In Favor or Against?

We all have biases whether we admit them or not.  A bias is a prejudice or inclination in favour of or against a person, an idea, or a thing, usually in a way that is close-minded. Biases are often learned. I believe when we are born, we are like blank canvases. Our parents, the society we belong to, the schools we attend, our peers, and more recently, social media paint thoughts and ideas onto us that form our mindset and ultimately, our biases. These biases colour our thought processes and inform our decisions for the rest of our lives. 

“Can we be blinded to our biases?” I asked Mr. Segun Shogbanmu. It was during the Analysis of Business Problems course at the Lagos Business School, and we were critiquing the BioPasteur case. He responded, “Of course! That’s why we teach you to identify and confront your biases when analyzing a case”. The EMBA28 class had a clear divide of people shouting in favour of one course of action and the other set canvassing the opposite. Obviously, we had a few people who thought to make adjustments first, but they were an easily overlooked minority. As I sat there, evidently with my own biases, I began to ponder on some of the insights Mr Segun shared about the case and how to effectively deal with business problems. 

Principally, you must objectively analyze all sides of a case in order to make an informed decision. But truth be told, this can be hard. While listening to a story or reading a case, you subconsciously begin to form your opinions and favour a particular line of thought or action even before being asked to decide. This is where patience is really a virtue. It would require you to suspend your biases to be objective. This is a skill I hope to acquire at the end of this MBA. Even for everyday living, it is erroneous to run off with a course of action without considering all sides of the story. It has been the bane of many human relationships too. You hear one side of the story and think it is the absolute truth until you hear the other side, and your hands are left akimbo! It reminds me of this scripture in Proverbs 18:17 which reads, “The one who states his case first seems right until the other comes and examines him”. You, therefore, have a responsibility to peruse the pros and cons of each side to make the best decision. 

Similarly, he identified the wisdom in not discarding dissenting opinions and voices. There is some value in the words of an enemy. For one, it forces you to take a second look at the problem. It really is inconsequential where the suggestion is from, whether it is from a place of bias or envy, it is still worth considering. It may save you from a potentially disastrous course of action or steer you towards the right direction. As human beings, we take the “enemy” tag very seriously, and rightly so. However, your bias towards someone you view as an enemy ensures you are close-minded towards them. So, I was particularly intrigued by the newly found perspective of not outrightly dismissing the words of an enemy. After much meditation, I realized that most of my victories and successes have been engineered by the words of those I thought did not like me more than those who did. There is a certain desire it arouses in you to prove them wrong. It is usually the fuel you need to succeed. 

Therefore, before you argue in favour of a decision or against it, pause and ask yourself some salient questions. Have I considered all the sides of the problem? Are my biases skewing my opinions? What are the dissenting opinions to consider? Is this the best course of action or can I improve on it? Frame your analysis along these lines, put aside your biases, and then choose the most objective and informed course of action.