Biases, I've Got a Few: WYSIATI and Action Bias

Use the fact that you have an automatic bias thinking system hard wired into your brain to make better decisions.  Whether you call it gut instinct or confirmation bias, there is an important part of your decision making process that is necessary to your continued existence: jumping to conclusions based on what you see (WYS) immediately in front of you.  Do you really need to debate with yourself about jumping out of the way of the oncoming car as you cross the street?

You can't help yourself.  The brain considers all before it as if that is all there is (IATI).  Knowing this bias, you have a huge advantage to countermand your brain's What You See Is All There Is thinking.  In "Thinking, Fast and Slow", Daniel Kahneman demonstrates WYSIATI thinking with a practical example.  If someone asks you what type of leader your boss is, good or bad leader, you can probably give a quick response.  You likely did this without first considering what traits make a good boss, didn't you?

When you take on a new project, it's common to start getting things done right away, before you consider what a good outcome really looks like.  The progress you make initially soon wanes as you quickly move from autopilot to more detailed tasks, and now the end goal somehow feels farther away than when you started.  Similarly to WYSIATI, our bias to action is perfect for simple tasks and helpful in creating a sense of urgency, but impedes us in long term, quality decision making.

What can you do about your biases?  Absolutely nothing.  Instead, work to recognize these forces in your brain are at work and take the next step to actively consider if the task requires longer reflection or not.  After all, jumping out of the way of an oncoming car is usually the right decision.