What biases impede creativity in planning & how can you overcome them?

Confirmation bias represents our propensity to seek out, interpret and recall only information that confirms our existing beliefs, while ignoring contradictory evidence. In planning, this bias can limit the consideration of new ideas by favouring those that correspond to our pre-established opinions, even if they are not the most effective. To overcome it, it is essential to foster an environment where questioning is encouraged and different perspectives are valued. This means promoting open debate and actively seeking the truth rather than simply validating our own opinions. By adopting a critical and open approach, we can overcome confirmation bias to encourage creativity and generate innovative solutions in the planning process.

Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information that confirms your existing beliefs or hypotheses. This can limit your creativity in planning by making you ignore or dismiss alternative perspectives, evidence, or feedback that could challenge or improve your ideas. To overcome confirmation bias, you should actively seek out and consider different sources of information, test your assumptions and hypotheses, and be open to constructive criticism and revision

I believe confirmation bias can deeply affect your research as part of the development of a creative idea. Keeping an open frame of mind is essential to get into the full potential of any kind of creative work.

Anchoring bias, the inclination to heavily rely on initial information, can impede creativity in planning by causing individuals to fixate on the first idea or solution encountered. This may lead to disregarding potentially better or feasible alternatives emerging later. To combat anchoring bias: - Refrain from making swift decisions or judgments solely based on initial impressions. - Explore multiple options and scenarios thoroughly. - Adapt estimates and expectations in response to new information.

Availability bias can restrict the options considered and favour the ideas that are most easily accessible mentally. Individuals may be inclined to focus on solutions or approaches that immediately spring to mind, repeating pre-existing patterns and neglecting potentially more innovative alternatives. To overcome this bias, it is essential to encourage the diversification of information sources, the deliberate generation of alternatives and the use of lateral thinking techniques such as brainstorming. In addition, challenging preconceptions and validating options with objective data can help to foster a more creative and open planning process

Of all of these, the single biggest bias that can/will impede creativity in planning is the status quo bias = We've Always Done it This Way. This bias inclines individuals to favor existing methods, routines, or approaches over exploring new or unconventional ideas. When planning, the tendency to stick to familiar patterns can hinder innovation and limit the exploration of alternative solutions. Overcoming the status quo bias requires consciously acknowledging its influence and actively seeking out diverse perspectives and novel approaches.