Cutter Expert Paul Clermont helps us understand how and why capable, experienced people often make poor choices. He describes familiar pathologies like confirmation bias, groupthink, and the tendency to double down on failing courses of action in which we have invested heavily. Clermont argues that challenging market conditions sometimes exacerbate our tendency to make these types of mistakes, rather than bringing out the best in us. He provides four guidelines for enhanced critical thinking, arguing that leaders need to be more inquisitive, humble, diligent, and skeptical.