Leading in a Non-Linear World

CHAPTER 7METACOGNITION – STRATEGIC SELF-AWARENESS

As the human brain evolved and the cortex grew to be able to create memories, learn and interpret information, new forms of self-awareness started to come on stream. One that helps us observe and think diagnostically is called metacognition. It's our truly remarkable ability to think about how we think. It sits at the apex of our sensing systems, letting us question ourselves, appreciate how we learn, and observe the world through others' eyes. The most significant benefit it accords us is the ability to compare our first- and third-person perspectives, enabling us to challenge our assumptions and therefore doubt our existing beliefs.

Think of how you continuously switch between these perspectives as you present ideas to colleagues wanting their feedback. At your best, you're able to hold multiple vantage points; maintaining a belief in your proposal at the same time as seeing how it's being received and understood by your teammates. As you toggle back and forth, you're able to explore how their perspective could make your proposal stronger or more accessible.

Metacognition comes in implicit and explicit forms. Implicit metacognition allows us to process vast amounts of data about the world without overloading our finite attention and conscious memory. For example, without being aware, you're taking in your colleagues' body language and the unspoken communication between them. In doing so, you can effortlessly incorporate the ...