Vanderbilt University defines unconscious bias as “prejudice or unsupported judgments in favor of or against one thing, person, or groups compared to another, in a way that is usually considered unfair.”
As such, certain people benefit from unconscious bias, while others are penalized because of it.
Once you understand bias, you can build awareness and create change. Unconscious bias training is especially important, because these biases don’t necessarily represent your conscious beliefs.
As a leader, you can address this by helping your employees understand the impact of unconscious bias and identify what actions, policies, or procedures are strengthening these biases. You can also encourage them to assess their unconscious bias by taking the Implicit Association Test.
Another way to help manage bias is by fostering more inclusive environments and encouraging employees to be inquisitive about cultural differences. By being open-minded, respecting, and embracing the experiences of people from different walks of life, you’ll become more culturally competent.