How outcome bias impacts decisions

Outcome bias is our tendency to judge a decision by its eventual outcomes instead of the quality of the decision at the time it was made.

In other words, that decision you make today, feeling pressured or frustrated, will be judged without the benefit of context.

No one will care what was happening to you or around you – they’ll only care how your decision turned out.

Two things to consider:

Next time you feel overwhelmed and uncertain about what to do, imagine yourself explaining your decision in a courtroom or to the press. Strangely, that may give you the perspective you need to make the best call.
Be kind to others when their decisions have turned out badly. It might have been the right decision given the context they were in. If you’re a leader, what can you do to make the decision making context a better one?

Learn how you can use behavioural biases to better influence behaviour.