Think You're Free From Unconscious Bias? Think Again.

We Are All Biased

All of us, even the most open minded, are not entirely free from unconscious bias. We have bias programmed into us through years of exposure to cultural attitudes around things like age, gender, social class, sexuality, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, and disability status.

So yes, you (and everyone else) has unconscious bias. And yes, this mean that your organization is not a real meritocracy.

If this bothers you, don’t be too hard on yourself! There are ways to improve, and it is very important we remember having unconscious bias isn’t an instant moral/ethical failing! It is a result of how our brains are built, and often occurs without malicious intent. Our thoughts and actions are influenced by both our instinctive feelings as well as our rational thought processes (Daniel Kahneman’s brilliant Thinking Fast and Slow is a must-read on this topic).

It is normal and natural to have unconscious bias.

It’s critical we understand and accept this so that we may avoid the continued ignorance and shame that leads to the sweeping of unconscious bias under the rug. (When I first tested my implicit bias (test…