What’s New: Reflecting on Unconscious Bias

I have unconscious bias. We ALL have unconscious bias whether we realize it or not. Like so many of you I try to be objective as possible when I am making people related decisions. 

As a person with a physical disability who is also non-verbal, unconscious bias has been the biggest obstacle for people to see me for who I truly am. My lived experience motivates me to take the time to become more aware of my own unconscious biases. I began my journey with a commitment to learn more and routinely reflect on how I can improve.  

There are a multitude of credible resources on unconscious biases available for business and corporate leaders. A starting place may be a free resource titled “How to Manage Unconscious Bias to Make Better People Decisions” by Emtrain . This e-book features three key sections that includes a definition of unconscious bias, strategies to minimize unconscious bias and managing unconscious bias in the workplace. I found this e-book easy to read with thoughtful questions for further reflection. 

To view this resource, click here. 

If you are looking to expand your learning on the topic of unconscious bias then, you may find the book “The Leader's Guide to Unconscious Bias: How to Reframe Bias, Cultivate Connection, and Create High-Performing Teams” by Pamela Fuller, Mark Murphy and Ann Chow is a good investment. The authors begin by reminding the reader “If you were to say, ‘I don’t have any bias, ‘you’d be saying your brain isn’t functioning properly”. This book is designed for leaders and managers who want to better understand unconscious bias and minimize its impact to create exemplary organizations. 

This book is available from most major booksellers, independent bookstores, and libraries.