Perhaps you have seen the 2009 animated Disney movie, Up. A running gag throughout the film is the word “squirrel.” Of course, canine distractions are not limited to squirrels. The same can be said of humans. When it comes to everyday life, we all feel like we’re at the mercy of whatever is crossing our attention. It’s up to us, however, to take charge of our environment.
The more we allow others to manipulate our choices through technology, the more limited we become in our thinking. The more we listen to endless messages about easy outcomes, the more we limit our true accomplishments. The more we let polarizing messages invade our beliefs, the more biased our beliefs.
We all want to make decisions that are reasoned, balanced, and accurate. But that’s pretty hard when our minds are filled with conflicting distractions. Yes, you need to be mindful of the context. But you must also work to exclude influences that will cloud your thinking. My good friend and veteran educator, Pam Gordon, calls this process getting to neutral.
Getting to neutral requires that you mentally step away from all the biases you may have associated with the decision at hand. Regardless of the problem, we attach our beliefs and perceptions. Some are probably accurate. But others can be way off base. Trying to make a smart decision when your judgment is clouded is a recipe for mistakes and unpleasant consequences. You have to work at getting to neutral. It does not come naturally. You have to be come a reflective thinker. Here’s an easy process for doing so.
Remove yourself from the environment. With the advent of our mobile culture, the definition of environment has changed. With a computer in our pocket or purse, many of us are able to work anywhere. But that has made it tougher to remove ourselves from the environment. These days, the environment is not just physical. It is also mental. In today’s world, attention is more important than location. That means turning off, tuning out, and dropping into a state of focus. Smart decision making requires turning off digital distractions. It means moving to a place where advertisements, televisions, and other chatter will not compete for your attention.
Next, list the distractions and biases about the problem. Then work to eliminate them. This brings into focus the true nature of the problem and what kind of decision is required. When you force yourself to write out all the distractions and biases you can think of, you will begin to recognize the concerns and issues to you need to avoid or at least take into account.
Finally, practice thinking reflectively. It is human nature to feel uncomfortable when trying something new. Develop the habit of clarifying problems. Eliminate distractions and biases. Remove yourself from the environment. The more skillful you become, the more you will become a smarter decision maker in this dumbed- down world.
The best decision makers make a habit of going to neutral. It’s as simple as that.
Excerpted in part from Figure It Out! Making Smart Decisions in a Dumbed Down World.