people can feel hesitant to put their money there even when the probabilities and rates of return are relatively known over time. [05:30] As with everything, when you present information, how you talk about it matters more than what you are saying. Frame the information you present to highlight what IS known to make it easier for someone to see the positive. (Note: don’t gloss over important risks or problems. Use good judgment.) [07:47] When you are presenting a change at work, there are so so so many variables at play, and if you leave a lot of uncertainty and ambiguity – say you share too early or in an incomplete way – there is a good chance people will rebel against that unknown future state. [09:17] A real problem that happens a lot (and is unfathomably detrimental to change initiatives at work), is when someone is given ambiguous information and they feel the need to get their own brain relief by reducing their own mental burden (and wanting someone to help fill that void) in a way that they will find any possible way to justify telling someone (or in some cases, many someones) to cover up that uncertainty. [11:26] As George Lowenstein proposed, “Curiosity is like an itch on the brain and we need anything we can find to scratch that itch.” When there is information to be found, we can fill the gap with learning. When there isn’t like in these scenarios, it can be gossip, fear, and doomsday-style planning for the worst, which will cause people to rebel against the potential future before it even has a chance to bloom. [12:55] Everyone on your team needs to be trained on how to share the information and when, and make sure the message is properly framed with regard to all the ambiguous pieces that could cause people to revert to the known instead of the unknown. [14:19] Melina shares some questions you can ask yourself to help determine when it is the right time to share information. [15:38] Just forcing yourself to take a step back and a calming breath as you consider what is really happening can be so helpful. You may want to get out and take a walk or sleep on it or whatever else you do to gain perspective. [18:35] Sharing too much information can cause overwhelm as well, which is stressful and creates its own avoidance, so it is about sharing the right information in the right way at the right time to the right people. Remember that “fair” isn’t always equal, and different people need to hear different information at different times. [19:50] The early days of Covid are such a perfect case study for what happens when we feel uncertainty and a lack of control. When people feel a lack of control and like they can’t do anything to protect themselves or their families, they may strive to find control in other areas – like hoarding toilet paper. It feels like you are doing something, and can reduce some of that stress. [21:59] Time moves differently on the two sides of a decision in ambiguous times. This presents a big communication problem and disconnect that teams need to pay attention to if they want to be effective. [22:51] The “no update update” can be really helpful for companies. I know you want to wait until everything is perfect to share, but that rumor mill is going to be piling up in a way that is working against you and you owe it to your employees to help relieve some of that stress. [25:30] “No update updates” can be really helpful to diffuse some pressure when there is a lot going on and things are scary on the other side of the decision, but you can’t do too many “no update updates” in a row without it starting to be a new problem… [28:06] Let’s look at the customer experience side. We like to think people want a lot of choices and to be treated as individuals with very unique experiences. While that can be true, there is also a real issue with the ambiguity side of things if we allow ourselves to rest on the easy answer of “it’s custom.” [29:56] When people feel uncertain, they are more likely to look to what others like them do in this situation, so testimonials, social proof, and case studies are all your friends in fighting ambiguity aversion. You don’t want or need to share all the nuts and bolts, but at least let them know that there is a process. [32:02] You owe it to your clients and customers to take the time to make this as easy and streamlined as possible – and the benefit is it will make it easier for people to choose you and do business with you. [32:29] Melina’s closing thoughts [35:02] Adapting your lenses and looking from multiple angles and depths is really important to make that possible, which is why an episode like this is so valuable. Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.  I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation. Let’s connect: Melina@TheBrainyBusiness.com The Brainy Business® on Facebook The Brainy Business on Twitter The Brainy Business on Instagram The Brainy Business on LinkedIn Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube Join the BE Thoughtful Revolution – our free behavioral economics community, and keep the conversation going! Learn and Support The Brainy Business: Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books.  Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode: What Your Employees Need and Can’t Tell You, by Melina Palmer The Paradox of Choice, by Barry Schwartz Sludge, by Cass Sunstein Nudge, by Richard Thaler & Cass Sunstein Friction, by Roger Dooley Top Recommended Next Episode: Inequity Aversion: That’s Not Fair! (episode 224) Already Heard That One? Try These:  Availability Bias (ep 15) Familiarity Bias (ep 149) Status Quo Bias (ep 142) Loss Aversion (ep 9) Framing (ep 16) Bikeshedding (ep 99) Planning Fallacy (ep 114) Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less (ep 171) Sludge: What It Is and How to Reduce It (ep 179) NUDGES & Choice Architecture (ep 35) Other Important Links:  Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter  RISK, AMBIGUITY, AND THE SAVAGE AXIOMS The Itch of Curiosity Ambiguity (uncertainty) aversion Treatment decisions under ambiguity

Explore how cognitive biases shape our perception of numbers and decision-making in everyday life. Delve into the psychology behind money and value, revealing why we sometimes misjudge worth. The hot hand fallacy and gambler's fallacy help explain our misconceptions about probability. Unpack ambiguity aversion and see how fear of the unknown can lead to poor choices. Finally, discover the impact of personal biases on business processes and the importance of objective evaluation.