Understanding how cognitive biases affect us in the workplace
This article originally appeared on the Range Blog.
Our brains are energy hungry and responsible for processing huge amounts of data. As such, they are constantly looking for shortcuts. They seek heuristics and abstractions to speed up decision making and reduce the amount of energy spent thinking.
Most of the time these heuristics are useful and the reason we’re able to get on with our daily lives. But when they break down, they lead to irrationality, a distorted perspective on reality, and inaccurate judgement.
Even the smartest people are susceptible to faulty thinking.
There are dozens of well-known mental shortcuts that regularly trip us up; these are collectively referred to as cognitive biases. In the workplace, they affect how we interact with colleagues, how we make decisions, and who we reward and recognize.
In this article, we’ll take a look at eleven cognitive biases that affect team coordination and culture in the workplace every day.
How cognitive bias hinders collaboration
Dunning-Kruger Effect
The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a cognitive bias which causes people to believe they are much more competent than they really are, especially in domains where they have little or no actual skill.
This pervades the workplace in a number of ways. The most obvious is when an under-performer is really convinced they are exceptional at what they do.
A more insidious expression of this bias is during cross-functional collaboration when members of one discipline perceive themselves as having equal or higher skill to someone in a specialized discipline. In Silicon Valley, where engineering is dominant, I’ve seen this occur when leaders underestimate the experience of marketers, user researchers, or business professionals.
Fundamental Attribution Error
Also known as Actor-Observer bias, this is your tendency to attribute your own actions to external causes while overemphasizing personality-based explanations for behaviors observed in others, instead of situational factors.
This can lead to unfair judgements of other people’s performance and motivations. When our colleagues err, miss deadlines, or are impolite, we see this as evidence of a character weakness. Whereas, when we commit an error, miss a deadline, or are slightly rude to someone, we defend ourselves as being overworked, stressed, or tired.
Ingroup bias
People tend to give preferential treatment to those who they perceive to be members of their own groups. In the workplace, this leads to inequity and unfairness at the individual level, and can sometimes lead to toxic silos at the group level.
Groups often form along functional boundaries, which can lead to a dynamic where product feels pitted against engineering, or sales and marketing feel at odds.
Reorienting cross-functional teams around a shared purpose or missions can help break down these walls. You can also look for ways to make your whole organization feel like the ingroup while focusing outgroup energy on an external threat.
Ingroup bias is also one of the reasons why building a diverse team alone isn’t enough, and why inclusion is an essential component in cultivating a healthy and high-performing team.
Next-in-line effect
We’ve talked before on this blog about how in-person standups are broken. One of the reasons is that when speaking in turn, you will experience diminished recall of those who spoke before you. This is related to your ability to lay down long-term memories before a performance and isn’t affected by anxiety levels.
Luckily, knowing about this bias, and consciously paying more attention to people speaking before you, can offset the effects.
Why decision making breaks down at work
Anchoring
Anchoring is the tendency to rely too heavily on an initial piece of information when making a decision. Salespeople know this and often use it to their advantage. It is common to offer a high price early on in a sales process that creates a focal point to frame future negotiations.
If you are facilitating a decision, or simply running a meeting, make sure you own the initial framing and set the stage, otherwise you risk being derailed by someone else (intentionally or accidentally) anchoring the group somewhere else.
IKEA Effect
It turns out people place more value on items they build themselves: you will value an IKEA table you assembled higher than a prebuilt table, regardless of the quality of the end result.
This bias can come up in a detrimental way when evaluating vendors vs. internally developed tools, or when comparing similar work done by two teams. But it can also be used to your advantage by providing customers ways to configure and customize your product.
Irrational escalation
Commonly known as the “sunk cost fallacy,” this bias causes people to justify increased investment in a decision based on the cumulative prior investment rather than an objective estimate of future value or worth.
This comes up all the time in a work context, whether deciding to continue to chase a prospective customer or finish a feature that turned out to be more complex than originally planned.
It’s a hard bias to overcome, but try to objectively weigh different paths as if you were starting from scratch. If necessary, bring in someone with no skin-in-the-game so they can help assess the situation impartially.
When writing Good To Great, Jim Collins’ team found that a key attribute of successful companies was their ability to stop doing things.
System justification
Humans are creatures of habit and generally change adverse. System justification theory refers to the phenomenon where individuals will prefer the status quo, even at the expense of individual and collective self-interest. In other words, they justify the overarching system as serving a greater good that must be correct, even if they are unhappy or underserved.
The consequences of feeling the need to legitimize the status quo are far reaching. It causes us to justify inequality, makes people resistant to change, and reinforces traditional power dynamics.
The effects of cognitive bias on leadership
Cognitive Dissonance
The theory of Cognitive Dissonance describes a condition of stress caused by conflicting ideas, values, beliefs or practices. Essentially, two or more opposing thoughts cause psychological discomfort.
This happens in the workplace when people are asked to support or execute work which is in conflict with their sense of right and wrong, training, ethics, or personal values.
In simple cases, it may manifest when someone is asked to take on a project without truly understanding why it is important. In more severe cases it may occur when people are forced to participate in performance review or hiring practices that they feel are ineffective or unfair.
Hot-Cold Empathy Gap
We’re all subject to visceral drives such as hunger, thirst, cravings, pain, and strong emotions. These drives affect our decision making and behavior. When responding to such drives we’re in what is called a “hot” state. The Empathy Gap bias reflects the difficulty of people in a “cold” state to understand what it’s like for someone to be in a hot state, and vice versa.
People in a hot state can’t fully understand how their behavior is being affected by their current conditions. They think their short-term needs reflect their general and long-term preferences. People in a cold state find it hard to picture themselves in a hot state and will underestimate the strength of visceral impulses.
Functional fixedness
This bias limits the use of an object to the way it is traditionally used. For example, you will only use a hammer as a hammer, even if you are in need of a paperweight.
This bias invades the workplace when people become defined by their function or their title. A product manager may bemoan having no designers on their team, while an engineer with a design background sits unutilized. Or an Executive Assistant might be tasked with finding an event planner while being more than capable of the task themselves.
Overcoming cognitive bias begins with mindfulness
All these biases are incredibly common and hard to avoid. Don’t feel too bad if you see yourself succumbing to them. But know that in the worst cases they can be the root cause of significant organizational dysfunctions and can lead to unfair treatment of people, can negatively affect relationships, and limit our ability to be productive.
There are no silver bullets, but being more mindful of your own psychology is a good first step. Teams can work to build a culture of trust, such that when these biases do emerge, there is a safe environment to respond and correct their effects.
Thanks for reading! You can find more articles on the Range Blog. Our mission is to help teams work better together. Learn more about Range
11 ways our brains trip us up at work was originally published in Range on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
A short primer on why complex systems require different ways of acting and making decisions
A few years ago, as I was managing a growing team, I set out to try and understand why traditional forms of management didn’t feel appropriate. I went deep on group dynamics, psychology, and human development theory, and started to piece together different parts of what felt like a very big puzzle.
Throughout my reading, the concept of complexity kept coming up. On the surface, it made sense: everything pertaining to the evolution of the human experience is tangled up in a web of cause-and-effect; resulting from — and leading to — increases in complexity.
Hunter-gatherer tribes became early civilizations, which became industrial nations, which then led to the network age. The internet, mobile networking, AI, automation, and increasingly distributed workforces, all contribute to the complexity of today’s workplaces.
So sure, the world is more complex; therefore it probably makes sense that we need to manage our organizations differently. But what does it actually mean for something to be more complex? And once we know we’re dealing with a complex system, what are the implications for how we should think and act? Is managing a team of 100 programmers in the 2010’s actually harder than running a 1,000 person factory in the mid-1900’s?
It was during a conversation with my friend Jordan Husney that the penny dropped. We had been discussing Spiral Dynamics and value-attracting memes (that’s another story) and contemplating how complexity is really a matter of perspective. Something that seems obvious to you, say how a combustion engine works, might seem complicated to me.
We discussed how much of management theory is based on 20th-century practices that were concerned primarily with efficiency and consistency; about making sense of systems, making the unknown known, and then optimizing the hell out of it. In these systems there are many moving parts and lots of variables, but with effort and analysis you can reason about them. You can create blueprints, schematics, or flow-charts.
In this networked era, where knowledge work is predominant and everything is interconnected, this way of viewing work is no longer possible. There are always going to be things that are unknowable. This is the root of what it means for a system to be complex.
“Complexity is a movement in time that is both knowable and unknowable. Uncertainty is a basic feature of all complex systems.” — Esko Kilpi
A framework for complexity
To better understand what this means in practice, I’ve found the Cynefin framework hugely helpful. The framework outlines contexts, or domains, that describe a “sense of place” from which a system can be perceived. By understanding your context and the nature of the system, you can better make sense of the available information and better understand how to make decisions.
The domains are obvious, complicated, complex, and chaotic.
Something that is obvious is deterministic and certain. 1 + 1 = 2. If I put a cup of water in the freezer, it will turn to ice. If I flick the light switch, the light goes on. In the obvious domain, solutions are well-known.
Complicated systems are harder to understand, but they are still knowable. A well-known set of inputs will produce consistent outputs. When you have to read your oven’s instruction manual to bake bread, that’s complicated. But so is a car or a nuclear power plant. In the complicated domain, experts rule and knowledge is power.
As we discussed above, complex systems are unknowable. You are dealing with probabilities and emergent characteristics. There are often an indefinite number of variables influencing what is happening and — if it is possible at all — cause-and-effect can only be determined in hindsight. Through experimentation and analysis, patterns may be observed which allow for predictions to become more accurate. The stock market, ecosystems, and human culture are all complex.
In chaotic systems, cause and effect are always unclear. Chaos is the realm of crisis and panic.
It’s all about your perspective
An important element of this framework is that it is concerned as much with your perspective of the system as the system itself. Something that seems obvious to you, might be complicated for me. Something complex to a novice becomes complicated to an expert. Therefore, movement between domains is possible, for better and for worse, based on the information and knowledge you have.
Imagine an old TV. If you hit the power button it turns on or off (obvious). As it gets older, something breaks and it starts to randomly turn off (chaotic). Through experimentation, you realize that propping it up on a book and hitting it on one side sometimes fixes the problem (complex). You find a schematic, take it apart, and find a loose wire (complicated).
To some extent, complexity can, therefore, be managed through the acquisition of knowledge, surfacing of new data, or by decomposing a system into constituent parts which are more easy to reason about.
Leading through complexity
Knowing where you and your team are is an important first step. Are you dealing with a complicated system, or — as is more likely — a complex or chaotic one?
Next, look to see where there is room for movement. Can you gather knowledge that reduces the complexity? Are there actions you can take which could surface variables that might make the unknown known? Can the problem space be decomposed, such that elements become more obvious?
But in the workplace, no matter what you do, you are dealing with people. And humans are inherently complex. Regardless of how much data you surface or how much knowledge you acquire there will always be unknowable elements that affect how people behave and perform: the interaction of personalities, goings-on in personal lives, macro-economic movements, political changes, etc. etc.
This is part of the reason industrial management tactics, which were concerned with prediction and control, are no longer as effective. As leaders, we need to accept there will always be uncertainty, and focus on building flexible teams that can experiment and learn, through increased transparency and cooperation.
Understanding complexity was originally published in Range on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
How to set goals that build alignment and accountability
Writing a good objective is hard. It requires capturing a huge amount of knowledge and context into a short phrase. Getting it wrong causes confusion, at best. At worst it can lead to projects going off track, unnecessary work, and important things being dropped.
Whether you are using OKRs, Headlining, or Agile Epics, a well-written objective communicates what your team is doing and why, builds alignment within and across teams, empowers autonomy, and builds accountability.
Here are some tips on writing objectives.
What and why, not how
A good objective communicates at a high-level what you are doing and why. It makes it clear to an appropriately knowledgeable person why certain actions are being performed, and why others are not.
But it is not overly prescriptive. Bad objectives read more like a to-do or a task. They lose track of the underlying reason for the objective. If the world changes or new information emerges, the final solution/approach may need to change. In particularly bad cases, it may be possible to complete the objective without actually accomplishing the original intent.
Bad: Ship a new version of the blog template
Good: Our blog is accessible for disabled readers and scores 100 on Lighthouse audits
Right-sizing
One of the hardest things about writing an objective is getting the size right. Too small and it won’t capture all the things that really need to happen. Too big and it won’t be useful at helping you make trade-offs.
When writing an objective think about how it will guide your actions. Does it provide enough focus to narrow the scope of what you might do? Or are there things that you want to do that aren’t captured? Perhaps it should really be two objectives.
Bad: Ensure success at enterprise customers
Good: Triple number of active teams per enterprise account
Are we there yet?
A good objective describes a desired outcome or state that needs to be reached. A bad objective leaves you uncertain about whether you actually accomplished the intended goal. When you’re in a crunch, and things are hard, it’s understandable that you’ll choose the most favorable interpretation of an objective. So make sure to be specific. Hold your future self accountable.
Bad: Increase sales leads
Good: Demos per week consistently exceeds five per rep
Who says?
Relatedly, a good objective is objective, i.e. it isn’t subjective, where success is open to interpretation. A reasonable person should be able to judge whether an objective has been completed or not, either through observation or measurement.
Bad: Frontend services are stable
Good: Externally measured uptime exceeds 99.99%
Cart before the horse
It’s obvious that the objectives that guide the operation of a working factory should be very different from those while it is being built. However, in knowledge work, things aren’t always so simple.
We’re often building systems and processes at the same time as solving a problem. So watch out for situations where you simply aren’t ready for an objective that would otherwise be reasonable.
Bad: Hire six new engineers a quarter
Good: All engineers have been trained on new hiring rubric and process
Objective writing is an art, not a science. I hope these guidelines are helpful.
The main thing to keep in mind is that you are communicating to multiple audiences: your team, your manager, your company, and your future self.
Think about what you want to accomplish, then put yourself in their shoes and imagine how they might misinterpret what you’ve written. Remember, these aren’t written in stone. As you are presenting and discussing your plans, sense and react, take time to refine and clarify your objectives.
Of course, running a good goal setting process is more than just writing the description. Range makes it easy to see the status of team objectives and helps you track all the work that contributes to your goal. And if your teams are struggling to identify and track good objectives, our friends at Epic Teams have a great coaching program that is worth checking out.
Good objective, bad objective was originally published in Range on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
Professionally, 2018 was focused on Range, the company I co-founded in 2017. It’s been a year of learning and growth, navigating the fabled rollercoaster of startup life; with ups and downs often occurring in the same day, sometimes simultaneously.
But, as with my previous years in review, this post is about life outside work and tech. It’s an intentionally rose-tinted reflection on the year, and will skip over the sleep deprivation, seemingly persistent chest infections that come from living with a preschooler, and other challenges.
We returned to California from a white Christmas in England, and went on our traditional New Years day hike out to Tennessee Valley.
In February, we celebrated Lyra’s third birthday on a windy day in Mission Bay.
She’s in preschool now, so nearly every weekday morning we cycled to school — the exception being rainy days when we used the running stroller, or bus.
Many a weekend was spent hanging out with Lyra’s BFF, Emerson, and her family.
In March, I attended The Lobby conference and we used the trip as an opportunity for a family vacation to the Big Island. Lyra loved playing on the beach, swimming in the pool, and was captivated by the dancing at a Luau.
In May, I returned to Wildflower for my first triathlon since Lyra was born. My parents were visiting and it turned out the logistics of getting parents plus toddler in-and-out of the race area was nearly as hard as the race itself.
Despite finishing the olympic course 15 minutes slower than my personal best, the race felt really good…. and then we were able to go wine tasting afterwards at a nearby vineyard 🙂
Over 4th July weekend, we went back to England again. This time to celebrate the arrival of my new nephew Rhys. The weather was amazing and I was happy that Tessa and Lyra got to experience a quintessential English summer. Let’s not talk about that England match 😦
Then in August, we took a trip to San Diego with Tessa’s sister and her family. Cousin time is becoming a top priority for us now the kids are getting bigger. We had fun visiting the zoo and Legoland, and loved the SoCal beach — though we all got horribly sunburned.
The rest of the summer and early autumn were a daze of birthday parties, trips to the Exploratorium, playgrounds, classes, and walks.
I had set myself a 350 mile running goal for the second year in a row, and for the second year I didn’t hit it. Though I got closer this year, hitting 315 miles.
Several bad chest colds (preschoolders!), wildfire smoke, and a couple of injuries set me back several weeks, and then it was hard to build the miles back given my ability to only run once or twice a week.
I read, or listened, to 24 books over the year: a mix of business, psychology, and sci-fi. Highlights were the Three-Body trilogy, and learning more about marketing in Crossing the Chasm and Play Bigger.
November saw the largest wildfires in California history and for several weeks the bay area was a thick blanket of smoke. We were reasonably well-prepared from last year, with masks and air-purifiers, but the air quality in our apartment was still poor and a cold Lyra already had turned into a mild case of pneumonia.
Luckily, we were able to escape to Seattle for Thanksgiving where I worked remotely for the week and we appreciated the clean air.
A big change to our weekly schedule this year was the introduction of date nights. With a pre-arranged babysitter, Tessa and I would go out for a meal, play board games in my office, or do activities around the city. (Highly recommended forcing function for other parents out there.)
To end the year my family came out to California. We celebrated Christmas in San Francisco then headed down the coast to Santa Cruz for New Year.
Happy New Year and good luck for 2019.
2018 Highlights was originally published in Writing by Dan Pupius on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
Last week I was talking to an engineering leader who had been promoted to a manager of managers, let’s call him Isaac. Isaac was finding that his new role kept him further from the day-to-day work and that he had less visibility into what was happening. A few months into this new role he no longer knew how to tell whether his teams were on track and he was starting to get anxious.
Isaac felt that he had been a good manager. He kept tabs on all the tasks his team were juggling, could see which code changes were stalled or high risk, and was CC’d on nearly every email between his team and others. He could easily sense how individual contributors were feeling, was always there to help move projects forward when necessary, and was proud of his ability to act as a protective umbrella for his team.
But now he was responsible for 30 people and he couldn’t keep up. On some days, he started to feel like his teams were messing up and that he needed to take charge, seize control, and get everything in order through shear force of will. On other days he felt like he was drowning.
I’m pretty sure every leader has felt this way at one time or another. This anxiety is completely natural, but it is also when you are most at risk of falling into the trap of becoming a micromanager.
At its root, micromanagement is driven by fear:
fear of loss of control
fear of uncertainty and the unknown
fear of failure
fear of irrelevance
When someone becomes a micromanager, you’ll see them start to schedule more meetings, ask for more frequent reports and status updates. They’ll take on more and more things themselves, they’ll start working longer hours, and will be late to that useless meeting they scheduled. They’ll become more critical and demanding.
It’s easy to dislike them for what they’ve become, but can you feel their pain and their fear?
So, if you’re like Isaac, how do you avoid falling into this pattern of reaction where you want to seize control and take on everything yourself?
What, not how
Try to distance yourself from the “how” of the work. Be ok letting people figure it out for themselves, even if they do it differently to how you would. Focus your attention on outputs and results. If you’re asked for feedback or help, approach it as a coaching opportunity.
Fail gracefully
Failure is necessary for learning and growth. Your role as a leader is to let people fail safely, so they can learn without causing damage to themselves or the business. Think about the “guardrails” that will allow people to be autonomous and to move fast, but without breaking things (too badly).
Choreograph communication
If you don’t know what’s happening, it’s likely that other people don’t either. Design a cadence of communication that serves both your needs and the needs of the team, so everyone benefits and the effort isn’t duplicative.
Skip level 1:1s
Some people feel that having 1:1s with your reports’ reports can disempower them. If you play it wrong that’s certainly a possibility. For example, ad hoc meetings might signal you are worried or that something bad is about to happen.
Instead, clearly state the objective of skip level 1:1s, make them regular and predictable. Use them to learn how your managers are doing, get more insight into the day-to-day work, and use them as an opportunity to provide mentoring.
Find an outlet
Management is a different discipline than the one you worked on early in your career. It’s understandable for you to miss the comfort of getting your hands dirty and doing some real work. But if you’re not careful you can accidentally find yourself stepping on people’s toes, undermining other leaders, or being seen as a meddler.
Instead, find an area off the critical path. Perhaps some experimental work or exploration into new infrastructure. One of my managers would hack on spreadsheets and automate his workflow, partially as a way to scratch that itch.
Breathe
And finally, remember to breathe. Deeply.
Subconscious drives and fears impact us daily. Breathing connects you with your body, calms your nerves, and can help you be present to the underlying anxiety, allowing you to think more rationally.
In closing, I want to note that the alternative to micromanagement isn’t absenteeism. In an attempt to avoid being the thing they hate, new managers can sometimes skew too far the other way and be too hands-off. The tactics we’ve discussed here should help you sense into your team’s health and operations, so that you know when it’s the right time to get involved and what questions to ask, when you do.
First up, we have the Revco DSX Welding Jacket. One of the better and thicker welding coats on the market, Revco is excellent at protecting your arms from getting singed and your clothes from getting burned.
The thick coating makes it also very warm, which is excellent if you’re planning to work in colder weather. The coat also has an adjustable cuff and wrist straps for a better fit.
The coat is thick — but it is too thick on occasion. The added layers that offer such excellent protection make the coat very hot, and you won’t be able to wear it long in warm weather without it stretching.
Not only that, but the jacket, being made of cotton, suffers from what all cotton welding coats suffer — they can burn through at a quicker rate than most.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is a good welding jacket. It might not last as long if you’re an ardent welder, but for light welding during winter months, it might be just what you need.
Say what you may but there is no denying the fact that being a welder exposes you to an array of dangers, the onus is on you to select the best welding jacket to protect you against the work-related hazard.
Prevention they say is better than cure, is there any better way to protect your body from wielding related hazards than by wearing safety apparels that is both affordable and effective in playing the much desired “protection role.”
To effectively protect against hazards, welders must insist on welding jackets made from suitable materials which would make the jacket at least fireproof.
Sit back and fasten your seat belt while I take you on a short trip to discover to great extent things or features to look out for while selecting the best welding jacket. For this purpose, ten welding jackets shall be reviewed.
Note: You also need to wear welding helmet, welding boots and welding gloves before working. Read more:
#1. Miller Electric 2241909 Welding Jacket, Navy, Cotton/Nylon, XL
Made from a blend of cotton and nylon this pocket-friendly welding jacket by Miller Electric is the first to be reviewed. The Navy Blue jacket comes with a chest size of 50 inches and a closure type of Snap Button, this might appear to be bigger than the average but who cares so far it can protect against heat while on the job.
The job of a welder is to weld metals and not to show fashion sense while at work.
Pros
This jacket combines elegance with comfort and affordability, its neck collar protects the back and the neck region against molten metal especially when working under a surface.
Cons
The jacket is designed for lightweight metal or aluminum work. As I said earlier on it is made wholly from cotton and nylon this makes its heat resistance ability to be limited.
Verdict.
Having used this jacket personally, I can confidently say it offers a great value for the purchase price it is comfy and protective. But it must be noted it is not suitable for heavy metal or aluminum work.
This lightweight jacket comes with a very eye catchy design. Contributing to its elegance apart from its beautiful color is its blue flame pattern which is visible on its sides and contoured body. The elegant jacket fits perfectly on the welder as he performs his welding tasks.
The jacket was designed with adjustable waist straps, it is also designed with cuff snaps. There are also inside pockets to compensate for its lack of open packet, one of the inside pockets even has a zipper.
Pros
The jacket is sturdy and flame resistant apart from that having no open pocket makes it even safer as sparks cannot land and ignite there. The welding collar is also effective in blocking off flying sparks, it does this in absolute precision.
Cons
The jacket doesn’t cover the whole body well it exposes the belly and back area of the body. It is only suitable for light welding work
Verdict.
This jacket is very comfortable, moving up and down while on it was really easy. As beautiful and elegant it looks its use should be restricted to light MIG and FIG application.
#3. QEES Genuine Leather Welding Jacket 103CM Long Heavy Duty Welding Clothes Velcro Coat
Made from heavy duty genuine cow leather, this brown welding jacket offers protection to the welder up to his knee level. It was designed with a high collar, adjustable straps and double stitched seams.
The jacket also has a large pocket to fit in some small tools which you might need as you perform your welding task. Protecting the arms and torso from welding spatter and heat.
Pros
It offers great protection at a very affordable price. The arms and the torso are well protected against welding spatter and heat. The high collar protects the neck region and to cap it all it was not made exclusively for welders. It can also be used by mechanics and blacksmiths. It is also highly durable.
Cons
In addition to its somehow foul smell, it is not suitable for heavyweight welding work. Moving about in the jacket can also be hard.
Verdict.
The designers of this leather jacket hold safety in high esteem, it is safe to say that this is a perfect blend of affordability and protection. The foul smell could be neutralized by spraying deodorants on the jacket.
In a bid to clean it you shouldn’t make the same mistake I made by putting it inside the water as this kind of deformed the jacket. A little brushing will do wonders in cleaning it.
#4. BLACK STALLION BSX® FR Welding Jacket — Black w/Red Flames — MEDIUM
This low budget heat and flame resistant jacket come with a stand-up collar, a dual scribe and inside pockets. Its waist straps and cuffs are adjustable to fit. It works for a chest measurement of approximately 56–58. Its design is so stylish that it could pass for a high-end shirt.
Pros
If you are on a low budget, this is an ideal welding jacket for you. Unlike most other welding jackets it is cool and doesn’t really generate heat. Its coating makes it more heat and burns resistant. It is highly suitable for stick welding.
Cons
The jacket cannot withstand high UV light, it is only suitable for light metal and aluminum work. It is also not durable
Verdict.
This jacket is a further proof that you don’t have to break the bank before getting a welding jacket. Right from its first use, I realized that using it for heavyweight welding work will be disastrous.
#5. Caiman Black Boarhide — 30"Jacket, Welding-Apparel Large
This extra-large jacket was brilliantly made from boar hide and premium high-quality pigskin leather. Boar hides have been known to offer greater heat resistance to cowhide it is also cooler and affords you easier mobility while at work when compared to the cowhide.
The leather jacket features a vented back and underarms for maximum comfort, it also features an inside pocket.
Pros
Its protective capacity is top-notch. Since it was made from boar hide leather you would naturally think it would be on the heavy side but surprisingly is of lightweight. It is a true industry fit welder jacket.
Cons
It is not pocket-friendly.
Verdict.
Perhaps this is the best jacket I have ever used in a while, after buying to test run it, I tried exposing myself to hot slag and sparks, guess what? It got me well covered. Colleagues have constantly been telling me they want this exact kind if you can afford it kindly go for it. This is surely a product that offers value for money.
#6. Steiner 1260-L 30-Inch Jacket, Weldlite Plus Navy Cotton, Rust Cowhide Sleeves, Large
This brilliantly designed two colored jackets was made from cotton with the sleeves made from cowhide leather which provides for more protection around the arm area. The jacket has a relaxed non-reflective snap front and wrist closure, relaxed full cut fit, Large inside pocket and a Leather reinforced snaps.
Pros
The jacket is lightweight, abrasion resistance, flame resistant, anti-static and durable. You need not bat an eyelid while using it against sparks and splatter for it would protect you. Being lightweight also affords easy movement while working with it.
Cons
Based on the materials used, it seems the designers dwelled more on protecting the arm as against a complete protection. There is no lining on the sleeves which makes it quite hard to get on.
Verdict.
This is no doubt an excellent product for a great price, this jacket is best suited for stick welding or flux core MIG. It is too heavy for most standard MIG and undesirable for TIG. This is absolutely a premium jacket at a modest price. Kudos to the designers.
#7. West Chester IRONCAT IRONTEX 7050 Flame Resistant Cotton Welding Jacket, Large
This flame-resistant Jacket is made of 100 percent sateen cotton fabric. *Snap up jacket includes adjustable snaps at wrist for custom fit; hook and loop collar can lay flat or be worn around the neck for added protection. The jacket features a small inside pocket useful for keeping small items.
Pros
As to be expected from a jacket made from cotton it is lightweight, comfortable and easy to carry about. It is highly affordable and fits perfectly on the body.
Cons
The jacket was made wholly from cotton, cotton jackets offer minimum protection against slag and UV radiation. To be on the safer side its use should be limited to light welding work like core MIG welding. It can get a little warm on hot days.
Verdict.
Here is another cheap jacket in a class of its own. I’d rather prefer it to be more elegant, the design looks just too basic to me, I feel the designers should add a little aesthetics at least color wise, the color seems a little boring to me. Apart from that considering its price I can say without mincing words that I got value for money.
#8. Hobart 770486 Leather Welding Jacket — XL
This extra-large brown jacket was made from real cowhide split leather, it features heavy-duty stitching which joined the seams together, reinforced snaps and it is unlined. It weighs around 11 pounds and measures 15.9 inches in height, 12.6 inches in length and 3.4 inches in width.
Pros
It is suitable for almost all kinds of welding work whether light construction, metal fabrication at the industrial level or light domestic work and construction. While on it you need not worry yourself about molten metal, spatter and sparks.
Cons
It is a little heavy mobility while on it may be a bit difficult. It can also get hot while on it.
Verdict.
Unlike the previously reviewed jackets made mostly from cotton that eventually gets burned when exposed to heat over a long period, this jacket stood the test of time I have no regret buying it whatsoever but the buttons cannot be removed swiftly.
This Dark Gray lightweight jacket with long sleeves was made using flame retardant cotton, it features no lining, and heavy-duty snaps providing excellent coverage. It weighs 1 pound and a size of 9.9 x 1.3 x 1.3. It also features a pocket on the inside of the jacket.
Pros
The jacket is light-weight which affords for easy mobility, highly suitable for light and medium construction work, it is most suitable for tack welding, grinding and MIG. The price is also pocket-friendly.
Cons
It is most ideal in warmer temperatures and not colder temperatures. You cannot count on this jacket if your work will get you exposed to hot sparks as it is ineffective in deflecting them.
Verdict.
Hobart has delivered yet another cotton jacket that provides reasonable protection at a pocket-friendly price, although I have used this jacket for all kinds of welding from light scale domestic welding to commercial welder work and I have been protected. I will not recommend it for heavy welding work because of its cotton material.
#10. Antra WCJ-121–2XL Flame Resistant Cotton Jacket Size 2XL
There is relatively little to say about this beautifully tailored flame resistant jacket by Antra since it is relatively a newcomer to the welding jacket market. The blue colored jacket was made wholly from cotton. With a size of 1.72 pounds, it is very easy to carry about and has no pocket.
Pros
It is stylishly designed and affords for easy mobility while at work, it is suitable for lightweight welding tasks like stick welding and simple metal fabrication. It is also easily affordable.
Cons
It is not suitable for high-end construction work, overexposure to heat will burn through, it also offers limited protection against UV lights.
Verdict.
This beautiful jacket is better used by amateur welders or welders still undergoing training this should not come as a surprise considering its price and the materials it was made from. If you a welder in training or not into serious welding work and you want a flame resistant jacket at a pocket-friendly price then this is for you.
The Benefit of wearing welding jackets
The job of a welder is a dangerous one, a welder is at constant risk of electric shock which can be so serious as to take his life, they are also exposed to heat, sparks, metal, fumes and ultraviolet light which has been linked to cancer and other health implications.
A good welding jacket should be sturdy and made from fire-proofed materials. Below we present some of the benefits of wearing a good welding jacket.
Burn Protection
There is no denying the fact that being a welder exposes you to a lot of heat which can cause burn, a welding jacket should be able to handle sparks, and spills with ease. It is not just the molten metal itself, but also the heated welding equipment, workpiece, and the hot air around a work area.
Radiation Protection
At its least harmful, this radiation can cause ‘flash’ burns on the skin — an injury that looks like a burn, causing the skin to redden and blister. The exposure to radiation at high scale has a very tremendous negative effect on the body, radiation occurs more frequently on exposed parts of the skin.
An effective welding jacket should leave no opportunity for the radiation to pass through the body thereby protecting the wearer completely.
Fire protection
In case of a fire outbreak or disaster, a welding jacket being flame retardant makes it difficult for the wearer to get burnt. Any jacket that cannot protect at least reasonably against fire is not worthy to be called a welder jacket.
Leather Vs. Cotton Welder Jacket
Both jackets have their strengths and weaknesses and shall be discussed below.
Pros of wearing a leather jacket
It is much more durable than cotton
Leather jacket, when compared with cotton offers the most protection against fire and heat.
Cons of wearing a leather jacket
It is heavy which makes mobility while wearing it a bit hard.
Not suitable in warm climates.
Pros of wearing a cotton jacket
It is relatively more affordable than a leather jacket
It is lighter than a leather jacket. This affords for easy mobility while at work
Cons of wearing a cotton jacket
It is not suitable for heavy metal work
They offer the least fire resistant
How to Choose Right Welding Jacket For Your Job
From the above, it can be safely deduced that a leather jacket is much more favorable than a cotton jacket when performing high end and heavy-duty metal work. Cotton jackets should be used when performing medium or light welder work.
Based on over one-decade experience on handling all kinds of welding task ranging from the lightweight simple metal fabrication work to a high end heavy industrial welding task I can confidently say that these are key and salient features to be considered before choosing the welding jacket that suits your taste and meets up your job demand. They shall be discussed below.
Material
The stuff your welding jacket is made of should be the first thing you consider before selecting your jacket, as you might have realized during reading this blog, jackets are majorly made using flame resistant cotton and leather although there are a lot of jackets in the market that combines the two materials.
If you engage in heavy-weight welding work like working on a ship, high-end mig and tig welding etc. then your surest bet is to go for a jacket made majorly from leather as it is safer although it can be a little hard for you to move about. If you also work in a very cool climate a leather jacket is also better.
If you work on lightweight welding like stick welding and what have you, you might need nothing more than a jacket made majorly from cotton, the material is strong enough to protect you against heat, ultraviolet light etc. that you might get exposed to on your work.
Comfortability
Like in all kind of job if you are not comfortable there is no way you can give your best, believe me, you as a welder your comfortability on your apparel is very important, in choosing your jacket it is advised that you choose the one that offers maximum protection and maximum comfortability combined.
The work of a welder is hard enough the last thing you want to worry yourself about is your discomfort. From experience cotton jackets being lighter are more comfortable than a leather jacket.
Weather
As a welder, I have always taken into cognizance the weather condition before I adorn myself with a welder jacket, during winter I prefer the leather jacket for it protects in no small measure against the blistering cold and in summer I go for jackets made from cotton.
If you work in warmer countries or when the weather is quite warm then I recommend you chose a jacket made from cotton but if you work in extremely cold places like Antarctica then you need not be told that the leather jacket is your friend.
Colour
The color of a jacket is important in selecting the best jacket for you, apart from showing the elegance in your jacket, it is advisable for you to wear a bright colored jacket in the dark and a dark colored jacket in the light.
Personal bias or preference for or against some colors also determine the choice of color, I find it difficult adorning myself on red colored jackets, another color I cannot go for is color pink, you shouldn’t blame me I find the color girlish (no offense).
Durability
Just like selecting any item for buying, the durability or otherwise of the item is a great determinant to the decision to buy or otherwise not buy the item. You need not be told that to maximize the benefits you enjoy from using your jacket select a more durable jacket.
Another determinant to the durability of the jacket apart from the materials it was made from is its weight and size, I can remember selecting an oversize jacket I couldn’t use it for long because it robs me of my comfortability. I cannot sacrifice my comfortability especially with my welding job.
Cost
You don’t have to break the bank before you can select your jacket, cut your cloth according to your size. It is advisable that you chose what you can afford, from my years of experience I have noticed that leather jackets are costlier than their cotton counterparts this should not be a surprise cotton is way cheaper than leather.
While I recommend cutting your cloth according to your size I feel low price should not push you to buy jackets that are unsuitable for your kind of work, you can’t go for instance. Say because of its cheapness you select a full cotton jacket over a leather one in performing heavyweight welder work, that would be tantamount to playing Russian roulette with one’s life.
I have personally saved for a high-cost leather jacket before and I haven’t for once regretted it. Safety, comfort, durability should not be sacrificed for cheapness.
Brand
Some brands are popular for producing good quality jackets you can try them out but that is not to say that you should only go for popular brands, there are tons of reviews on the internet to help you select the best irrespective of the popularity or otherwise of the brand.
Washing your jacket
While it has been argued that cleaning of a jacket is not necessary since it is used for work and would always accumulate grime I strongly believe that to maintain its durability it is really important for the jackets to not only be cleaned but to also be cleaned properly.
The dirtier the jacket gets the stiffer it becomes and the stiffer it becomes the more it loses its comfort, dirty jackets also produce a rather repugnant smell.
To remove grime from your leather jacket, saddle soap can be effectively used, but to maintain the sturdiness of the jacket, it is better you apply some leather conditioner after the cleaning. You should not soak a leather jacket inside water it can have a negative effect on the leather, simply using little water to wipe the surface should suffice.
Cotton jackets, on the other hand, can be effectively washed just as we wash our regular clothes just that it is advisable that you add 3 to 4 spoon of fabric softener before drying, as should be expected drying takes more time.
You should not wash your welding jacket in a washing machine, and if your jacket is old and maybe you are not ready to get a new jacket, you can rub alcohol before beginning the washing process.
Question and answer
Flame resistant jackets or Leather for Welding?
It depends on the welding task you intend carrying on, for a lightweight welding task flame-resistant jacket is okay, but for heavyweight and industrial welding task then leather welding jacket is okay, other factors that determine the choice of jacket includes, comfortability, durability, and cost
How is the best way to soften a leather welding jacket?
By simply applying a leather conditioner on the jacket before wiping it off with a handkerchief or a small towel
Is there any good way to clean a leather welding jacket?
It can be cleaned effectively by applying wiping off the with washing soap and water.
Welding Rodeo AZ 