Monday Motivation: Overcoming Biases with Lisa Tromba

Quick recap Michael and Lisa discussed the importance of training and development within organizations, the evolving nature of leadership, and the role of cognitive biases in decision-making. They emphasized the need to create opportunities, manage expectations, and find the right fit when hiring. Lisa shared her motivations for writing her book on understanding and managing leadership biases, and they both stressed the importance of pausing, reflecting, and thinking things through to mitigate potential risks.     Summary Training, Leadership, and Adaptability Michael expressed his desire to train and develop individuals within his organization, highlighting instances where he had given recommendations that led to improved roles and opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of leadership and ongoing challenges. Lisa, an executive recruiter, joined the conversation, and they discussed the evolving nature of leadership, the importance of adaptability, and the need to utilize available resources. Michael also mentioned the importance of reaching out for help in achieving a common goal. Leadership Biases in Writing and Decision-Making Lisa shared her motivations for writing her book, which focused on understanding and managing leadership biases. She highlighted the challenges leaders face, particularly in remote work and the pandemic context, and emphasized the importance of being aware of biases. Lisa and Michael discussed the role of cognitive biases in decision-making, particularly in leadership, and how they can hinder the ability to adapt and process information. They stressed the importance of finding the right fit and managing expectations and highlighted the role of biases in the hiring process. Creating Opportunities: Healthcare Receptionist's Journey Michael shared a story about his experience as a healthcare executive, where he hired a medical receptionist without any healthcare experience. He emphasized that the candidate's experience in handling difficult situations in a retail setting was seen as a positive. Despite initial concerns from the board and other doctors, the receptionist proved to be highly effective. Later, when a similar opportunity arose at a clinic closer to her home, she was hired and eventually rose through the ranks to run the clinic. Michael emphasized the importance of creating opportunities and the individual's responsibility to take advantage of them. Leadership, Bias, and Perspective Michael and Lisa engaged in a conversation about leadership and overcoming biases. Michael shared an experience where he identified a talent in someone and provided an opportunity for them to thrive, irrespective of traditional checks and biases. Lisa emphasized the importance of first principles in evaluating candidates and stressed the need to step outside of personal biases to help individuals and organizations grow. She recommended the book 'Range' by David Epstein, which discusses the importance of having a broader perspective. In the end, Michael asked Lisa about her favorite chapters in her book, to which Lisa responded that specific chapters resonate more because she identifies with some of the biases discussed. Balancing Intuition and Logic in Leadership Lisa and Michael discussed the role of intuition and logic in leadership, highlighting the need to balance these biases. Lisa emphasized the potential risks associated with relying solely on intuition without applying logic, suggesting the need for countermeasures such as data analysis and perspective gathering to mitigate these risks. Additionally, Michael shared an anecdote of a successful staff member who was initially doubted but ended up being an asset to the team, underscoring the importance of giving opportunities and considering new ideas. Bias Recognition and Leadership Lisa and Michael engaged in a conversation about the importance of recognizing and managing biases, particularly in leadership roles. They emphasized the value