Both conscious and unconscious biases influence thinking and decision-making processes of organisational and team leaders. Managers often allow their subconscious feelings and presumptions to cloud their judgement and impair their ability to make fair decisions.
The subconscious mind makes instantaneous decisions based on past experiences and cultural perceptions. Our processing of these experiences acts as a mental filter through which we make on-the-spot assessments about others. But these ‘quick’ decisions are often wrong and these prejudgements colour our ability to make rational decisions.
Unconscious biases are more likely to operate when leaders are tired, stressed or under pressure. These biases can result in making the wrong choices, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Symmetra offers top-tier diversity and inclusion e-learning programs that assist leaders in understanding their implicit biases and assumptions.
For teams to be at their most productive, we need to overcome our unconscious biases and create an inclusive environment where every member can contribute fully. Equality and diversity e-learning programs help leaders see beyond a person’s appearance, ethnicity and age and focus on their skills, traits and talents instead.
How can we reduce the effect of unconscious bias?
1. Establish clear criteria for making decisions (regarding recruitment, promotions, allocation of roles etc) so that bias is eliminated as much as possible.
2. Examine all processes to investigate the role of unconscious bias. Request your employees provide confidential feedback through surveys. Gather reliable information before you implement changes.
3. Pair best practices with unconscious bias e-learning initiatives such as active listening, creating an inclusive culture, holding open dialogues, showing appreciation and offering equal access to opportunities.
4. Encourage employees to take their training beyond the workshops. Offer mentoring opportunities, access to affinity groups and benchmarking criteria to measure success. Advocate consistency in fair practices at every level.
Symmetra’s online learning, diversity training workshops can help leaders and employees become aware of the powerful impact of unconscious bias. We specialise in creating a blend of workshops, e-learning experiences and simulations to maximise the returns on your investment in leadership training.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you increase diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
How Our Minds Works to Make Decisions
Science shows that our brains receive about 400 million bits of information per second while we are able to process only about 2000 of these.The subconscious mind makes instantaneous decisions based on past experiences and cultural perceptions. Our processing of these experiences acts as a mental filter through which we make on-the-spot assessments about others. But these ‘quick’ decisions are often wrong and these prejudgements colour our ability to make rational decisions.
Unconscious biases are more likely to operate when leaders are tired, stressed or under pressure. These biases can result in making the wrong choices, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Symmetra offers top-tier diversity and inclusion e-learning programs that assist leaders in understanding their implicit biases and assumptions.
How Unconscious Bias Affects Decision-Making
Unconscious bias prevents leaders and team members from being truly open to new ideas and perspectives. We rapidly sort people into categories and we rely on these groupings (which are heavily based on stereotypes) to make faster decisions.For teams to be at their most productive, we need to overcome our unconscious biases and create an inclusive environment where every member can contribute fully. Equality and diversity e-learning programs help leaders see beyond a person’s appearance, ethnicity and age and focus on their skills, traits and talents instead.
How to Reduce Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
It takes conscious effort to be aware that subconscious assumptions exert enormous influence over our day-to-day behaviours, choices and decisions. These tendencies perpetuate stereotypes, maintain status quo and prevent teams from even considering new ideas.How can we reduce the effect of unconscious bias?
1. Establish clear criteria for making decisions (regarding recruitment, promotions, allocation of roles etc) so that bias is eliminated as much as possible.
2. Examine all processes to investigate the role of unconscious bias. Request your employees provide confidential feedback through surveys. Gather reliable information before you implement changes.
3. Pair best practices with unconscious bias e-learning initiatives such as active listening, creating an inclusive culture, holding open dialogues, showing appreciation and offering equal access to opportunities.
4. Encourage employees to take their training beyond the workshops. Offer mentoring opportunities, access to affinity groups and benchmarking criteria to measure success. Advocate consistency in fair practices at every level.
Symmetra’s online learning, diversity training workshops can help leaders and employees become aware of the powerful impact of unconscious bias. We specialise in creating a blend of workshops, e-learning experiences and simulations to maximise the returns on your investment in leadership training.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you increase diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Comments
Post a Comment