Is It Bias? Making Diversity Work Is It Bias? Short Workshop Welcome to Is It Bias? Short Workshop © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #1

Preliminary Thoughts Even nice people have biases. Biases do not make us bad people. Members of any group can have biases. All but the most deeply-held of biases can be defeated. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #2

Program Objectives At the completion of this program, participants will be able to: Objective 1: Define the term bias as it pertains to diversity. Objective 2: Identify biases in themselves and others. Objective 3: Practice 3 steps for controlling and even eliminating biases in their thinking. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #3

The Definition of Bias A bias is an inflexible positive or negative conscious or unconscious belief about a particular category or group of people. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #4

Case by Case Scenario 1: Mid-20s – Some Generation Ys – Key Point: The interviewer made an observation about one person, not the entire group. (some) © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #5

Case by Case, cont. Scenario 2: All Been from Mexico – Key Point: The speaker made a reasonable assumption based on the information he had. He should, however, have asked respectful questions rather than jump to conclusions. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #6

Case by Case Scenario 3: Just Like Me – Key Point: Being drawn to people who are in some way like us is natural. However, it is valuable and healthy to get to get to know people from other groups as well. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #7

Case by Case, cont. Scenario 4: It Seems I Just Cant Win – Key Point: Sometimes biases are implied, not clearly stated. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #8

Case by Case, cont. Scenario 5: The Single Mother – Key Point: Biases can sometimes hide behind good intentions and kindly acts. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #9

Case by Case, cont. Scenario 6: Doesnt Even Notice Me – Key Point: Biases about how people look are an often neglected, and, therefore, particularly destructive, type of bias. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #10

Case by Case, cont. Scenario 7: Bias Against Your Own Group – Key Point: Biases can be directed against the biased persons own group. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #11

What Actions Do You Take? You have a choice and you have the power. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #12

What Actions Do You Take? Step #1 Stop and listen to what you are thinking or saying. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #13

Watch Your First Thought: An Invitation © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #14 What Actions Do You Take? Step #1, cont.

What Actions Do You Take? Step #2 Recognize that this is a critical moment. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #15

Dissect Your Bias to Weaken Its Foundation Ask yourself, Did I learn this bias from a reliable source? Ask yourself, How many people do I actually know who conform to my bias? Ask yourself, How many people do I know who do NOT conform to my bias? © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #16 What Actions Do You Take? Step #2, cont.

What Actions Do You Take? Step #3 Treat everyone as an individual which means to act as if, your bias does not exist. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #17

How Acting as If Helps Reduce Bias When we treat people as individuals, they respond more positively. When we treat people as individuals, we have more experience with a variety of people who are different from each other. When we treat people as individuals, our attitude gradually changes to conform to our behavior. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #18 What Actions Do You Take? Step #3, cont.

Maya Angelou said…. …people will forget what you did, people will forget what you said, but theyll never forget how you made them feel. © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #19

This program is based on the book, Making Diversity Work, by Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D. Cross-Cultural Communications Distributed by Learning Communications © 2010 Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D.Slide #20 Thank You