ShadowBox LLC

The way you talk about your goals shapes whether or not you achieve them. 'I need to go running' vs 'I am a runner.' The difference in mindset here is huge! Mindset shifts that stick often connect to identity. Are you carrying out a task, or are you becoming a different person? As Gary Klein explains in his Psychology Today article, habits like dieting and exercising often get abandoned because they feel like obligations— external directives rather than an integrated part of who you are. This is why so many of our New Year's resolutions collapse under pressure. Shifting from 'I need to go running' to 'I am a runner' changes everything. With the first mindset, you’re relieved when it’s raining- an excuse to skip it. With the second, you may be disappointed but ultimately undeterred. Rain? No problem? You will either run through it or plan to go as soon as it stops. (Source: Gary Klein, Shifting Mindsets: What Does It Take?, Psychology Today) #MindsetMatters #IdentityShift #GrowthMindset #HabitsThatStick #Psychology

In premortem we trust. A premortem is a powerful risk management tool where teams imagine their plan has already failed catastrophically and must explain why. Unlike traditional risk assessment that asks what could go wrong, a premortem assumes failure has occurred and works backward to identify the causes. This subtle but crucial difference unlocks creative thinking and surfaces hidden risks that might otherwise go unnoticed. It is not about speculating about potential problems. Rather, it consists in explaining why the failure has already happened. This subtle shift in perspective unlocks creativity and surfaces hidden risks that traditional risk assessment methods often miss. The proper premortem process is both simple and powerful. Everyone writes down reasons for the failure individually. The project leader goes first in sharing a reason (crucial for psychological safety), then each team member contributes one reason per round. The pace is quick - typically just two minutes per writing session. This urgency prevents overthinking and encourages raw, honest responses. What makes this tool particularly valuable is its ability to combat common organizational problems. It helps overcome overconfidence, a pervasive issue in investment decision-making. It creates psychological safety for dissent: team members can voice concerns without fear of being labeled as negative or uncooperative. Finally, it surfaces blind spots that even experienced teams might miss. I heard Gary Klein discuss this piece recently on The Decision-Making Studio podcast, and it's very well worth listening to (link below). h/t Ben Cattaneo https://lnkd.in/e6GKPvRy

Check out this episode of The Decision-Making Studio Podcast (formerly "All Things Risk") featuring our own Gary Klein!

Do you know what separates high-performing employees from the rest? It’s not just what they know—it’s how they think and solve problems. At ShadowBox, we call these essential, yet often invisible and difficult to articulate, skills the "Cognitive Dimension." Unlike traditional training programs that focus primarily on procedural knowledge, the Cognitive Dimension emphasizes the mental frameworks, creative problem-solving techniques, and decision-making abilities that empower workers to thrive in any environment. These skills are often overlooked in traditional training programs, yet they are crucial to navigating complexity and driving success. By integrating the Cognitive Dimension into our training approach, we give employees the tools they need to excel, adapt, and lead in today’s fast-paced workplace. To learn more about the Cognitive Dimension and why it’s key to workplace success, check out the link below. #WorkplaceSuccess #EmployeeDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #LeadershipSkills #TrainingandDevelopment

Check out these NDMA award winners, including our own Kari Hoy!

Call for Papers! The Journal of Cognitive Engineering and Decision Making has issued a call for papers for a special issue on ethical and performance aspects of AI-enabled systems in high-consequence domains. Deadline for submitting manuscripts is March 1, 2025. The guest editors for this special issue are Joseph Lyons and Daricia Wilkinson. For more details, please contact me or see link below.

Every day, we’re faced with decisions under a cloud of uncertainty, trying our best to navigate without clear answers. In this session, Gary Klein warns of the 'information-gathering trap'—a subtle trap that so often complicates our decisions instead of helping. If only there were practical tools to handle uncertainty more confidently. Maybe it’s not too late to find them... Full course details are in the comments below. #Uncertainty #DecisionMaking #CognitiveScience #PracticalSkills #PersonalDevelopment

Check out what people are saying about our new course in practical decision making! A big thank you to everyone who has shared their feedback with us, and a special thanks to Allen Schmaltz, Marcus Hedlund, and Marius A. Francu. #testimonials #insights #decisionmaking #timesaver #leadership #management #IT

A question for you on trust... Would you apply the same criteria when evaluating Al systems? #Trust #Teamwork #Al #Survey #Innovation

A tribute to Raanan Lipshitz. Raanan was one of the founders of the NDM movement. Here is a link to a tribute I just posted about him. https://lnkd.in/exeJJfkN