Have you ever paused to think about the invisible forces that shape our thoughts and actions? The biases that silently influence our decisions, often without us being fully aware of them.
Unconscious biases are indeed powerful, pervasive, and can steer us away from equality and inclusivity. And it is vital to acknowledge that they do not discriminate. Which means we all have been victims of our unconscious bias at some point in our lives.
Allow us to throw light on some of the most prevalent cognitive and unconscious biases.
Confirmation Bias
This fascinating phenomenon is aptly called the Bubble Effect!
You know that colleague you think is lazy? Confirmation bias happens when suddenly you start seeing everything they do as lethargic. Positive qualities? Ignored! It's like living in a bubble where you only see what confirms your preconceived notions and ignore differing opinions.
Availability Bias
This happens when we let our vivid impressions rule!
Picture this- You encounter someone who has a nose piercing, and wears nail paint and immediately think of them as a rebel. That’s availability bias at play! Similarly, supervisors in performance management might solely focus on an employee's recent performance, conveniently forgetting about their earlier contributions or potential. It's like they have selective memory, favouring the information right in front of them.
Fundamental Attribution Error
Ah, the one that makes us jump to conclusions!
Ever miss work due to illness and feel totally justified? But when a coworker does the same, you might assume they're faking it. That's a fundamental attribution error in action! It makes us jump to conclusions and blame personal characteristics, ignoring other factors at play. We're all guilty of this one sometimes!
Our brains can truly play tricks on us, huh? These biases mess with our perceptions and can lead to all sorts of misunderstandings.
How do we combat them and create a more inclusive world?
Although cognitive biases are difficult to identify and even more difficult to control, implementing the following tips can help in successfully overcoming them:
Tip 1: Raise awareness: One of the first steps towards combating cognitive biases is to raise awareness of their existence. By acknowledging and recognising our own unconscious biases, we can begin to address them. This involves being open to self-reflection and understanding the impact these biases have on our thoughts, actions, and decision-making processes.
Tip 2: Challenge assumptions: Openly discussing our own biases and encouraging others to question theirs is a wise way to go. Through this, we create an environment where everyone feels comfortable questioning their own assumptions. Embracing curiosity and actively seeking different perspectives can help us challenge harmful assumptions and break free from our limiting paradigms.
Tip 3: Seek multiple perspectives: Embracing diverse perspectives, encouraging spirited discussions, and having mind-expanding chats regularly in the workplace and with our friends is a great way to broaden our horizons of thinking.
Cognitive biases have a knack for playing tricks on our minds. But are you ready to outsmart them by staying aware and embracing acceptance?
Psst! This blog was made with💚, lots of teamwork, and edited by a human with some help from generative AI. We're not ones to steal credit. #PuttingItOutThere
