Every leader has been there. A critical decision looms. Millions are at stake. Your instincts are screaming, but something feels off. This is where most executives stumble – trapped by their own cognitive blind spots. Is this should not be your story, what helps?
Metacognition is the awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.It helps to
Recognize your mental patterns
Challenge your own assumptions
Create deliberate thinking strategies
The best leaders don't just make decisions. They understand how they make decisions.
So what gets a leader to meta and outsmart your own thinking?
Take a Pause
Take a strategic pause to reflect on
What assumptions you are making?
What are you choosing to ignore?
What's seen through the rear view mirror?
What is not tangible?
Shift Perspective
Find different ways of looking at the same decision
What will a wise person/mentor/coach say?
What is the view from space?
What will your competitor say?
What would your worst critic say?
Reflect
Reflect on your
Best decision
Worst decision
Everything in-between
What makes them qualify for the three buckets?
How were you different?
How was your reasoning & Synthesis
What triggers you to make the right or wrong decisions?
In this fast paced world, meta-cognition is a luxury - worth taking with your mind and energy space.
What helps you go meta?