by Israel Helfand, Ph.D.
We've noticed a lot of interest lately in the topic of career derailment. We thank our associate, Dr. Israel Helfand of Corporate Quest, for the following article.
Cognitive distortions happen when we think that our feelings are a direct result of our life events, rather than a result of our personal judgments and perceptions regarding those life events. While this thought is hardly news in the field of psychology, most people are either unaware of it or find it difficult to incorporate its implications in their work lives. Yet dynamic environments, such as the modern workplace, are full of landmines that can trip even the most talented individuals into a distorted state of mind, where they can become frozen. Managers and leaders need deep insight into their belief systems and cognitions if they are to avoid the dreaded outcome of career derailment.
In my opinion, constructive self-awareness is the single most important asset any business leader can acquire. Managers all too often relax into their most comfortable style of dealing with people and are surprised when they are either passed over for a promotion or get derailed soon after their latest promotion. The type of humility needed for constructive self-awareness is only guaranteed when the manager or CEO in question is emotionally able to objectively evaluate his or her personal belief system.
Here’s an example from our coaching practice. “Greg” grew up a success against all odds. The events in his life were contrary to grooming for success. Greg’s cognitive development led him to believe that adversity begets success. His personal story contains a liberal dose of the “No pain… no gain” style of thought. His motto is that if life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. Greg is an upwardly mobile manager and has come to believe that his perseverance against adversity uniquely qualifies him to be a strong leader.
When he was promoted to manage a staff of individuals from high profile schools and successful, well known business organizations, he became prone to thinking that they “had it easier” than him and that they didn’t know how to struggle for success. He developed feelings of superiority. After a brief honeymoon period, his comfort with his position became precarious, and then deteriorated along with his relationships with the staff, his team’s morale and, eventually, their performance.
His cognitive distortion blinded him from the fact that his staff is skilled despite their different life stories. This self-defeating behavior is expensive for Greg, his team and his employer.
He was on his way to becoming yet another example of a person rising to his level of incompetence.
Ambitious, motivated managers must be able to accept the fact that they are vulnerable to cognitive distortions—and they must learn to handle feedback from their bosses, peers and subordinates. They must harmonize their beliefs about themselves with the world of their employment.
Finding balance need not be a precarious act. It can be a predictable, trustworthy and well-modeled approach when honest self awareness and evaluation are in place. Leaders with constructive self-awareness see themselves as part of a living organization where a multiplicity of life stories are brought to bear. They are open to assessing their own strengths and weaknesses and challenging their own belief systems.
Want to help your clients become more aware of the danger of cognitive distortions? Here are three “ABCs” any of us can place on a sticky note that never leaves the space beside phone or keyboard.
B. Beliefs: What are your beliefs about the event? Are the beliefs based on fact?
C. Consequences: What we tell ourselves about the event causes us to feel something, whether it be anxious, sad, peaceful, happy, or any other emotion. The emotion is the consequence and it can lead to defensive, frozen states of mind if we are not aware of our beliefs. (Acknowledgement: Derived from work by Albert Ellis)
For a good list of ten ways that cognitive distortions perpetuate themselves, see the Wikipedia.
Dr. Helfand runs camping retreats for individuals and small business groups, as well as on-site organizational consulting with his wife, Cathie. He can be reached at info@corporatequest.org
