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Takeaway

“Diversity is being on the team. Inclusion is who gets to play.” – Billings-Harris

Billings-Harris explained how many decisions are made unconsciously, reverting to biases that individuals may not even be aware of.

Bias is defined as: The inclination to judge without question, and without awareness, intention, or control.

 

Billings-Harris cited several common unconscious biases that come up in the workplace:

• Accent: If I am the speaker, you will trust me less the more my accent is different to yours.
• Names: The more your name is like the dominant culture, the more likely your resume will be called for a job interview.
• Handshake: Two-thirds of people in the world deliberately use weak handshakes. We look for reasons that support our decisions rather than looking to disprove the theory.

 

Billings-Harris offers six ways to mitigate bias:

• Recognize and accept that you have bias.
• Develop a capacity to shine a flashlight on yourself.
• Practice “constructive uncertainty.” Lean into that discomfort and be willing to be vulnerable.
• Explore awkwardness and discomfort.
• Engage with those who are different than you.
• Get feedback. Have someone serve as your “accountability partner.”

 

Press “PAUSE”:

P – Pay attention

A – Acknowledge your assumptions

U – Understand your perspective

S – Seek different perspectives

E – Examine your perspectives

 

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In her own words:

“I can be the best that I am when you value who I am. You can be the best that you are when I value who you are.”

“Stolen ideas happen more often to women because some women state a fact or idea that comes out as a question. Other people listening then don’t take it seriously.”

“As thinking adults, we want to use our deliberate brain – the slow brain – intentionally become aware of our bias and say, ‘Hmm, does this apply here?’”

– Billings-Harris