Last week we took our first look at The Spotlight Effect, one of the four cognitive biases that rule our lives without us even knowing it…
First, a quick summary…
*** Have you ever felt like everyone is watching your every move? Like every decision you make is being scrutinized? You may be experiencing what psychologists call the "spotlight effect." ***
The spotlight effect is the tendency to overestimate the extent to which we are noticed by others. This can be especially prevalent in the entrepreneurial world, where the stakes can feel high and the pressure to succeed is intense.
But here's the thing: the spotlight effect can actually prevent entrepreneurs from seeing the bigger picture and lose sight of the goals and mission of our businesses.
So how can we combat the spotlight effect and keep our perspective in check?
Here are a few tips:
Remember that you are not the centre of the universe. It's easy to get caught up in our own thoughts and feelings, but it's important to remember that there are other people and factors at play.
Seek feedback from trusted sources instead of relying on our own perceptions. This can give us a more accurate picture of how we're perceived and help us course-correct if necessary.
Focus on your values and mission. When we stay true to our core values and the overall mission of our business, we are less likely to get side-tracked by our own ego and the spotlight effect.
The spotlight effect is a natural human tendency, but by being aware of it and implementing these strategies, we can keep it from getting in the way of our success as entrepreneurs.
Let me show you a ‘real-life’ example:
Sara is the owner of a small boutique B2C marketing advice company and she finds customers by speaking at networking events and seminars. She has always been confident in her ideas and is sure that her unique style is a hit with customers. However, recent conversions were not as strong as Sara had hoped.
One day, Sara noticed that a competitor was doing much better than her. She became fixated on this and began to worry that people were judging her and her ideas negatively. She became so self-conscious that she stopped taking risks with her speaking topics and instead opted for safer, more mainstream options.
Unfortunately, this shift in strategy did not pay off and Sara's business continued to decline. It wasn't until she reached out and asked for an outside view that we realised she had been so worried about what others thought of her and her ideas that she had lost sight of her own unique style and vision which have always been the ‘secret-sauce’ of her business…
By refocusing her mindset on her values and got back to her ‘standout’ marketing, Sara was able to regain her confidence and bring her business back to its former success…
Could you benefit from an outside view of your business offering..?
