Understanding Bias to Unleash Potential

Every day, your people are faced with countless bits of information while making decisions that range from the pragmatic to the strategic. And they do so while working with increasingly diverse teams and stakeholders. As they confront more and more information and have to act quickly while considering varying perspectives, your leaders and team members are primed to rely on biased thinking. Why? Because unconscious biases are how our brains compensate for overload. But bias can also inhibit performance and lead to poor decision-making. So how do we counteract the potentially harmful impacts of unconscious bias? How can we create a workplace in which everyone feels valued and able to offer their best?

A bias is a preference for or against a person, place, or thing. But unconscious bias leaves us unaware of potential harm resulting from biased thinking. As we understand bias, we can address it to create a culture in which everyone thrives. To do so, we must:

• Identify Bias where it shows up in our own thinking and in our workplaces.
• Cultivate Connection with those around us to expand our understanding and improve our decision-making.
• Choose Courage as we engage with care and boldness in addressing biases that limit people and constrain performance.