Name the anchor to blunt it

Saying "that’s an anchor" out loud reduces — but doesn’t erase — its grip.

Why it works

Anchoring runs partly automatically, so awareness alone is weak protection — but explicitly labeling a number as an anchor, and deliberately generating reasons it might be wrong, recruits slower reasoning that partially corrects the pull. Naming it converts an invisible bias into a visible move you can argue with.

How to do it

1. When a number lands, internally (or aloud) flag it as an anchor before reacting.
2. Deliberately list reasons the true value differs from the anchor.
3. Re-estimate from your own analysis, not by adjusting from their figure.

Evidence

Research shows anchoring persists despite warnings, but that "consider the opposite" and generating counterarguments are among the more effective partial debiasing techniques. (rct)

Awareness is only a partial defense; even experts who know about anchoring remain somewhat influenced by it.

Common mistake

Believing that knowing about anchoring makes you immune, then under-correcting because you trusted your "informed" gut.