{"id":367,"date":"2025-05-05T10:24:32","date_gmt":"2025-05-05T10:24:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tha.de\/honors\/2025\/?p=367"},"modified":"2025-06-12T12:20:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T12:20:23","slug":"communication-and-optimism-the-bright-side-of-bias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tha.de\/honors\/2025\/2025\/05\/05\/communication-and-optimism-the-bright-side-of-bias\/","title":{"rendered":"Communication and Optimism & The Bright Side of Bias"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blog Joint Session Alisa Kasle-Henke & Prof. Dr. Svea Schauffler – April 29th, 2025, Sixth Week Honors Seminar<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Maximilian Gehring & Brianna Murphy\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Feedback and its Relationship to Optimism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are you not<\/em> good at?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes\u2014you<\/em>. Think about it for a moment. It\u2019s a jarring question, right? And yet, that\u2019s exactly where we began this week\u2018s session – with a question most of us avoid asking ourselves. But Lecturer Alisa Kasle-Henke didn\u2019t ask it to humble us. She asked it to open a door:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love mistakes,\u201d she said, smiling. Wait\u2014what?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It sounds counterintuitive at first, but by the end of the session, her words made perfect sense. This was a seminar about feedback, mindset, and optimism – and how, when approached with the right lens, feedback becomes less about what\u2019s wrong<\/em> and more about what\u2019s possible<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: Is feedback always negative?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be real: Who actually enjoys hearing what they did wrong? Whether it\u2019s a red-ink-covered essay, a vague comment from a boss, or a sarcastic \u201cWell done\u2026\u201d that doesn\u2019t feel like praise at all – we\u2019ve all been there. Feedback often stings because it feels personal. But here\u2018s the twist: it doesn\u2018t have to!
We present to you the WWW Method for respectful and growth-focused feedback<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This model isn\u2018t about calling someone out – it\u2018s about calling them in<\/em>. Suddenly, feedback becomes a conversation – not a judgement as instead of criticizing we coach and support.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What lens are you looking through?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your mindset shapes how you give and receive feedback. Simple phrases can shift your energy. Saying \u201cYou\u2018re not good at this\u201c shuts down the brain. Saying \u201cYou\u2018re not good at this yet\u201c lights it up with possibility. The tone changes, and so does the outcome. Feedback is a tool – not a trap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And sometimes, it’s not even about feedback – it\u2018s about feedforward<\/em>. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, ask: what\u2018s the next step?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Feedback Isn\u2019t Universal – Culture Matters<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feedback doesn\u2019t sound the same in every culture. What feels \u201cappropriate\u201d in one place might come across as brutal in another. British politeness, Dutch directness and Japanese subtlety? All valid – just completely different. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reminder<\/mark><\/strong>: When offering feedback in international settings, empathy and awareness are everything. It\u2019s not just what<\/em> you say. It\u2019s how<\/em> and to whom<\/em>. Giving good feedback requires empathy, timing, and cultural intelligence, especially in international settings. Check out Erin Meyer’s book \u201cThe Culture Map\u201c for more information!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our key takeaways?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udf31 Feedback fuels growth<\/strong> and growth fuels optimism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udce3The way we speak matters<\/strong>: Moving from “That\u2018s wrong” to “Let\u2018s work this out!” changes everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2753Mindset is a choice<\/strong>. Are you stuck in “I can’t”, or are you ready to try “not yet”?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udf0e Culture adds layers<\/strong>. Feedback is never one-size-fits-all. It\u2018s shaped by context and connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 From Communication to Cognition <\/strong><\/em>\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Just as feedback is filtered through mindset and culture, so is the way we perceive the world itself. That brings us to the second part of this week\u2019s session\u2014led by Prof. Dr. Svea Schauffler\u2014where we explored another hidden force behind how we think, judge, and act: bias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Bright Side of Bias<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When was the last time you made a snap judgment? Thought someone looked unfriendly based on their outfit? Clicked on a viral post and assumed it was true just because everyone else shared it? Or even believed you\u2019d do worse on an exam just because someone else said it was hard? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These moments might seem small, but they\u2019re all shaped by bias.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Are we rational beings?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s a nice thought. But the truth is\u2026 not really. At least, not all the time. We actually have two types of thinking. One is fast, automatic, and emotional like jumping to conclusions or reacting to a sudden noise. The other is slow, logical, and thoughtful but it takes effort. Most of the time, our brains prefer the easy route and that\u2019s where bias comes in:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A bias is simply a mental shortcut. Our brains use them all the time to help us make decisions quickly. This can be helpful\u2014especially when we\u2019re overwhelmed or in danger\u2014but it can also lead us in the wrong direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why does this matter? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bias doesn\u2019t just affect how we think\u2014it shapes how we see other people and make decisions. Just because something feels<\/em> right doesn\u2019t mean that it is<\/em> always correct. Left unchecked, biases can lead to serious problems like stereotyping, discrimination, and misinformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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That it why we need to be aware and take notice of our own biases and thoughts. When we pause to reflect: Why did I assume that? Where did that reaction come from? We begin to take back control. We can also train ourselves to slow down and ask more questions. Seek out different perspectives. Talk to people outside our usual circles. And when we recognize a bias in action, call it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wait\u2014Optimism Is a Bias?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely! Turns out, that hopeful feeling you have about your future? That\u2019s a cognitive bias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Schauffler explained that optimism bias is why we underestimate risks, overestimate our chances of success, and keep going even after setbacks. Without optimism bias, we might never take the leap, try again after failing, or dream big. It gives us the courage to imagine a better future, and the motivation to work toward it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our key takeaways?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udfc1 Biases are shortcuts.<\/strong>
They help us decide quickly\u2014but can also lead to errors or unfair judgments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc65 Everyone has them.<\/strong>
Our brains rely on learned patterns, often without us realizing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcaa Some biases help.<\/strong>
Optimism bias can boost mental health and motivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udcad We can train our thinking.
<\/strong>By slowing down, asking questions, and seeking other perspectives, we can outsmart our biases and make better decisions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 Looking back, Thinking forward<\/strong> \u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This session reminds us that optimism isn\u2019t just a warm feeling. It\u2019s something we cultivate through how we speak<\/em>, how we listen<\/em>, and how we think<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n