Webinar - Cognitive biases that undermine performance

With even a basic understanding, neuroscience answers the question why should I behave like this and not like that? When we understand why, this drives real behaviour change and a desire to truly embrace new ideas to deliver success and well-being.

Even if we already know the power of emotion, a scientific explanation takes this knowledge to deeper levels. Knowing what drives non-conscious behaviours can prevent misunderstanding, miscommunication and take workplace relationships to a whole new level.

Our methods are very different. Most presenters offer advice that’s hard to apply and easily forgotten. We guarantee insights that lead to transformation. Delegates will think differently and perform better. And that change will last - no honeymoon period, followed by a lapse so prevalent with traditional methods.

Neuroscience-based methods:
• Expose limiting beliefs to help your people grow
• Explain thinking traps and non-conscious biases so everyone can make wiser decisions
• Make the workplace a motivational and fulfilling experience
• Delegates experience WOW moments that give immediate results

An unconscious or cognitive bias is a systematic thinking error that causes us to make poor decisions and
judgments, often taking the form of social stereotypes.

To make sense of the infinite complexity of the world, our brain has to take short-cuts, like categorising
people into groups with expected traits. The downside is the potential for prejudice which can ultimately lead to institutionalised racism and gender bias.

Invisible thinking traps
A bat and ball cost £1.10. The ball costs £1 more than the bat. How much does the ball cost?
Unless you’ve seen this before, you’re likely to answer 10p… which is wrong! (*). This is an example of a cognitive bias. 10p sounds so obviously right that we don’t bother to check our thinking.
* the correct answer is 5p.

"If you have a brain, you’re biased”
Research shows that we can’t avoid being biased - it’s hard-wired into the human operating system. The solution is to be aware of it, and put in place mitigating strategies. Some of the key biases we will be exploring are:

Similarity bias: we are more likely to recruit or promote someone “like us” rather than the best
candidate. This leads to non-diverse teams.

Temporal discounting: we pay more attention to short-term expediency, rather than creating longterm value.

In group /out group causes silo’ed working, with departmental agendas taking precedence over
corporate objectives.

Loss aversion: we over-rate risk and underrate opportunity - leading to poor investment decisions
and missed opportunities.

Groupthink leads to disengagement and poor decision-making due to the desire to “fit-in” and not
express unpopular view-points.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the powerful emotional undercurrents at work and get to the real issues
• Have the confidence to present your case with compelling impact
• Spot the most common negotiators’ tricks and counter them
• Stop getting beaten down on price and making unnecessary concessions
• Use win-win negotiation to build better relationships... and get the deal you want

Tom Flatau

With a Masters in Business Analysis & Systems Design and as a Fellow of the Institute of
Leadership and Management, Tom Flatau combines business acumen and intimate knowledge of corporate culture with neuroscience research and brain-based coaching to transform the individual and deliver growth and profitability in world-class companies.

“You’re good with your hands, but your brother is the intelligent one…” was something
Tom was told often as a child. Having failed a major entrance exam, aged 11 and consigned to being ‘average’, he is living proof that anyone can be who they want to be and achieve a destiny beyond their dreams, exceeding the low expectation of others.

Training with the Neuroleadership Institute, Tom is an accredited brain and behaviour specialist,
using applied neuroscience research and triedand-tested techniques to motivate and transform. He has formulated a series of worldrenowned seminars, delivered to multi-national businesses, including HSBC, Louis Vuitton, Emirates, Siemens, Unilever and the BBC.

Through interaction, real-world examples and scientific explanation, Tom’s talks explain the limiting beliefs and fixed mindsets that inhibits the potential of so many. He explains the brain’s ability to rewire in order to make everlasting changes in behaviour and mindset.

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