In this category, you can find articles relating to unconscious bias and diversity. How we perceive the world, groups of people, act, make decisions and treat others are all influenced by things like our upbringing, social groups, culture, experiences, and personal likes and dislikes. Bias can be conscious or unconscious and may manifest in many ways, either obvious and subtle, and for or against both men and women.
Yes, we take some actions consciously, but often we are unaware of the underlying factors that influence our thoughts, feelings and behaviours. If these unconscious underlying factors go unacknowledged and unmanaged, they can have damaging effects, especially during recruitment processes. Gender bias is very prominent in so many workplaces, along with other types of biases including conforming bias, beauty bias, similarity bias, implicit bias, affinity bias, confirmation bias and more. We look at what can be put in place to help those affected by any form of bias, by creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We consider the Halo effect which is where a positive first impression leads us to treat someone more favourably, and also the Horn effect, where a negative first impression leads us to treat someone less favourably. Our unconscious bias training is suitable for all, from decision-makers to team members, because becoming more aware of our thoughts and what might
be driving them can help to prevent unintentional bias, conflict and discrimination, and promote respect and inclusion at work.