Marvin OnumonuMost managers underestimate how much emotions affect their decision making, according to research from Mindtools and Kineo.
The study found four out of five managers said they made decisions without being influenced by feelings, but interviews showed almost all used intuition and emotion.
58% of managers asked other managers for help with issues like team conflict or tough conversations.
Mindtools and Kineo said this can lead to biases spreading, as each manager brings their own experiences and views.
Anna Barnett, head of research and insights at Mindtools and Kineo, said: “Managers want to see themselves as rational thinkers, but emotion is integrated into almost every decision they make.
“Whether evaluating pay grades, team conflict, or delegation, bias will play a role no matter how detached we intend to be.
“Therefore, acknowledging that bias is inherent in our decisions is a vital move towards making fairer, more practical decisions that improve workforce dynamics.”
Empathy also played a complicated role.
The study found managers who showed very high emotional empathy found it harder to build trust and delegate, often because they over-identified with staff struggles.
The research also pointed to emotional heuristics – shortcuts managers use in decisions under pressure.
Pausing to reflect, putting people before tasks, and handling conflicts privately were shown to counter emotional bias.
Barnett added: “The study demonstrates that emotional intelligence is critical to good leadership. Removing emotion from decisions isn’t the answer or a possibility.
“Instead, managers need to reflect on their judgements and how emotions influence their decisions.
“With the right balance and acknowledgement of biases, leaders can make fairer decisions that help employees grow and succeed.”
