Why do we find some people more credible than others?
Messenger Effect
, explained.What is the Messenger Effect?
The messenger effect is a cognitive bias that causes us to judge the validity or relevance of information based on its source. Instead of objectively analyzing the message’s content, our opinions of the person delivering the information affect our interpretation.
Where this bias occurs
Imagine you are attending a workplace meeting. Everyone is there, from the interns to the CEO. While discussing strategies for the company’s direction, Josh, a junior-level employee, raises his hand. He shares his idea about packaging a new product to make it more appealing to younger customers. The response is underwhelming, and the brainstorming session quickly resumes.
Around 15 minutes later, Marta, a senior manager, shares an idea that is nearly identical to the one Josh mentioned earlier. However, this time, the CEO and other leadership seem very excited about the idea, and the meeting topic shifts to how to set “Marta’s plan” in motion.
This hypothetical company meeting demonstrates the power of the messenger effect. Josh’s idea wasn’t ignored because it was bad. It was ignored because he was the one who shared it. Josh is fairly new to the company and has very little experience. When Marta reintroduces the idea, her track record of success and reputation for innovation lend the idea more credibility. As a result, the leadership team is much more interested in exploring her suggestion.
Debias Your Organization
Most of us work & live in environments that aren’t optimized for solid decision-making. We work with organizations of all kinds to identify sources of cognitive bias & develop tailored solutions.
