At Mission Met, we are actively translating our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) ideals into tangible actions and inviting you, our audience, to join us on this transformative journey.

As part of this work, we’re conducting workshops where each team member embarks on a personal exploration, delving into a subject close to their heart and weaving it intricately with DEIJ principles, culminating in a collective sharing of insights.

As we progress through this series of workshops, we continue to deepen our understanding and commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just environment at Mission Met and beyond.  This is the second workshop in the series. (Check out the key takeaways from our first training on DEIJ in project management.)

The Topic: Unconscious Bias

Mission Met Co-founder and Team Lead for Causey Ricky Chilcott conducted the second training, which focused on unconscious bias.

Unconscious bias is a topic that often hovers beneath the surface of our awareness, influencing our decisions, behaviors, and interactions without us even realizing it. Recently, a thought-provoking discussion and activity on unconscious bias shed light on its intricacies and impact. 

In researching and attending trainings, Ricky has learned that for most mission-driven people (like those on our team), there isn't a lot of explicit bias that we regularly show - or at least there are concerted attempts to reduce explicit bias. However, there are tons of implicit biases that we exhibit.

At a training on implicit bias, he learned that being aware of the issue is a part of addressing it (in you and others). He wanted to share with the team that slowing down the decision-making processes and adding more voices to your thought process is a critical way of addressing implicit bias.

There are many more implicit biases that we are susceptible to than we are often aware of. It's a big topic. In future training, he would like to dig into more of the biases and more concrete steps for how to address these biases and rid our subconscious of them.

Key Takeaways

We’ve captured some highlights from this training, and you can also check out the unconscious bias presentation slides.

1. Understanding Unconscious Bias

Unconscious bias encompasses the assumptions, predispositions, and stereotypes that we hold without conscious awareness. These biases, operating as mental shortcuts, can significantly influence our decision-making processes and shape our behaviors in subtle yet profound ways.

2. Heightened Awareness and Its Effects

Participants in the session noted the challenge of being intellectually aware of certain biases while still being influenced by them unconsciously. This highlights the critical need for heightened self-awareness to recognize and address biases effectively, both personally and professionally.

3. Insights from Interactive Exercises

Engaging activities, such as identifying trusted individuals for feedback, revealed patterns of bias within participants' social circles. These biases were evident across various dimensions like gender, age, education level, and race, underscoring the tendency to seek input from familiar and perhaps, “comfortable” sources. Diversifying social circles was recognized as a valuable strategy for gaining richer insights and experiences.

4. Strategies for Addressing Unconscious Bias

Strategies discussed for addressing unconscious bias included slowing down decision-making processes, questioning cultural stereotypes, and actively expanding networks. Educating oneself and engaging in open discussions were also emphasized as effective approaches.

5. Impact on Personal and Organizational Levels

The session underscored how addressing unconscious bias can have a significant impact not only on individual decision-making but also on organizational dynamics. By fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, organizations can improve their decision-making processes and enhance overall effectiveness and success.

In conclusion, navigating unconscious bias requires continuous self-reflection, education, and proactive efforts to challenge and mitigate biases. By embracing diversity and fostering inclusive environments, we hope to strive towards more informed, equitable, and impactful decision-making processes.