Why Completion Bias Distorts Thinking

In a fast-paced world where information is constantly streaming, we often find ourselves rushing to finish tasks, close open loops, and complete projects. This drive for completion can sometimes be more detrimental than we realize, as it can distort our decision-making processes. The cognitive bias at play here is called completion bias — the tendency to prioritize finishing something, even if it means sacrificing quality or missing more important tasks. In this article, we explore why completion bias distorts our thinking, its impact on decision-making, and how we can overcome it for more informed, effective choices.

What Is Completion Bias?

Completion bias refers to the cognitive inclination that drives individuals to seek closure or finish tasks, even when it’s not in their best interest. Psychologically, we are wired to prefer completing a task, often feeling discomfort or anxiety when faced with unfinished business. This innate tendency is a survival mechanism that, in the past, helped humans finish critical tasks to thrive. However, in the modern world, this bias often leads to irrational decision-making, where the desire to complete something clouds our ability to critically assess the situation.

Completion bias can manifest in various ways. For example:

Overcommitment: You might sign up for multiple projects or tasks with the goal of finishing everything, even if it means compromising on quality.
Premature Closure: Completing a task or project based on superficial or incomplete information simply because you feel the need to “wrap it up.”
Escalation of Commitment: Persisting with a failing plan or project, solely because you’ve already invested time, money, or effort into it, rather than evaluating whether it’s the best course of action moving forward.

While completion bias has its evolutionary roots, it’s more problematic than ever in today’s world of constant connectivity and relentless work demands.

How Completion Bias Distorts Thinking

Completion bias can distort our thinking in several profound ways. Let’s explore how it impacts our cognitive processes:

1. Impedes Critical Thinking

When we prioritize completion over reflection or reassessment, we often fail to engage in deeper analysis. For example, you might push through a project because you simply want to check it off your to-do list. However, this rush to completion can prevent you from considering whether it’s the most effective approach, whether the task still aligns with your goals, or if there are better alternatives.

This lack of critical thinking can result in subpar decisions. In the workplace, it might mean finishing a report without adequately reviewing it, or in personal life, it might manifest as following through on commitments out of a sense of duty, despite realizing they’re no longer relevant or necessary.

2. Encourages Cognitive Laziness

As completion bias drives us to finish tasks quickly, it can also encourage cognitive laziness. Instead of taking the time to think deeply or explore alternatives, we rush to complete the task just to feel the satisfaction of ticking it off. This shortcut can be tempting, but it undermines the quality of our work and decisions. When faced with a complex issue, the desire to “wrap things up” without fully engaging with the material can make us overlook critical details that could lead to a better outcome.

3. Leads to Bad Habits and Poor Time Management

Completion bias can also lead to procrastination and poor time management. By focusing too much on the finish line, we ignore the importance of the process. This creates a cycle where tasks are started without the proper planning or thoughtfulness, and then rushed to completion at the last minute. While this can provide the illusion of productivity, it ultimately leads to stress, suboptimal performance, and burnout.

4. Inhibits Learning and Growth

One of the more insidious effects of completion bias is its impact on learning. When we’re focused solely on finishing something, we often miss opportunities for growth. By taking shortcuts or rushing through tasks, we deny ourselves the time and space to fully engage with the material, reflect on it, and make meaningful connections.

In a learning context, this can mean skimming through textbooks, quickly completing assignments, or relying on surface-level understanding instead of truly internalizing and mastering the content. Over time, this approach stifles intellectual growth and creative thinking.

5. Fosters a “Get It Done” Mentality at the Expense of Quality

In both professional and personal contexts, the urge to complete tasks can lead to a “get it done” mentality. While it’s important to be productive, a focus solely on completion often results in a sacrifice of quality. This is particularly detrimental in fields where precision and thoughtfulness matter, such as in research, design, and strategy development.

A study conducted by Samantha B. Geller and Edward C. Green from the University of Pennsylvania, published in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making (2020), found that individuals who were primed to focus on completing tasks were less likely to evaluate the quality of their work, often resulting in rushed decisions.

How to Overcome Completion Bias

Now that we’ve identified how completion bias distorts our thinking, how can we address it and make more informed, thoughtful decisions? Here are some practical strategies:

1. Prioritize Reflection Over Completion

Instead of simply focusing on finishing tasks, prioritize reflection. Regularly pause to ask yourself whether completing the task is truly the best course of action or whether your energy would be better spent elsewhere. Taking breaks throughout your day gives your brain the chance to reset and engage in critical thinking. It also allows you to assess whether your approach is working or needs adjustment.

2. Set Clear, Intentional Goals

One way to reduce the impact of completion bias is by setting clear, intentional goals. Rather than aiming to finish everything, focus on goals that prioritize quality, progress, and value. Align your efforts with long-term objectives and take time to evaluate whether the tasks you’re completing actually contribute to those goals.

3. Build Time for Deep Work into Your Schedule

The concept of “deep work,” as introduced by Cal Newport in his book Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, refers to the practice of engaging in focused, undistracted work that requires intense concentration. By carving out uninterrupted time for deep work, you can resist the temptation to rush through tasks simply to finish them and instead dedicate meaningful effort to mastering a subject or project.

4. Practice Mindful Decision Making

Mindfulness is a practice that can help you become more aware of your thoughts and behaviors, including the urge to finish things at the expense of quality. By practicing mindfulness, you become better at noticing when you’re succumbing to completion bias and can consciously choose to slow down and reconsider your approach.

5. Embrace the Iterative Process

Sometimes, the best way to learn and create is by engaging in an iterative process. Rather than aiming for immediate completion, view each task as a step in a larger, ongoing cycle. You might need to go back and revise your work multiple times before it’s ready. This approach encourages improvement and refinement rather than rushing to finish.

Conclusion

Completion bias can have a profound impact on the way we think, make decisions, and approach tasks. By focusing too much on finishing and crossing things off our to-do lists, we miss opportunities for deeper thinking, creativity, and growth. In order to make more informed, effective decisions, we need to shift our focus from the mere act of completion to a more mindful, intentional approach that prioritizes quality and reflection. By understanding how completion bias works and implementing strategies to combat it, we can become better, more thoughtful decision-makers, leading to greater productivity, satisfaction, and personal growth.

Reference

Unit bias (also called completion bias), https://michaelgearon.medium.com
Thea O’Connor on completion bias and dopamine, https://www.thea.com.au
Urgency bias & mundane task completion, https://skillpath.com