Recognizing and Overcoming Recency Bias in Leadership

In this episode, Allison Dunn explores the often-overlooked trap of recency bias that can cause even smart leaders to focus on the most recent events rather than underlying issues. She shares personal stories, practical strategies, and questions to help leaders identify and break free from this pattern to make better decisions and solve problems effectively.

Key topics:

• Definition of recency bias and its impact on leadership decision-making
• How recency bias turns recurring problems into maintenance tasks rather than root cause solutions
• Allison’s story of solving the same operational issue 14 times in six months and realizing it was a pattern
• The importance of asking "Have I seen this pattern before?" before jumping into quick fixes
• Distinguishing between solving symptoms versus addressing underlying causes
• How firefighting creates a false sense of productivity and growth
• Suggestions for leaders to identify patterns and escalate root causes within their teams
• Introducing the mental model: "Solve at the Source" from Allison’s book Think First, Solve at the Source
• Practical questions to challenge recency bias in daily leadership
• The value of tracing problems to their source to save time and build sustainable solutions

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introducing the series on leadership thinking traps and why recency bias matters

00:28 - Allison shares her story of repeatedly handling the same operational fire

00:58 - How recency bias distorts perception of what’s urgent versus what’s important

01:26 - Examples of how leadership meetings focus on crises rather than strategic priorities

01:56 - The paradox of firefighting feeling productive but actually maintaining problems

02:25 - Practical question: "What is generating this problem in the first place?"

02:53 - Recognizing patterns by asking "Have I seen this before?" and avoiding symptom treatment

03:23 - How understanding problem patterns leads to faster, more sustainable fixes

03:53 - Encouraging teams to escalate root causes to reduce recurring emergencies

04:20 - Reflection question: What problems have you solved multiple times?

04:50 - Promoting the mindset of solving problems at their source and resources to help leaders

Think First