1. The Impact of Unconscious Bias
Marguerite A. Fletcher
Fletcher Consulting, LLC
February 2, 2018

2. Objectives
Increase our understanding of the impact of unconscious bias at work
Develop strategies for mitigating bias at work

3. Discussion Guidelines
Listen to each other
Be open to a range of perspectives
OK to disagree, without being disagreeable
Keep a self-focus -- “I statements”
Maintain confidentiality

4. The Basics

5. © 2017 Fletcher Consulting, LLC
Unconscious Bias
The process by which the brain uses mental associations that are so well-established as to operate without awareness, intention, or even control. Our brains have blind spots and glitches

6. What do you see?
You’re about to see an image of an animal pop onto the screen for just a second or two. Your task is to identify what the animal is.
Let’s take a look at another example. You’re about to see an image of an animal pop onto the screen for just a second or two. Your task is to identify what the animal is. Ready? And- go!

7. What do you see?
Show briefly, (3 seconds), then show again after participants have named what they saw

8. Can you see both of them? Horse Frog
Did you find them both? Here they are: the horse [image] and the frog [image]. Was it harder to find the second animal? It is for most people. Because once our brains have decided “this is a horse” (or a frog) it’s hard for our brains to switch gears and see something different.
Illustrates importance of taking in information with an open mind, and difficulty our brains have in reconsidering beliefs, impressions, data, etc.
Horse
Frog

9. Microinequities
Microinequities are a manifestation of unconscious bias
Small slights, often unintentional
Become significant as they accumulate
May appear to be compliments but leave recipient with a bad feeling
Both intent and impact are important

10. Examples “Amazing you can work full-time and be a good mother.”
“I didn’t know gay guys knew anything about sports.”
“Your English is so good!” (to U.S. born Asian man)
“You kids don’t know what hard work is.”
Checking s or texting during a conversation.
Making eye-contact only with men in a mixed group.
“You look good for your age.”

11. We All Have Unconscious Biases
They come from our experiences
Our brains make assumptions that we trust
They are stereotypes about certain groups that we hold outside own conscious awareness
They often conflict with our explicit beliefs and may show up in subtle ways in professional settings
No shame in having them; what matters is what we do about them

12. An Experiential Exercise

13. The Four Friends
1. Recovering alcoholic father, living in his car with two children 2. Gay, unemployed, ex-senior manager of a Fortune 500 company 3. Middle Eastern merchant with limited English and uncertain citizenship status 4. Black, overweight, female administrative assistant with her GED

14. The Four Friends - Questions
What came up for you during the exercise?
What did you notice about the “facts” filled into the profiles?
What implications are there for your work with colleagues and students?

15. Strategies
What Can You Do?

16. Strategies
Brainstorm strategies for your assigned topic, for 10 minutes, with your table group.
Increasing personal awareness
Creating a more inclusive environment at work
Present the top three strategies to the whole group.

17. Increase Self Awareness
Explore what is unfamiliar though conversations, books, articles, videos & research.
Take several of the Implicit Association Tests Discuss your results with colleagues.
Evaluate and challenge your assumptions about people from backgrounds different than your own.

18. Become More Inclusive
Network with professional associations affiliated with different race/ethnic groups.
Broaden the group with whom you socialize at work.
Review every aspect of the employment cycle to look for unconscious bias. Bias-proof your systems.
Work on inclusive behaviors including:
Greeting people
Encouraging everyone to participate in meetings
Listening effectively

19. Practice and Keep Talking
© 2017 Fletcher Consulting, LLC
Practice and Keep Talking
Unconscious incompetence
Conscious incompetence
Conscious competence
Unconscious competence

20. Share one thing you are taking away from today’s session
Closing
Share one thing you are taking away from today’s session

21. Fletcher Consulting, LLC Contact: Marguerite A. Fletcher 617-916-2600