Combating Negative Bias

Saber tooth tigers used to stalk and kill us. Watch the Croods for a good example as to why negative bias was important to pay attention to. However, as the world evolves and technology creates ease and adaptability for us, there are fewer tigers, but our brains want to make everything into a tiger, you know, to protect us. 

Our brains are experts at identifying threats, but not as skilled in identifying the glory and wonder of the world. As we grow up, the negative experiences, touching a hot stove, a bad break up, getting lost or separated from a parent, these experiences stand out as neon signs flashing warnings at our future selves to WATCH OUT!

Taking an asset-based approach to life takes practice and time. It requires creating new neuron wiring and practice. Dr. Rick Hanson, a neuroscientist, in his 2013 Tedx Talk talks about how our brains, little by little, can counter the negativity bias and build a hard-wired positivity response. He indicates that over time, neurons will learn a new pathway and start to fill our brains with the positive versus negative, but we have to work at it, it is growing new patterns, developing new habits. 

In our work cultures, we often perpetuate a negativity bias or weakness driven environment, We do annual reviews in which we are asked to reflect on our strengths and weaknesses, and create goals to increase our weak areas. It is ineffective and doesn’t stick. However, if we instead, learn about our CliftonStrengths® , how they are productive or unproductive, and learn how to best communicate and modify them, we start to increase a positive mindset that values what is right and good with ourselves and others versus seeing everyone, or ourselves as a tiger.

Asset framing is the first step to uncovering the beautiful way we are wired, which opens up endless possibilities for impacting the world around us in powerful, positive ways.