Sidetracked: Why Our Decisions Get Derailed, and How We Can Stick to the Plan Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Francesca Gino (Author), Tamara Marston (Narrator), HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books (Publisher)

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Psychologist and Harvard Business School professor Francesca Gino has long studied the factors at play when judgment and decision-making collide with the results of our choices in real life. In Sidetracked, she explores inconsistent decisions played out in a wide range of circumstances from our roles as consumers and employees (what we buy, how we manage others) to the broader human choices that we make (who we date, how we cultivate friendships). Gino’s research reveals when a mismatch is most likely to occur between what we want to do and what we actually end up doing. What factors are likely to sway our decisions in directions we did not initially consider? And what can we do to correct for these subtle influences?

The answers in Sidetracked to these and similar questions help us better understand the nuances of our decisions and avoid the unconscious obstacles to greater efficiency, satisfaction, and ultimate success.

Listening Length

9 hours and 1 minute
Author

Francesca Gino
Narrator

Tamara Marston
Audible release date

May 14 2014
Language

English
Publisher

HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
ASIN

B071LD1FN8
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	9 hours and 1 minute
Author	Francesca Gino
Narrator	Tamara Marston
Audible.ca Release Date	May 14 2014
Publisher	HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B071LD1FN8
Best Sellers Rank	#110,963 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #2,123 in Decision Making in Leadership #2,174 in Business Decision-Making & Problem Solving (Books) #2,917 in Small Business & Entrepreneurship

Customer reviews

5 star		37%
4 star		25%
3 star		20%
2 star		12%
1 star		6%

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Top reviews from Canada

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Teacher P

Not quite what the title implies

Reviewed in Canada on October 6, 2013

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Gino recounts in fairly simplified terms a long series of academic experiments, mostly using students with occasional field trials or anecdotes from the psychology literature, to illustrate some basic principles of judgement errors. The majority of the book emphasizes this research approach, drawing conclusions or recommendations stated in didactic phrases - however, the book stops at WHY, and doesn't go on to explain in similar detail HOW to retrain yourself (or others) to avoid or at least realize an opportunity.

The range of experiments and collaborators speak to the author's lively and inquiring mind!

Helpful

Eddy B.

Some eye opening stuff. Definitely changed my perspective on ...

Reviewed in Canada on November 18, 2015

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Some eye opening stuff. Definitely changed my perspective on making decisions, but I gave it three stars because the book had way too many case studies. Could of done without about a third or more of the book to be more concise.

Helpful

A brilliant analysis of how we make decisions and why some decisions can be inconsistent with our original plans

Reviewed in Canada on January 31, 2014

As Francesca Gino explains, "Three different sets of forces influence our decisions in ways we commonly fail to anticipate: (1) forces from within ourselves, (2) forces from our relationships with others, and (3) forces from the outside world." Gino shares and correlates the results of various studies that have examined the power of these forces and how they operate. It is important to keep in mind that these are not forces to control; rather, forces that can be managed, once understood. Hence the importance of this book, of its potential value to those who read it with an open mind and are willing to address forces within themselves -- "that reside within our minds and our hearts, and exist because of the very nature of being human" -- forces that probably cause more sidetracking than any others do.

These are among the dozens of business subjects and issues of special interest and value to me, also listed to indicate the scope of Gino's coverage.

o Internal Forces (Pages 15-84)
o Perspectives on relationship forces (87-106)
o Social bonds (107-127)
o Salient social comparisons and evaluation (129-150)
- Wealth-based comparisons (137-147)
o Irrelevant information (153-174)
o Framing information that motivates behavior (175-198)
o Employee orientation (190-196)
o Ethical behavior and ambiance (199-221)
- What about our moral compass? (203-207)
o Dimensions and consequences of self-deception (210-219)
o Sticking to the plan for decisions (223-231)

I agree with Gino about the importance of formulating what can serve as a contingency plan for all manner of situations in which we would otherwise be unprepared. For example, "we rush into negotiations without taking the time to clarify our objectives, interests, and positions; the range of emotions we could experience during talks; and the information we have about the other side." I presume to add another substantial benefit of having a pre-negotiation plan: understanding the forces within us will enable us to be aware of where and why we may be (or at least seem) most vulnerable.

Before concluding her book, Gino reviews nine principles to keep in mind when formulating and implementing plans (227-228). No brief commentary such as mine can do full justice to the wealth of information, insights, and counsel that Francesca Gino provides. However, I hope these remarks indicate why I think so highly of Sidetracked. Obviously not all decisions are sound. Those who read it will be well-prepared to create appropriate plans, then know which to protect from derailment and which to modify or abandon.

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Mark

Defence against self deception

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2013

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If Francesca Gino was a professor at Hogwarts she would surely teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. The dark art she would most warn us of is how we can so easily fool ourselves. I've scored this a 4 star book because I enjoyed it and the advice is useful, evidence based and practical. The ideas are brought to life through novel stories such as the way emotional feedback is used by the Ducati Moto GP team. It's a book worth buying for the 9 key messages alone.

The final star is lost because there was just a little too much overlap with Dan Ariely's excellent `The Honest Truth about Dishonesty' which is no surprise as they worked together on much of the research. I hope that in her future books Francesca will use more of her own story examples.

A quote in the book sums up the key message perfectly:

"Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true." Demosthenes (384- 322 BC),

Sidetracked details this potential for self deception in 3 key areas:

- how our internal world can distract us
- how our social connections impact on us and
- how our external environment can change our behaviour.

This is further broken down into 9 key messages which I've put into my own words below.

Overcoming internal distraction:

- Don't believe your own hype, listen to useful advice from others too
- Check how you feel before making decisions (Emotional Intelligence)
- Step back and see the bigger pattern

Awareness of social influences

- Recognise and value the contribution of others
- Find out how your social network is influencing you
- Question if social comparison is driving your decisions

Maintaining our moral compass

- Look for more evidence to base decisions on
- Ask `why' to understand the context
- Make your values clear and live by them

For me these 9 steps clarify many of the messages in Daniel Kahneman's book Thinking Fast and Slow and offer a practical guide to staying out of the traps our mind can so easily fall into. I've already found the 9 steps a practical way to improve my decision making.

11 people found this helpful

Interesting but

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2013

Verified Purchase

About half way through so far - some really interesting content and ideas, with the evidence for them, but in some cases, too much evidence - I want to know that the experiments were sound, not everything about them and sometimes I feel the author gets carried away with the details.

One person found this helpful

Manageris

Une mine d'enseignements pratiques

Reviewed in France on August 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

Nous aimons nous voir en être rationnel. Nous imaginons ainsi en général que nous allons prendre nos décisions en accord avec ce que nous avions prévu de faire, avec les critères que nous nous étions fixés, etc. Or, l'expérience montre que nos comportements réels sont souvent bien éloignés de cette vision idéalisée. Francesca Gino nous rappelle à notre condition de mammifère social ! Dans ce livre, elle fait le tour des nombreux facteurs qui nous poussent régulièrement à prendre des décisions éloignées de nos plans initiaux, sans même que nous en ayons conscience. Elle distingue ainsi trois ensembles de forces susceptibles de nous éloigner de nos objectifs :
– les forces propres à nous-même : impact de nos émotions sur nos actions et nos jugements, etc.
– les forces liées à nos relations avec les autres : mimétisme social, mécanismes instinctifs d’éviction des rivaux, etc.
– les forces induites par notre environnement : surcharge d’information, etc.

2 people found this helpful

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Boris Bretzer

Interesting Summary of Known Information

Reviewed in Germany on November 1, 2015

Verified Purchase

The book includes a nice summary of factors, which influence people trying to reach their goals.It is structured in an understandable way. However I rarely found information, which is new for me. The book might provide more value for people, who did not focus on psychology before.

Mayank Prasad Bhatnagar

Great, research backed

Reviewed in India on May 7, 2016

Verified Purchase

Experiments presented in a very interesting way, likely to stick. Will use the work in my decision making. Recommended reading.

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Sidetracked: Why Our Decisions Get Derailed, and How We Can Stick to the Plan Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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Top reviews from Canada

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Top reviews from other countries

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