Honduras and how (not) to end up there, or why you should play at work?.

Those who know me well have often heard two statements from me: "the brain is a marvel" and "everything is a matter of perspective and perception." Here's why that is, or how to help yourself so you don't end up in Honduras. What prompted me to write this text is a statement we often say in our team: "I won't tell you that so I don't bias you." Since the noun "bajas" (bias) and the verb "zbajasati" (to bias) have become as Croatian as "beknuti se" (to back out) or to go back in an internet browser, it's fitting to write something about it. Also, through our psychometric assessments, we've noticed that people lack three things: the power of judgment and reasoning, and critical thinking. In truth, we've probably all noticed this from time to time, but...

The Human Brain is a Marvel

The human brain is often called a marvel, which is logical because it's an incredibly complex and powerful organ, about which very little is still known today. We can say it's the body's control center, responsible for a wide range of functions, including sensations, movements, thoughts, and emotions.

One of the things that makes the human brain so incredible is its ability to adapt and change. The brain has the capacity to "reorganize itself" and form new connections between cells, a process known as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt to new experiences and learn new things throughout an individual's life.

The human brain is also capable of incredible "feats" when it comes to memory and problem-solving. It can process vast amounts of information and make connections between seemingly unrelated pieces of data. That's when an idea hits you while you're sitting on the toilet in the morning, and then you all, feeling important, go to work. It's also capable of creating new ideas and solving complex problems. This is where, for example, the neuroplasticity of Croats in adapting to new situations and making ends meet comes to the fore.

Systemic Errors

However, in all its perfection, our brain is also prone to errors, even systemic ones. One such systemic error is called cognitive bias, or being biased. Cognitive bias refers to systematic patterns of deviation from the norm or rationality in judgment, where conclusions about other people and situations can be drawn illogically. These biases are often the result of the brain's attempt to simplify information processing. Cognitive biases can lead to distorted perceptions, inaccurate judgments, illogical interpretations, or what is generally called irrationality.

There are many different types of cognitive biases, such as:

• Anchoring bias,
• Availability heuristic,
• Confirmation bias,
• Framing effect,
• Halo effect.

You'll admit that everyone uses this framing effect sometimes. It's often used for marketing purposes; for example, you wouldn't say 3 out of 10 customers won't use a product, but rather that 7 out of 10 customers are satisfied with your product. This is called "embellishment," and we leave it to you as homework to list ten embellishments.

Cognitive biases can have a significant impact on decision-making and problem-solving, as they can lead individuals to make judgments not based on objective reality. Recognizing and managing cognitive biases is an important part of critical thinking and decision-making, as it can help individuals make more objective and accurate judgments.

Why is Cognitive Bias Dangerous at Work?

Cognitive bias can be dangerous at work because it can lead individuals to make judgments not based on objective reality, which can have negative consequences for decision-making and problem-solving. For example, if an individual suffers from confirmation bias, they may only seek information that confirms their existing beliefs and ignore or dismiss information that contradicts those beliefs. This can lead to incomplete or distorted views of reality, which can result in poor decisions or undetected problems.

Cognitive bias can also lead to unfair treatment of others and can contribute to the creation of a toxic work environment. For example, if an individual is influenced by the halo effect, they may form an excessively positive or negative opinion about someone based on a single characteristic, rather than considering a range of factors. The halo effect can also be dangerous in recruitment if we don't use objective assessments. Also, people often say about someone, "we clicked right away." Well, we didn't necessarily click right away, and no miracle happened; we were just biased, and we recognized in someone what we "carry" within ourselves. In some cases, this can turn out well, but often, we would mumble to ourselves, "they really disappointed me/her."

In general, cognitive bias can be dangerous at work because it can lead to distorted views of reality, poor decision-making, and unfair treatment of others. It's important for individuals to be aware of their own cognitive biases and to take steps to manage them in order to make more objective and accurate judgments.

How to Combat Cognitive Bias?

There are several strategies individuals can use to combat cognitive biases:

1. Recognize that cognitive biases exist: The first step in combating cognitive biases is to be aware that they exist. This can help you be more mindful of your own biases and recognize when they might be influencing your judgment.

2. Seek diverse perspectives: I often say that it's all about perspective and perception, and I emphasize this with the example of a frog and a bird. Their views of a tree from a frog's and a bird's perspective are definitely not the same. For one, the tree might be extremely large; for the other, extremely small. But the frog's perspective can also change if it ends up in someone's beak. In that case, its perception will be doubly changed. Exposure to different perspectives can help challenge and broaden your thinking and can help reduce the impact of cognitive biases.

3. Use critical thinking skills: Practicing critical thinking skills, such as asking questions, evaluating evidence, and considering multiple viewpoints, can help you make more objective and accurate judgments.

4. Seek feedback: We've talked a lot about feedback, but not enough. It's always important in all situations. Even a nod can be feedback. It could be better, but it's still feedback. Seeking feedback from others can help you identify and correct any biases in your thinking, even though this becomes an increasingly difficult task or role in these hybrid, remote work environments.

5. Practice mindfulness: Focusing on your own thoughts and emotions can help you recognize and manage any biases that might be influencing your judgment; in other words, be more emotionally intelligent.

Thanks to the neuroplasticity mentioned earlier, all of this can be learned. By following these strategies, you can combat cognitive biases and make more objective and accurate judgments.

Human Brain Functioning and Critical Thinking

We mentioned that the human brain is responsible for many functions, including critical thinking. Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information, arguments, and evidence to make informed decisions or form logical conclusions. It involves questioning assumptions, analyzing arguments, and considering multiple perspectives.

The prefrontal cortex, located in the front of the brain, is believed to play a crucial role in critical thinking. This area of the brain is responsible for higher-level thinking, including problem-solving, decision-making, and planning. Other brain areas involved in critical thinking include the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning, and the amygdala, which is involved in emotions and decision-making. The amygdala is something that, for me personally, inspired as much admiration as the human brain. Although I didn't mention the amygdala too much so people wouldn't look at me strangely.

A number of factors can influence critical thinking skills, including genetics, education, and experience. Some people may be naturally more inclined to critical thinking, while others may need to work on developing these skills. Engaging in activities that challenge the brain and require problem-solving and decision-making can help improve critical thinking skills.

Given that we, at least, cannot change genetics in people, nor can we significantly influence education, experience remains. With the help of added experience, we can influence skills. Unlike the cognitive spectrum, we acquire skills throughout life and can perfect them. They mostly depend on our experience. The following skills are of interest to us:

• critical thinking,
• active listening,
• active learning,
• judgment and decision-making,
• monitoring, i.e., self-evaluation and evaluation of things, events, and people around us.

Why the Amygdala?

Because I love animals. I have a cat Točka, a pit bull Samba, and the ruler of the Universe, a cat Zarez (because Točka, logically…period). There are many similarities between humans and animals in a psycho-social sense. Both humans and animals have social and emotional lives, and both experience and express a wide range of emotions. Humans and animals also have similar brain structures and pathways that are involved in social and emotional processing, including the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.

Like humans, animals also form social bonds, establish dominance hierarchies, and engage in social play. They also experience and express a wide range of emotions, including joy, fear, anger, and love. Additionally, animals are capable of empathy and can respond to the emotional states of others, both within and across species.

Overall, the psycho-social lives of humans and animals are more similar than different, and both are capable of experiencing and expressing a wide range of emotions and engaging in complex social behaviors.

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure located in the brain that is involved in many important functions, including emotions and decision-making. In situations perceived as life-threatening, the amygdala plays a crucial role in activating the body's stress response. When the amygdala detects a potential threat, it sends a signal to the hypothalamus, which in turn activates the sympathetic nervous system. This causes the release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which help prepare the body for action. The stress response increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, and diverts blood flow to muscles and other organs needed for fight or flight. In life-threatening situations, the amygdala helps ensure the body is ready to respond to the threat. It's important to note that the amygdala can also be activated in response to situations that are not life-threatening, such as when we feel anxious or stressed. In these cases, the stress response may not be necessary, and amygdala activation can be detrimental to our well-being.

Because of the amygdala, we often act like animals.

What is the Connection Between the Brain, Amygdala, Cognitive Biases, and Experience?

Life experience can have a significant impact on a person's psycho-social development. Psycho-social development refers to how one's personality, emotions, and relationships with others develop and change over time.

Life experiences can shape one's personality and behavior in many ways. For example, positive experiences, such as supportive relationships and successful achievements, can build self-esteem and self-confidence. Negative experiences, such as abuse or neglect, can have a detrimental impact on a person's mental health and well-being.

Life experiences can also shape a person's social and emotional development. For example, the way a person is raised and the relationships they form early in life can influence their social skills and their ability to form and maintain healthy relationships later in life.

All in all, life experience plays a significant role in shaping a person's psycho-social development, and the way a person experiences and reacts to life events can have a lasting impact on their personality and behavior.

Also, experience has brought some more, and some less, emotional intelligence. Research has shown that the amygdala may play a role in emotional intelligence. The amygdala is involved in processing emotional information and is activated in response to emotional stimuli. Some studies have found that individuals with higher emotional intelligence have a better ability to regulate their emotional responses, and this is associated with lower amygdala activation in response to emotional stimuli.

Honduras

We are created to be susceptible to cognitive biases. The socio-psychological changes that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic took away some part of everyone's experience. For us older ones, it took away; for younger generations, they didn't even have the opportunity to gain it.

And that's why, if it seems to us that the power of judgment has disappeared, that critical thinking is shaken, and if you've counted ten situations you framed or embellished… you're right.

Given that emotional intelligence is a complex trait influenced by various factors, including genetics, life experience, and environment. Because man is an environmental and experiential being, and the poor amygdala can't do everything, and our brain has a systemic error… we are left with the task of developing ourselves. Through various trainings. And no, various internet advice won't help you when individuals start from their own experience and try to form a universal opinion and impose it on you. On the contrary, being biased will only help you behave contrary to how you should.

And that's why. Learning and development, or the development of human skills, is what remains for us.

Developing Human Skills

We can develop human skills through LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a facilitation method that uses Lego bricks to help people explore complex problems, generate ideas, and find solutions. The method is based on the idea that playing with bricks can stimulate a deeper level of thinking and learning. Through the process of building and reflecting on their creations, participants can express their thoughts and ideas in a more visual and, importantly, tangible way. LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® can be used to develop various human skills, including problem-solving, creative thinking, collaboration, and communication. It is often used in business settings for team building and strategic planning but can also be used in educational or personal development settings.

During a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® training, participants are asked to build models using Lego bricks that represent their thoughts, ideas, and concepts related to a specific problem, challenge, or deficient skill. The facilitator then guides the group through a structured process of thinking and discussion, using the Lego models as a starting point.

Using Lego bricks in this way aims to engage both the left and right sides of the brain, thereby fostering creative and analytical thinking. By building and discussing their models, participants can explore complex issues in a more visual and tactile manner, which facilitates deeper understanding and encourages better opinion formation and conclusions.

Why Play?

Play is an important part of human development and has been shown to have a number of benefits for adults, including improved emotional well-being and increased creativity. Engaging in play can also activate the amygdala, as it often involves experiencing and processing emotions. For example, when adults play board games, they may experience feelings of pleasure, excitement, or competition. These emotions can be processed and regulated by the amygdala.

In addition to the benefits of play for emotional well-being, research has also shown that play can positively affect the functioning of the amygdala. For example, one study found that play was associated with reduced amygdala activity and increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in higher-level thinking and decision-making. This suggests that play can help regulate the amygdala and improve cognitive functioning in adults.

Among other things, LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® can be used to facilitate judgment and decision-making in several ways. For example, it can be used to:

• Help individuals or groups better understand and clarify their values, goals, and priorities

• Explore and generate potential opportunities or solutions to a problem (because the toilet bowl won't always help us 😉)

• Assess and compare the pros and cons of different options

• Make informed and well-reasoned decisions.

By using Lego bricks to represent different ideas, options, or scenarios, participants can more easily visualize and consider the implications of different choices. This can help them make more informed and effective decisions.

In addition to standard Lego Serious Play scenarios, DeeP Project has also developed ones that develop human skills such as:

• critical thinking,
• active listening,
• active learning,
• judgment and decision-making, and
• monitoring, i.e., self-evaluation and evaluation of things, events, and people around us.

LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® is a powerful methodology that helps employees see the company they work for in a holistic sense and more easily answer the eternal question: where do I fit in? When our employee has answered that crucial question – the likelihood of them leaving is much lower.