Course
Overview

Bias can be personal, cultural and institutional, and most often it is invisible to those who have it. We all have bias, and our unconscious mind is often more powerful than we may think. And this often has an impact (overt or subtle) on our workplace decisions and relationships.

The good news is that there are ways to identify, disrupt and offset implicit bias on a personal and social level, procedural and systems level, and eventually on a structural level.

This workshop focuses on the implicit attitudes or stereotypes that shape how we engage others and make decisions in the workplace. It provides an understanding of how bias is formed in our unconscious, and specifically focuses on four kinds of unconscious bias in the workplace:

  • Affinity bias,
  • Confirmation bias,
  • Social comparison bias, and
  • Attribution error

Using the Harvard Implicit Association Test, the workshop facilitates a self-examination of a variety biases that influence how we interact and behave around various groups of people. This program is focused on raising awareness of unconscious bias and steps individuals can take to prevent biased attitudes and behaviors from interfering with workplace decisions and interactions.

Business Impact

Employees will develop a deeper awareness of unconscious biases and the detrimental impact they can have on business outcomes.

Employees develop a positive and authentic way to openly discuss perceptions of bias in their workplace.

Employees feel more comfortable sharing their own perceptions of bias, exclusion and marginalization in the workplace.

Employees who may have felt marginalized or excluded have an opportunity to feel “seen” and “heard.”

Authentic dialogue leads to productive action focused on created an engaging and energising work environment, which drives productivity.

Engagement and retention of high-potential employees is enhanced when they perceive their work environment to be equitable.

Learning Journey

Pre-Learning

  • Complete the Harvard Implicit Association Test
  • Self-reflection Questionnaire

Workshops

What is Unconscious Bias?
  • The brain science of bias
  • Types of bias
  • Bias-based exclusion and marginalization
  • The personal/ professional cost of “bias blindness”
  • The business case for acknowledging unconscious bias
Productive Dialogue about Unconscious Bias
  • How to authentically and productively discuss bias with colleagues
  • How to positively confront different perspectives
  • How to avoid the “downward spiral” of blame, shame and judgement
Taking Action to Eliminate Unconscious Bias
  • Perception of bias can be as hurtful as the reality
  • We can’t eliminate what we don’t acknowledge
  • Importance of tangible action to minimize bias
  • How will we measure progress?
  • Action planning

Post-Work

  • 30-60-90 Day Personal and Group Action Plan Reviews
  • Follow-up vILT session for further dialogue (optional)

Learning Objectives