My Brain is Lying to Me!

">study, and sales actually went down." In this
Did you know that your brain doesn't care if thescenario the person's reaction could have as easily
information it processes into memory is real,been a result of a discussion with a friend, who
contrived, or imagined? And on top of that, itrelated an action that failed at her friend's
really doesn't care if the information it recordsworkplace. Source amnesia lets you forget the
into your memory is the truth! This phenomenonsource, and along the way your brain focuses in
is why 18% of Americans still believe the sunon only information that supports your friend's
revolves around the earth!experience, even to the point where you attribute
Many of us grew up with the belief that ourthe source to HBR, which gives your memory -
brains were like computers. But we've come toand now a belief - additional credibility. This is not
learn that this just isn't so. Although this computeran insidious conscious process, so relax! The key
analogy has been disproved, I still get looks ofis to be aware that this process happens and to
disbelief when I tell people that our brains arebe vigilant and open.
more like swamps than computers.I believe that ineffective leadership is not the
The brain's process of storing memories accountsresult of leaders trying to be ineffective but
for false beliefs and their persistence. Our brainsrather the result of leading form a network of
don't just store information; they reprocess thefalse beliefs that get acted out. Finding the source
information every time we recall it or its relatedof how these beliefs became one's map for
incident. It is during restoring and reprocessing,leadership would be like the proverbial process of
moving the memory from short-term topeeling an onion. We may never discover the
long-term, that we lose the context of when wesource; however, what is critical in confronting and
first experienced the event. Neuroscientists callchanging our false beliefs is to be curious and
this phenomena source amnesia. To compoundopen. A critical skill for leaders is to develop a high
the issue of source amnesia, the brain has anlevel of comfort with the following questions:
innate tendency to massage information to fit a"What if the opposite were true or more
belief of ours. We select data and information thateffective? What might that look like, and is that
seem to support our false belief, strengthening itsthe outcome I'm looking for?" By questioning and
credibility.imaging an alternative scenario, we give our brains
Some false memories (beliefs) show up ina non-threatening way to confront our false
good-natured family arguments. My daughtersbeliefs; creating an opportunity for learning and
remember a few incidents completely differentlychange.
from both their actual intent and process. TheirSo let's go back to those 18% who believe that
selective memories support their belief that theirthe sun revolves around the earth. When you
parents loved one more than the other. Althoughread that statement what were your feelings and
we laugh and joke good-naturedly, each onethoughts about the 18%? I think those same
selects out information during the conversationfeelings and thoughts might be very similar to
and says, "See I am right! Denying that neveremployees who experience ineffective leadership;
happened proves you loved her more than me!"they wonder how anyone could think that this
We all laugh again, knowing that our attempts tobehavior is going to inspire them to give their
disprove this perception actually reinforced it.best.
Now reflect on the possibility that a percentageFor more information on this topic read, Welcome
of your beliefs and therefore your behavior areto Your Brain: Why You Lose Your Car Keys but
based on "false beliefs." A person might express aNever Forget How to Drive and Other Puzzles of
memory like this: "That will never work; it's beenEveryday Life, by Sam Wang and Sandra
tried before. I read about it, I think it was inAamodt.
Harvard Business Review, where they did a