The halo effect is the tendency for positive impressions of a person, brand, or product in one area to positively influence opinions or feelings in other areas. This cognitive bias can hinder objective evaluations as the initial positive impression overshadows other judgments, leading to potentially flawed assessments of character or quality based on unrelated traits.
An example of the halo effect can be seen in the case of Steve Jobs; his charismatic personality and success in launching Apple products led many people to assume that his decisions were always sound, even when evidence suggested otherwise, such as errors in product launches.
To overcome the halo effect, it's essential to consciously assess each trait or aspect independently, relying on objective evidence rather than general impressions, and to seek diverse opinions to gain a more balanced perspective.