A significant barrier to achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce is implicit bias.
Implicit bias occurs when, for instance, you hear the word “engineer” and immediately assume it is a man, or hear “teacher” and assume it is a woman.
Have you ever been guilty of this? Many of us have, and it’s not because we’re bad people. Our brains are hardwired to make unconscious decisions, creating a direct link between our unconscious thinking and our actions and behavior.
Check out the three types of implicit bias here and what you can do to fix it.
What does research say – does implicit bias training work?
Implicit bias training faces a lot of criticism regarding its effectiveness. However, there is strong evidence that implicit bias training is effective when done properly.
It can be a key part of a comprehensive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) program that brings real culture change to organizations. Notable research includes:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- University of Wisconsin: The Prejudice Habit Breaking Intervention
- University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School study
Our own experience over many years shows that implicit bias training works and leads to long-term change when it is part of an ongoing effort integrated into company policies and processes. Organizations must actively engage and not rely on a single training session for lasting change.
Our “Recognizing and Mitigating Unconscious Bias” training helps participants recognize their biases and minimize their impact in daily interactions. This training also addresses microaggressions and other exclusive behaviors using simple, effective intervention methods.
As one of our training attendees said, “Civility Partners provided several great ideas to implement with the staff so that we can keep the conversation around a positive workplace going long after they are gone. I will definitely be using their ideas in future meetings and talking with managers about using them within individual departments.”
If you have questions or concerns, please shoot us a message! You know where to find us. 🙂
Extra resources for you!
Don’t forget to explore our LinkedIn Learning course: “Teaching Civility in the Workplace.” It’s absolutely free using this link! Don’t let this opportunity pass you by!
And lastly, save the date: June 26th, 10 am PST! Tune in to our webinar on Managing Incivility and Conflict in Political Discussions at Work. Attend live for exclusive resources, SHRM credits, and get your questions answered by our expert speakers!
Written by: Cleo Tubon and Jennifer Areola
