Tips for Rooting Out Bias in Yourself and Your Organization

Bias exists, in part, because our brains naturally seek shortcuts for understanding our complicated world. We categorize things we encounter in life (including people) and then absorb “cultural knowledge” (including societal beliefs and attitudes toward different groups of people), which leads to stereotyping and biased expectations in our everyday interactions.

This happens unconsciously so that even if we’re not consciously prejudiced, we are still prone to automatic stereotyping—especially when we’re low-energy or stressed.

• Don’t try to ignore difference. Instead, it’s important to recognize difference and work to decrease your stereotypical responses.
• Learn your history. A better understanding of systemic causes of racism, for example, can motivate people to revise their biased views. 
• Work on reducing your stress levels when you’re interacting with people who are different from you, because negative encounters can promote more bias and less self-reflection. 
• Increase your sense of common humanity by purposefully engaging with people of different backgrounds.
• Recognize how undoing bias has meaning for you.