Naturalness Bias: We Judge Naturals to Be Superior to Strivers

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

As a high-performance coaching at Microsoft for over two decades, I’ve seen the interplay of talent and effort.

Throughout this time, I’ve observed an intriguing phenomenon:

the naturalness bias.

This bias, often hidden beneath the surface, inclines us to favor those who seem innately skilled, often overshadowing the hard work and growth of dedicated strivers.

It’s a sad shame given the power of a growth mindset. A growth mindset is the belief and attitude that intelligence, abilities, and skills can be developed and improved through dedication, hard work, and learning.

In our pursuit of excellence, it’s easy to overlook the individuals who have relentlessly honed their abilities and expertise. Strivers, through determination and continuous effort, frequently outperform their “natural” counterparts, yet their achievements might not always be readily apparent.

The world can be swift to laud natural talent, while the substantial strides of strivers go unnoticed.

However, the story doesn’t end here; there’s a promising twist.

By presenting our cultivated abilities as gifts we’ve nurtured and strengths we’ve refined, we can navigate the naturalness bias effectively. Rather than being hindered by this bias, we can leverage it to our advantage.

What is the Naturalness Bias?

The naturalness bias, also known as the “appeal to nature” fallacy, is a cognitive bias that involves attributing greater value or virtue to things that are perceived as natural or in line with the natural order of things.

For example, we judge “naturals” to be better than “strivers”.

This bias assumes that if something is considered “natural,” it is inherently better, safer, or morally superior compared to things that are considered artificial, synthetic, or man-made.

The naturalness bias can influence your perceptions and decision-making in various areas of life, including food choices, health remedies, environmental preferences, and lifestyle decisions.

But here’s the thing…

It’s important to note that the perceived naturalness of something does not necessarily correlate with its actual safety, effectiveness, or ethical value.

This bias can lead to misconceptions, as not everything that is natural is inherently good, and not everything artificial is inherently bad.

To make well-informed decisions you need to use critical thinking and a balanced assessment of the actual evidence and factors are play that consider both natural and artificial options.

We Unconsciously Favor Naturals Over Strivers

Unconsciously favoring naturals over strivers is a cognitive bias that influences our perceptions and judgments from careers to sports to you name it.

This bias occurs when we subconsciously give preference to individuals who appear to excel effortlessly (naturals) rather than those who have achieved success through hard work and determination (strivers).

Here’s how this bias works:

Perception of Effortlessness: We tend to admire and respect people who seem to achieve success effortlessly or naturally. This perception can make us view their achievements as more genuine and innate, attributing their success to inherent talent.
Assumption of Skill: When someone excels without apparent effort, we may assume that they possess a higher level of skill or ability. This assumption can lead us to value their talents more and believe that their success is well-deserved.
Confirmation Bias: Once we label someone as a “natural,” we unconsciously seek evidence that supports this perception while downplaying any signs of struggle or effort. On the other hand, we might scrutinize strivers more closely for any perceived flaws or weaknesses.
Stereotypes: Society often romanticizes the idea of innate talent and effortless success, which can lead to the perpetuation of stereotypes. These stereotypes can influence our judgments and lead us to overlook the hard work and dedication of strivers.
Social Comparisons: We may subconsciously compare ourselves to others, and when we see naturals excelling, it can trigger feelings of inadequacy. As a result, we might view strivers as less talented or less capable, even if their achievements are equally impressive.
Cultural Influence: Cultural narratives and media often highlight stories of naturals who achieve greatness with ease. These narratives reinforce the bias by portraying naturals as more admirable role models.

How To Mitigate the Naturalness Bias

To mitigate this bias and make more fair and accurate judgments:

Recognize Effort: Train yourself to appreciate and recognize the hard work and determination that strivers put into their achievements. Acknowledge the value of persistence and dedication.
Challenge Stereotypes: Question cultural narratives that glorify naturals and downplay the efforts of strivers. Be aware of the bias and actively seek out diverse stories of success.
Value Growth Mindset: Embrace the concept of a growth mindset, where effort, learning, and resilience are celebrated. Understand that effort is a key factor in achieving excellence.
Seek Balance: Strive for a balanced perspective by appreciating both innate talent and hard work. Understand that different paths to success exist and can be equally admirable.
Reflect on Biases: Regularly reflect on your own biases and judgments. Consider whether you might be unconsciously favoring naturals over strivers and challenge those biases.

By becoming aware of the unconscious bias that favors naturals over strivers, you can make more objective and equitable judgments, celebrate hard work and dedication, and appreciate the multifaceted paths that lead to success.

Example: The “Natural” vs. the “Striver” in a Job Interview

Let’s explore the naturalness bias in the context of a job interview scenario with two candidates: a “natural” and a “striver.”

Candidate A – The Natural: Candidate A walks into the interview room with a relaxed yet confident posture. Their answers flow smoothly, and they effortlessly share stories of their past experiences. When asked about their skills, Candidate A casually mentions how they’ve always had a knack for the tasks relevant to the job. Their anecdotes reveal instances where they quickly grasped concepts without much struggle. The interviewer is impressed by their composed demeanor and may think, “This candidate is a natural. Their skills seem to come to them effortlessly.”

Candidate B – The Striver: Candidate B enters the interview room with an air of determination. They greet the interviewer with a friendly smile and address each question thoughtfully. When asked about their skills, Candidate B talks about their journey of improvement. They mention instances where they initially faced challenges but worked hard to acquire the skills required. Candidate B’s stories highlight their willingness to take on challenges and grow through effort. They express enthusiasm about continuous learning and improvement. The interviewer notices their dedication and might unconsciously think, “This candidate is a striver. They have put in considerable effort to reach where they are.”

Unconscious Bias in Action: As the interview progresses, the interviewer may feel a sense of ease with Candidate A’s responses and demeanor. Candidate A’s natural confidence might overshadow any minor gaps in their responses. On the other hand, Candidate B’s moments of reflection or the mention of overcoming challenges might be perceived as signs of lacking natural ability.

Impact of the Bias: The naturalness bias could lead the interviewer to lean towards Candidate A, considering them a better fit due to their perceived natural talents. The interviewer might unintentionally downplay Candidate B’s growth mindset and determination, which are important qualities for long-term success in the role.

How To Enhance Your Perceived Value with Naturalness

Using the knowledge of the naturalness bias from a personal branding perspective can help you present yourself in a way that resonates positively with others and enhances your perceived value.

To enhance your perceived value, simply describe yourself in terms of your gifts, strengths, and talents that you work on to grow better but start from a place of natural ability and advantage.

Here are some strategies to consider:

Embrace Authenticity: Authenticity is highly valued, and the naturalness bias can work in your favor if you present yourself in a genuine and transparent manner. Share your true experiences, values, and stories to connect with others on a deeper level.
Highlight Natural Talents: When showcasing your skills and abilities, focus on those that come naturally to you. Emphasize how these talents align with your authentic self and contribute to your personal brand.
Leverage Personal Growth: Frame your personal growth journey as a natural progression. Highlight how you’ve embraced challenges, learned from experiences, and evolved over time, positioning your growth as a natural and positive aspect of your brand.
Showcase Simplicity: Simplify your message and image to align with the idea of naturalness. Strive for clarity in your communications, avoiding overly complex language or unnecessary embellishments.
Emphasize Health and Well-being: If relevant, highlight your commitment to a healthy lifestyle or environmentally conscious choices. This can align with the naturalness bias, as many associate natural practices with well-being.
Use Natural Imagery: Incorporate natural elements, colors, and imagery into your branding materials, such as your website, social media profiles, and promotional materials. This can create a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Narrate Your Journey: Share stories about how you’ve overcome challenges or setbacks in a way that aligns with the natural ebb and flow of life. This can help others relate to your journey and root for your success.
Provide Evidence and Expertise: If you offer products or services, provide evidence-based information and showcase your expertise to counter any potential skepticism related to the naturalness bias.
Transparent Communication: Be open about the processes, techniques, or methods you use in your work. Transparency can build trust and counter any doubts that might arise due to the perception of artificiality.
Balance with Modernity: While leveraging the naturalness bias, remember to balance it with the realities of modern life. Embrace technology and innovation where they enhance your offerings or efficiency.

Ultimately, the key is to authentically align your personal brand with the values associated with the naturalness bias, while still maintaining integrity, transparency, and relevance in the modern context.

By understanding this bias and using it strategically, you can create a more favorable and relatable personal brand that resonates with your target audience.

Example: The “Striver” Uses the Naturalness Bias to Enhance Their Perceived Value

Let’s look at an example where a “striver” candidate is aware of the naturalness bias and strategically uses that knowledge to present themselves in a way that enhances their perceived value during a job interview:

Interviewer: “Tell me about your experience and skills relevant to this role.”

Candidate B – The Striver (using the naturalness bias to their advantage): Candidate B leans forward with a confident yet humble smile.

Candidate B: “Certainly! I’ve always been enthusiastic about taking on new challenges and expanding my skill set. While I may not have had a natural inclination towards some of these tasks initially, I’ve found that my dedication to learning and growth has been a driving force in my career. I’ve actively sought out opportunities to improve, and I truly value the process of mastering new skills.”

Candidate B’s Strategic Approach:

Acknowledging Effort: By openly expressing their proactive approach to learning, Candidate B highlights their commitment to improvement, which counters the naturalness bias.
Embracing Challenges: Candidate B demonstrates that they’ve been willing to tackle challenges head-on, positioning themselves as someone who doesn’t shy away from tasks that might not come naturally.
Value in Growth: Mentioning the value they place on the learning process emphasizes their adaptability and determination, both of which are traits that resonate positively with interviewers.
Creating Relatability: By sharing that they aren’t always a “natural,” Candidate B becomes relatable to the interviewer, who might have encountered similar growth experiences themselves.
Showcasing a Growth Mindset: Candidate B subtly communicates that their mindset is focused on continuous improvement, which is highly valued in many roles.

Impact: The interviewer gains insight into Candidate B’s proactive attitude, adaptability, and growth mindset. By framing their experiences through the lens of overcoming challenges and actively seeking growth, Candidate B counters the naturalness bias and positions themselves as a candidate who not only possesses relevant skills but also demonstrates a strong potential for long-term development and success.

Takeaway: Being aware of biases like the naturalness bias empowers candidates to strategically present themselves in a way that aligns with their strengths and mitigates potential biases. It’s not about dismissing natural talents, but rather showcasing a growth-oriented mindset that is equally, if not more, valuable in a dynamic and evolving work environment.

Unleashing Your Full Potential: The Art of Balancing Striving and Natural Talent

Imagine a journey where your inner striver and natural talents join forces, creating a powerful harmony that inspires you toward excellence.

It’s a journey that doesn’t demand you choose one over the other; instead, it invites you to embrace both aspects and leverage the best of both worlds.

Here’s how:

Embrace Your Natural Brilliance: Recognize those innate gifts that make you, well, you. Maybe it’s an ease with numbers, a way with words, or a knack for connecting with people. These are your natural talents, the seeds of your potential.
Fuel Your Drive to Strive: The striver within you loves challenges. Embrace them. Set ambitious goals that excite your passion for growth. Channel your determination and work ethic toward reaching new heights.
Synergy, Not Separation: Balancing your natural talents and striving nature isn’t about choosing sides; it’s about weaving them together. Let your natural talents be the brushstrokes that color your striving canvas.
Learning as a Lifelong Companion: Your inner striver craves knowledge and growth. Feed this hunger by continuously seeking new insights and skills. Your natural talents provide a solid foundation to build upon.
Resilience in the Face of Setbacks: Life isn’t all smooth sailing. When challenges arise, let your striver spirit kick in. Resilience and tenacity are your allies. Trust your natural talents to light the way forward.
Adaptation: The Mark of a Master: Mastery lies in adaptation. Blend your natural abilities with new learnings to remain versatile. Embrace change as an opportunity to enhance your unique mix of talents.
A Symphony of Confidence and Humility: Your natural talents give you confidence, but humility is equally important. Embrace the humility of a lifelong learner, while letting your confidence be fueled by your natural strengths.
Inspiring Others through Your Journey: Your journey isn’t just personal; it’s an inspiration to those around you. Showcase the beauty of a balanced approach, motivating others to embrace their own unique blend.
Joy in the Journey: This isn’t a tightrope walk; it’s a dance. Find joy in blending both worlds. Revel in the process of using your natural talents to enhance your striving, and vice versa.
Harmony in Wholeness: In the symphony of life, you’re the conductor, harmonizing your natural melody with the striver’s rhythm. It’s not about being one or the other; it’s about being both, in tune and in balance.

So, step onto the stage of life with the confidence of a natural and the vigor of a striver.

Let your journey be a testament to the incredible possibilities that arise when you embrace the art of balance.

How To Practice Recognizing the Naturalness Bias

To adeptly navigate the naturalness bias, cultivate the habit of observing your innate categorizations of individuals as naturals or strivers, followed by challenging your assumptions to uncover underlying reasons.

To practice recognizing the naturalness bias:

Observe Your Perception: Pay attention to how you instinctively perceive people as naturals or strivers in various situations.
Question Assumptions: Challenge your initial judgments by asking yourself why you see someone as a natural or striver. Are there facts supporting your judgment?
Acknowledge Context: Recognize that circumstances and experiences play a significant role in people’s development.

By acknowledging the influence of context and experiences, you’ll sharpen your awareness of how this bias shapes your perceptions.

How To Practice Unlocking Opportunities through Naturalness Bias Awareness

In a world driven by perceptions and biases, understanding the naturalness bias can be your key to unlocking hidden opportunities and maximizing your potential.

This cognitive tendency favors those who appear naturally skilled, often overshadowing the efforts of determined strivers.

By harnessing this knowledge, you can navigate the professional landscape more effectively, enhancing your personal brand and achieving greater success.

Identify Natural Strengths: Recognize your inherent talents and abilities that come naturally to you.
Emphasize Innate Skills: When discussing your capabilities, highlight the skills that have always been a part of you and showcase your natural aptitude.
Share Effortless Proficiency: Talk about areas where you excel effortlessly, indicating your ease and comfort in those domains.
Connect Authentically: When meeting new people, focus on engaging in conversations that align with your genuine interests and strengths, showcasing your natural ability to contribute.

By practicing these steps, you can strategically leverage the naturalness bias to your advantage while showcasing your inherent abilities and talents while ensuring that your efforts and growth are perceived positively.

When you acknowledge the naturalness bias and use it as a catalyst for personal growth, you can distinguish yourself in a crowded field.

Your journey as a striver becomes your badge of honor, showcasing your commitment to continuous improvement and setting you on a path towards lasting success and fulfillment.

Mastering the Naturalness Bias

The real message here is that by describing yourself in terms of your gifts and strengths and how you work on them to grow better where you have natural ability can help you be perceived in a better way.

When it comes to human judgment, the naturalness bias emerges as a powerful but often unnoticed force.

This bias sways our perceptions, making us instinctively lean towards those who appear effortlessly skilled.

But hidden within this bias lies an uncommon knowledge—one that unveils the art of harmonizing both the striver’s tenacity and the natural’s innate prowess.

Imagine a world where we not only honor the sweat and toil of the striver but also recognize the hidden gems of those who possess innate abilities.

You illuminate this path by understanding that effort and inherent talent are not rivals–they are two sides of the same coin.

By wielding the awareness of the naturalness bias, we navigate this uncharted terrain with finesse.

We learn that being a striver doesn’t mean rejecting the gift of innate talent, nor does being a natural imply avoiding growth through effort.

Instead, we embrace the uncommon synergy of both, creating our journeys with layers of innovation, resilience, and exploration.

The key is not to be ensnared by this bias, but to use it as a catalyst for our evolution.

As we unravel its secrets, we propel ourselves towards a realm where labels of “striver” and “natural” seamlessly mesh. With this revelation, we compose a symphony where every note—whether it be the sweat of endeavor or the melody of natural aptitude—contributes to our unique masterpiece.

In a world that favors the natural, we transcend this preference, forging a path of true mastery.

This mastery goes beyond biases, unlocking the door to a world where both effort and talent harmonize to create something exceptional—the undeniable testament to our boundless human potential.

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