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How the Decoy Effect Shapes Office Decisions
Description
In this episode of The Office Politics Podcast, Lucas and Luna explore the decoy effect — a cognitive bias that makes an option more appealing when a deliberately worse alternative is added to the mix. They show how this plays out in everyday office decisions, from choosing a project timeline to comparing job offers, and how you can spot when a decoy is being used on you — or wield it yourself to steer decisions toward a preferred outcome. The conversation is anchored in a relatable scenario: picking between two project management tools, where the third 'dud' option changes everything. They also discuss how pricing structures, meeting agendas, and even performance reviews can be rigged with decoys. As always, they keep it practical, with clear takeaways on how to make better decisions and influence others ethically.