Bias: A Different Type of Four-Letter Word

During a 2016 debate between Hillary Clinton and then-candidate Trump, Mrs. Clinton told Americans they were biased, and America lost its mind! It didn’t go well after that. For most people being accused of being biased is tantamount to being accused of the most hateful crime you can imagine. She was unable to overcome the negative sentiment caused by her accurate yet misapplied statement. The word ‘bias’ has the misfortune of being widely used but with little real understanding. Simply stated bias is a brain function, not a malfunction. This distinction is helpful for the masses and critical for the leader who intentionally or unintentionally deals with the implications of bias daily. Bias is a four-letter word to be embraced not erased. This session explores the meaning and necessity of bias as a brain function, and the implications of bias for the leader. You will be surprised by the simple methods used to address bias in the workplace. We will explore bias mitigation strategies where you will have an opportunity to recognize your susceptibility to certain biases and how bias impacts individual and group-based decision-making. You will understand your feelings, patterns of thought, and decision-making processes relative to your mindset and organizational culture. Because bias is a brain function you will express how to normalize conversations about bias and derive benefit from a common understanding of it. Yes, you will remain biased, but you will feel better about it.