Seeing Reality Clearly: Overcome Bias in Decision Making
- Ron Adiel
- May 13
- 4 min read
If you were an attorney, would you step into the courtroom and represent yourself in a high-stakes trial? Or if you were a doctor, would you ever treat yourself for a major illness? Even the most skilled professionals understand that when they are deeply involved, their ability to stay objective is severely compromised.
The same principle applies in business: the executive viewing reality through warped lenses misses competitive shifts and fails to spot early signs of employee disengagement.
As leaders, we’re often blind to the mental projections that distort our perception of reality. Clouded by narratives and fears, we inflate risks and overlook high-impact opportunities.
Objective observation is the very foundation of sound decision-making.
Without it, we are left trapped within biases and preconceptions—resulting in faulty judgments and significant setbacks that undermine strategic goals and fracture team cohesion.
Blinded by Bias: Why Leaders Struggle with Objectivity
For executives, decision-making is at the very core of daily leadership. But how many decisions are genuinely based on the objective reality that is unfolding? More often than not, our decision-making is subconsciously influenced by preconceived beliefs, emotional impulses, and ego-driven attachments.
This is why judges are disqualified if exposed to media bias before a trial and why doctors rarely operate on family members. Proximity creates distortion.
As business leaders, how can we detach from the fears and pressures that cloud our ability to see reality as it truly is? The uncomfortable truth is: most don’t. And the result is a cycle of reactionary decision-making, blind spots, and missed opportunities to drive growth and unlock innovation.
Bias in Decision Making: Why Observation is the Weakest Link
The decision-making process is comprised of three critical steps:
Observation – registering the raw input and facts of the situation.
Processing – analyzing, strategizing, and making a decision based on that input.
Action – executing the decision with clarity and intent.
Of these three, Observation is the most foundational—and the most prone to distortion. Think of it as building a house: if the foundation is flawed, everything built on top is compromised.
Leaders often enter the observation step fused with their own biased narratives—prejudgments, fears, and expectations.
This is why objective observation is not just valuable—it is absolutely critical. It’s the difference between seeing the landscape as it truly is versus seeing it through distorted lenses.
When biases filter our initial understanding of reality, the entire decision-making process becomes compromised.
Breaking the Bias: The Power of Objective Observation
To understand how to overcome this distortion, we turn to a profound concept known as Subject-Object Theory. Developed by Harvard's Prof. Robert Kegan, it explains how our capacity to separate ourselves from our thoughts and emotions leads to a higher order of consciousness—a state we refer to as the Executive State.
This shift moves us from being fused with our preconceptions during observation to observing elements in reality objectively, without internal projections distorting the view.
It allows us to observe the external situation objectively while building awareness of our internal biases and preconceptions.
Consider again the role of judges: they must remain completely neutral before a trial. Exposure to external opinions disqualifies them because it skews their perception before the case even begins.
Just as judges are disqualified for bias, leaders too are vulnerable when their observations are skewed by narratives and assumptions.
In leadership, where no external mechanism enforces objectivity, it must be self-mastered through deliberate practice. This is an essential engine of Self-Leadership—the gateway to clear and objective decision-making.
The critical capacity of objective observation starts with Self-Leadership.
Objective Observation – Mastering the Executive State
To achieve true objectivity in decision-making, leaders must cultivate the Executive State—a state of stillness and pure observation. This is where the concept of detachment becomes critical. It is about stepping back, observing the situation as an outsider, and disconnecting from the emotional currents that usually drive reactive behavior.
In practical terms, there are two key methods to build this capacity:
Meditation and Mindfulness Practice – Training the mind to observe the breath naturally develops the mental muscle of objective observation while simultaneously building our ability to detach from thoughts and emotions.
Objective Listening in Leadership Interactions – When engaging with team members or stakeholders, practice observing without immediately responding. Take note of your internal reactions and set them aside. Anchor your attention to the reality unfolding in front of you.
In both cases, the goal is the same: to create a space of stillness that amplifies objective observation. This stillness becomes the platform for effective decision-making, unclouded by impulsive reactions or distorted judgments.
Stillness as a Prerequisite for Decisive Leadership
Leaders often believe that decisive action is the hallmark of strength. But true strength is the capacity to observe reality with clarity and act from a place of calm, strategic intent.
The next time you are faced with a decision, pause. Observe. Separate your thoughts and emotions from the raw reality in front of you. That pause may be the most impactful leadership act you ever take.
True strength is the capacity to observe reality with clarity and act from a place of calm, strategic intent.
Elevate Your Leadership: Enter the Executive State
At Lifetime Evolution, we train leaders to develop objective observation and operate from the Executive State. If you’re ready to lead with clarity and impact, learn how our Program can take you there.
About the Author
Ron Adiel, PhD, empowers CEOs, Founders, and CXOs to achieve holistic transformational growth through the Lifetime Evolution Program, which integrates executive leadership expertise, psychology, and neuroscience.
