{"id":41396,"date":"2025-03-30T02:12:02","date_gmt":"2025-03-30T09:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=41396"},"modified":"2025-03-30T02:14:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-30T09:14:22","slug":"41396-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/41396-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Leadership & Unconscious Bias"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cSway: Unraveling Unconscious Bias,\u201d by Dr. Agarwal [1]<\/a> in which she talked about \u2018unconscious biases\u2019<\/em><\/strong> and how it has affected the how we communicate, how decision is made, and even how we think. She talked about how it is instilled, or \u2018hardwire\u2019 within each individual, and how it is encouraged by our surroundings, and even from our cultures. From the Merriam Webster dictionary, it uses words like, \u2018inclination of temperament, unreasoned judgement, bent, and tendency\u2019 [2]<\/a> to define bias.<\/p>\n

In an article titled, \u201cWhat is Unconscious Bias (And How You Can Defeat it),\u201d the author defined it as, \u201cUnconscious bias (also known as implicit bias) refers to unconscious forms of determination and stereotyping based on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability, age, and so on.\u201d[3]<\/a> The author emphasized the importance of understanding unconscious bias, or implicit bias in order to be able to defeat it. For the purpose of this blog, I ask the question, \u2018how is unconscious bias affect or influence one\u2019s leadership?<\/p>\n

Detecting Unconscious Bias <\/strong><\/p>\n

One\u2019s leadership can be affected by unconscious bias; therefore, it is essential to be able to identify it in one\u2019s work setting on within the team. Unconscious bias can be subtle but a challenge to leadership. It can have damaging effects on the decision-making, the culture, and how the teamwork. And the following are common types of Unconscious Bias in found in leadership:(a.) affinity bias \u2013 favor those with shared similarities, (b.) confirmation bias \u2013 focused on information that confirmed pre-existing thought, or belief, (c.) halo effect \u2013 single positive trait\/ or perception about an individual influenced overall perceptions, (d.) horns effect \u2013 single negative trait or perception about someone disproportionately affected the overall judgement, (e.) gender bias, and (f.) age bias.[4]<\/a><\/p>\n

Generally, when bias takes place, it is between at least two people with different race, ethnicity, gender or religion in which one has a negative perception of the other. At one time, me, my wife and our two kids relocated to certain part of city we lived in for few years. I was asked on separate occasion by two of my neighbors if I was renting or buying, just to confirm their curiosity. I even had to wait until they finish their sentences in other language; to tell them I had no clue what they just said. Other times, my family and friends and even family members that visited us would call multiple times as they are outside our home, just to make sure they are at the correct address. We lived in a regular normal neighborhood, I guess us being us, me and my family – Micronesians, in there does not look normal.<\/p>\n

Debiasing Oneself<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the end of her book, she gave some helpful advice on how to tackle the issue of unconscious bias. Following is the suggesting for de-biasing oneself:(a.) understanding the nature of unconscious bias\/implicit bias, (b.) take time and use logic before making a decision, (c.) create non-judgmental space. [5]<\/a><\/p>\n

In an article titled “Is Your Bias Limiting You? How to deal with conscious and unconscious bias effectively,\u201d the author listed three main thoughts on how to effectively deal with bias. They are as follows:<\/p>\n