People are often stuck on the surface of a problem largely due to various thinking traps. Some of these traps are due to the rationality being influenced by emotions, while others can be attributed to biases in cognitive approaches. In order to prevent us from unknowingly falling into these traps while thinking, we must analyze these traps.
The tendency to solve problems in the most effortless way possible is inherent in human nature. However, this tendency often unconsciously leads people into traps. In simple terms, this trap refers to asserting the essence of a problem without deep thinking, or assuming that the current problem is the same as past experiences. As a result, not only is the essence of the problem not understood, but incorrect answers are also applied.
The following are common symptoms of "mental laziness traps". Recognizing and identifying the causes of these symptoms helps reduce the likelihood of falling into traps when analyzing problems.
Symptom 1: Being intoxicated by past success and unable to see the changes in the current problem#
For example, a mobile phone manufacturer that has achieved great success in the market may overlook the changes in market trends due to past success. They may continue to produce phones similar to their past successful products without realizing that consumers' demands for new features, designs, or technologies have changed. This mindset of being intoxicated by past success leads to their failure to adjust strategies in a timely manner, ultimately resulting in loss of market competitiveness.
Regardless of the organization, there is often a tendency to be intoxicated by past success, leading to blind confidence when facing new problems and applying previous experiences that are no longer relevant. When they encounter difficulties, they tend to maintain established policies and only make changes when absolutely necessary. In this era of rapid environmental changes, if someone or a company is always intoxicated by past success, they are likely to suffer huge failures.
Symptom 2: Blindly using standard practices, common practices, and best practices without thinking#
Another manifestation of mental laziness is the tendency to blindly use standard practices, common practices, or best practices without thinking. This approach ignores the uniqueness and specific circumstances of each problem, blindly believing in industry best practices, expert guidance, etc., and applying these methods to the problems they face. This can lead to solutions that do not match the actual problems.
An organization may blindly follow a certain management model commonly used in the industry without considering the specific needs and culture of their own company. This approach may result in wasted resources and even exacerbate problems because standard practices are not always applicable in all situations.
Symptom 3: Subjective judgment based on imagination rather than objective evidence#
Everyone has some assumptions or unconfirmed beliefs about problems to varying degrees. If these assumptions are not recognized when analyzing the essence of a problem, it is possible to be led by the surface of the problem.
When analyzing problems, people often confuse causality and correlation. Causality refers to one event (cause) leading to the occurrence of another event (result), while correlation simply means that there is some connection between two events, without implying that one event is the cause of another.
For example, statistical data shows that when ice cream sales increase, drowning accidents also increase. The correct analysis is that both are likely to be correlated with high summer temperatures. High summer temperatures lead to increased ice cream sales, and at the same time, many people swim in rivers without lifeguard supervision, resulting in an increase in drowning accidents. If the absurd conclusion is drawn that ice cream sales cause drowning accidents, people will mistakenly believe that reducing ice cream sales can reduce drowning accidents.
Similarly, when people hear a cough, they often associate it with a "cold" and then take cold medicine. Indeed, a cough often accompanies a cold. However, coughing can also be caused by allergies or other causes. Clearly, the actual cause of the cough should be carefully examined in order to prescribe the right treatment. Otherwise, the symptoms may not only be difficult to eliminate but may also worsen.
Conclusion#
To avoid these thinking traps, it is crucial to maintain a clear mind, constantly learn and adapt to new changes, and also learn to think critically and not blindly accept any unconfirmed viewpoints. Only in this way can we maintain clear thinking and make correct decisions in a complex and ever-changing world.